Folding Wine Table for Picnics
- If you would like to own this table, you can place a bid here. 100% of your winning bid goes to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
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Some of the materials I used in this project:
- Steel plated rod
- Pipe Clamp Fixtures
- Titebond II wood glue
- Wood Dowel
- Hole Saw
- Mandrel to hold hole saws
- Forstner bit
- Router roundover bit
- Flush trim saw
- Gel Epoxy
This folding wine table is fun project and would also make a great gift idea. I had never seen these until a viewer on Facebook asked me to make one. I examined a few version on Pinterest and was able to deconstruct it and make plans. It’s really easy to make!
I began by gluing up three boards to create the top. Unfortunately, I had a weird brain math glitch that told me three 3.5″ boards would equal 12″ wide and I didn’t catch my error until these were completely glued up and sanded smooth. It was also unfortunate that I didn’t have enough of the cherry wood to add a fourth board. Sigh.
My solution was to slice the panel up and add a couple of walnut filler strips. These actually gave it a nice decorative touch and made it look like I planned this all along!
The leg is made by first cutting two boards the same size. In one of them, I routed out a groove to hold the 1/4″ (6mm) steel rod.
I cut the rod to size using a hacksaw and glued it into the groove with epoxy.
I glued the two boards together with wood glue.
Using the cutting diagram in my plans, I transferred the measurements to the assembled block and cut them out on my bandsaw.
This hole is for the dowel hinge. Cutting an arc will allow the table top to swing.
Rounding over all the edges with my router gives it a softer appearance.
These two little blocks will hold the ends of the dowel hinge.
Back to the table top. After cutting it to a square, I attached my cutting template using spray adhesive.
And cut out the holes with a 3.25″ (8cm) hole saw and cut out notches for the wine glass stems.
For the handle, I cut two smaller holes and cut out the rectangular space between them using my jigsaw.
Finally, I cut out the circle shape.
Like the leg, I rounded over all the edges of the top.
Gluing the hinge blocks in place is the only tricky part of this project. I ran a dowel through them and the leg and made pencil marks on the underside of the table where I wanted them positioned. Then I removed the leg and glued them in place. Keep them connected to a dowel so they stay aligned.
After finishing everything with spray lacquer, I ran a dowel through the pieces to connect them.
The blue tape is to protect the finish while I cut off the excess dowel with my flush trim saw.
Free Plans
- WWMM Folding Wine Table (pdf)
- Sketchup File
- WWMM Folding Wine Table -METRIC (pdf)
- Sketchup File -METRIC
June 26, 2015 @ 11:55 am
Steve this is awesome. I was just finishing up the same design as I saw these on Pintrest as well and thought it would be a great thing for me to deconstruct for my first attempt. Then BOOM you posted this video. I’m glad my design looks just about the same as yours. I was thinking of using a T-Nut and threading a rod into the bottom so it could be removed if necessary but yours is easier I think. Thanks again for all the great ideas and work and I’ll make sure to post a picture once it’s done.
July 2, 2015 @ 2:08 pm
Just a quick comment. CHECK YOUR WINE GLASSES BEFORE you cut the 2 holes for them. Some wine glasses have a circumference of 10 3/4 which the 3/14 hole works for. I have some that are only 10″ circumference so need to modify the holes slightly smaller so the glass doesn’t fall through. Posting this on the youtube channel as well.
June 26, 2015 @ 2:14 pm
Great project my wife has been bugging to make some for our friends. Do you have a cut sheet to go with the plans. Many thanks Joe
June 28, 2015 @ 5:30 pm
I was looking for the same thing. Steve, you have a cutting template for the top portion but not the leg. I was going to make my own from the Sketchup file but looks like my “trial” has expired on sketchup 2015.. Any help would be great!
July 6, 2015 @ 7:47 am
Download Sketchup Make. It is free forever and the one I use. There are dimensions in the PDF plans for the leg. Just transfer them to your board.
June 27, 2015 @ 8:03 pm
Steve at approx. 45-49 seconds it looks like your left hand reaches out and above the blade. From our field of vision, your hand did look really close to the blade. I do not think your pushing was the issue. thanks for your videos. Joe
July 6, 2015 @ 7:45 am
Sorry. I didn’t notice that or I would have edited it out.
