What Can I Use for Legs on a Patio Table?

Change the scenery of your meals by enjoying them outside on a homemade patio table. Like any other table, a patio table has a top and a leg base. There are numerous design options available to coordinate the legs with the top. Make a set of simple patio table legs from wood or repurpose old table legs or decorative finds to make an eclectic, one-of-a-kind piece. Does this Spark an idea?

Four-By-Fours

A pair of 4-inch-by-4-inch-by-8-foot posts each cut into two standard-sized legs make four simple, yet stocky, table legs. Standard table height is about 30 inches tall, although some are slightly higher or lower.

Subtract the table tops thickness from 30 inches to find the exact leg measurements. Transfer this measurement to the 4-by-4 pieces with a pencil and straight edge, then cut them with a compound miter saw to make clean, straight cuts through the wood.

Attach these legs to the table top with large double-sided dowel screws that screw into the top center of each leg. Drill a hole for the screw in each leg, and twist the screw into the hole with the other threaded end still sticking out. Drill a small hole at each corner for the leg posts and twist them in until the top of each leg is tight and flush against the underside of the table.

Decorative Column Posts

Find four old decorative column posts, and youll have a base for the patio table. Cut the top of each post with a compound miter saw to create flat, level surfaces. Drive dowel screws into the center of each dowel post, then screw each column into the corners of the table.

Concrete Birdbath Bases

Concrete birdbaths often have two parts the birdbath bowl and the base. Make a patio table with four bases and a table top. The concretes weight makes them difficult to move, so the table top can just rest on the bases without any screws or attachments.

Recycled Table Legs

The legs of an old indoor table can be painted with durable, weatherproof, exterior paint that leaves an enamel finish when dry. Screw each leg into the underside of the table. Combined with the table top, these legs are given a new purpose and will be able to weather temperature and climactic changes.

Considerations

Attaching any of these legs to a metal or round table can be challenging. Unless inserting screws through the table tops surface and down into the legs isn't a problem, then a leg base must be constructed first. The base will be a square or rectangular 1-inch-thick board cut to fit in the space under the table.

Instead of driving dowel screws into the legs, the legs will be bolted through the top of the board. Position the board on top of the legs, with one leg at each corner. Apply wood glue to the top of each leg, and place the board on top. Drill a hole through the top and into each leg, and screw in a 3-inch hex bolt until it's flush with the boards surface.

Apply a very strong adhesive that binds wood to metal on top of the board, then center the table top over the leg base.