June 28, 2015 @ 6:42 pm
How does the bottle stay on the notch?
July 6, 2015 @ 7:44 am
It just rests on it.
November 26, 2016 @ 4:49 pm
Can I buy one of these from you. What are your contact details.
June 30, 2015 @ 4:46 am
Very nice work Steve !!! I really like it, great design and beautiful as well …
awesome idea … thanks for sharing !!!
July 6, 2015 @ 7:45 am
Thanks Kenneth!
July 3, 2015 @ 12:20 pm
I wonder if he will ever tell me how thick he made the wood on the table part and leg or can he simply not be bothered to answer a simple question.
July 6, 2015 @ 7:43 am
Sorry, he has been busy this holiday weekend. He wants you to know that he made the leg out of two boards, so 3/4″ + 3/4″ = 1-1/2″.
-Him
February 17, 2018 @ 7:55 am
Brilliant
November 20, 2015 @ 1:27 pm
I did a variation of this idea and went extra fancy over your extra fancy. We have a great big deck off the back of the house and no yard so the spike was going to be of limited use. I made an extension with feet on the bottom then I put a T-nut in the bottom of the extension that the rod threads into and Voila! (I think voila is French for extra fancy) Now we can use it on our deck and at picnics on the grass.
I will try to post pictures of it in the user section.
November 30, 2015 @ 12:32 pm
Also need to add extension for use on deck. Couldn’t figure out from your note what you did exactly. Can you send me a photo or two to clarify? Many Thanks.
February 3, 2017 @ 8:40 am
Just guessing but I had a similar idea – this is what I would have done:
1: Vertical post same length as stake
2: Join some feet – an X underneath the post or rocket fin style along the sides – at least 12″ diameter
3: Drill a deep hole in the center of the post to accommodate stake. (or use the dado/glueup trick as used for the leg – just make sure the glue doesn’t get in the dado)
December 6, 2015 @ 9:19 am
Hi Steve, looking to make this soon, one question I have, is how to lock the table top when in use. It looks as if the wine bottle is the main support for holding it, but how does it stay when the bottle is removed to refill the wine glasses. My thought is to add a bullet catch, unless there is a better (cheap, made of wood) latch that could be used that I can’t imagine right now. Great builds, and as always, sure enjoy the site.
May 17, 2016 @ 11:30 am
I was wondering the same thing. This would make a great gift for my daughter and son-in-law.
December 6, 2015 @ 9:24 am
Hi Steve, love your site and your build videos. I am planning on building a version of this, how is the table top held in the open position? It looks as if the wine bottle holds it, but how does it stay when the bottle is taken out to refill the wine glasses? My thought is a bullet catch, but I’d rather do something clever with wood if possible. I just can’t picture a valid table lock, any ideas?
June 30, 2016 @ 1:50 pm
Did you ever get an answer to this question?
February 3, 2017 @ 8:35 am
The weight of the table top will keep it “open” when its stuck in the ground. But to be absolutely certain You can adjust the location of the hinge a tiny bit so there is slightly more weight on the handle side. That will keep it laid flat when it’s in use but not holding a bottle. You’re holding the handle anyway when its closed. Make sure to test then hinge can open and close with clearance, you may need to shave a 1/8 of an inch off the lip platform on the leg. And that the hinge itself doesn’t end up visible in a hole.
I also added a little extra piece of wood flush with the top and opposite the cutout of the leg so that the table top would have more than just that little corner of the leg to support it. Might not have been necessary but I dind’t want to have to retrofit it, my tolerances were…a bit sloppy and I was afraid it would just rotate all 180 degrees of the arc if that corner wore down even a little bit.
February 24, 2016 @ 6:20 pm
hi steve
can you tell me how thick is the table ?
thanks to you!!
April 11, 2016 @ 1:17 pm
I can’t see the center for the circle of the bottle hole is located in your drawing……..please help
September 28, 2016 @ 4:54 pm
Will the table top remain in position if there is no bottle in place to keep it from collapsing?
October 6, 2016 @ 2:20 am
Brilliant video.
I am a VERY amateur self taught wood enthusiast, and so I need instructions to be logical, simple, and clear. All checked, but as an added bonus, I learnt the tape trick to protect the finish, and the most useful skills of all, rebranding what might have been considered mistakes with he inspired phrases “extra fancy” and “bold artistic statement”. Having grown up amongst professional artists, this is exactly what they do.
October 13, 2016 @ 12:11 pm
Hi Steve. Love your site and have made quite a few things from your suggestions and patterns. I have a tip for this wine table project though. Menards (and other home improvement stores) sells 5/4″ Round Edge-Glued Boards in various diameters. They have a 12″ version for only $4.99. I like a challenge as much as they next guy, but buying the round boards is way easier. Thanks again for all your great work and ideas.
December 2, 2016 @ 7:51 am
I’m attempting to make this right now and have modified it slightly by enlarging the hole for the wine bottle to 3 1/2″ diameter. Because after some experimentation I realized there’s quite a few 750ml wine bottles that won’t fit through a 3 1/4″ diameter hole. The holes for the glasses obviously need to be smaller.
February 3, 2017 @ 8:25 am
I made four of these for christmas gifts and they were a huge hit! Unfortunately I live in Minnesota, so It will be three months before I find out if the stake is long enough to keep the table upright! Still just wanted to say this was a great plan and I think everyone really liked them.
I made two modifications:
1: I don’t have a band saw, so I used my Chop saw to make it into a dodecagon (12 sided polygon) which looks really sharp. Took a bit of measuring to end up with all the same length sides but turned out great.
2: I use a 3/4 hole saw to cut little accessible circles on two of the corners – why? What if you want to lean something like a fishing rod or a marshmallow roasting stick against it? The round edges have no purchase. The also don’t look bad at all.
February 3, 2017 @ 8:27 am
Oh and I had to use a 3 1/2 hole for the bottle hole (like Alex) and a 3″ hole for the glasses – I couldn’t find a 3 1/4 hole saw to save my life! He’s right about the bottle size too.
Hey bonus on the 3″ cup holes though – a pint glass fits PERFECTLY.
April 14, 2017 @ 8:32 am
I have made a few of these I love the plans . My question is what would be the best wood to use . I question the strength at the area of the handles the , the spurs at the edge of the glass holes , and the mounting blocks for the pegs . I have been using 3/4 thick red cedar and have been adding a 3/16 maple plywood layer under the top and on the mounting blocks . ( I am using this wood as I find old cedar chests to be to be readily available for free or nearly free ) Love the vids and plans great work.
April 25, 2017 @ 4:38 am
I am a beer drinker. Has anyone developed an insert or something to accommodate a beer bottle in the slots?
June 18, 2017 @ 7:11 pm
Hello Steve,
I watched your video today on how to make a folding wine table so I downloaded it to my folder and tried
to print out a copy but it would not print. I am using Mac computer is that a problem.
July 5, 2017 @ 11:20 am
I followed your plans steve and the results were good with the following exception. I found that the wine bottle (regardless of size) has a tendency to be easily knocked off the leg ledge. I corrected the problem by drilling a 1/4″ hole in the ledge and adding a removable platform held in place with a dowel.
February 1, 2018 @ 7:17 am
Neither the plans nor the video say how much rod to leave sticking out of the leg?
Also these plans aren’t 305mm either, no matter how I try and put together. Am gonna have to draw my own. As an amateur was trying to avoid that.
February 10, 2018 @ 5:31 am
Hi Steve we were just going over your plans on the PDF files and the instructions do not say how thick the tabletop is is that our discretion and what size did you use? And also the thickness of the two legs supports that the dowel rod goes through the smaller ones thank you
March 9, 2018 @ 10:46 am
Tina,
I have made several of these. Menards (and other home improvement stores I assume) sells 5/4″ Round Edge-Glued Boards in various diameters, and they have a 12″ version for only $4.99. I have used these boards for all of my wine tables and they have worked great. In my opinion, a $5 bill is well worth spending rather than the process of making a perfectly round board :-). They are extra thick, pre-sanded and have rounded edges. For the table top, I then just have to apply the template, drill, route and sand the edges of the holes.
Hope this helps.
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