From Barns to Picnic Tables: My First “Client” Story
From Barns to Picnic Tables: My First "Client" Story
I’ve always been a hands-on kind of guy. As a kid, I had a knack for taking things apart and reassembling them—usually with a few mysterious extra parts left over. Fast forward to adulthood, I worked on aircraft in the USAF and handled most of my own car maintenance. Letting someone else touch my car? Rarely. Hands-on was just my way.
Then came marriage, kids, and a move to a more rural area. This is where my hands-on approach really started to take off. My first big project? Building a 2,000-square-foot "barn" to store our camper and serve as a workshop. Because, you know, why not start with something massive for your first foray into construction?
From there, my DIY journey snowballed. I used those newfound skills to single-handedly finish our basement—framing walls, laying flooring, and installing trim, all by myself. While working on the basement, I decided the mechanical room’s plain old door was just too boring. So, I built a bookshelf Murphy door. It took two tries to get it right, but now it’s one of my favorite features.
Next came floating shelves for my boys, perfect for displaying their Legos and sports trophies. Each project added to my skills and confidence. But the project that truly kickstarted my woodworking career? A picnic table.
My First "Client"
It was late 2020. COVID was in full swing, and my wife casually mentioned that she wanted a picnic table for the family. This was my first real "client" request—something functional, used regularly, and highly visible. No pressure, right?
At first, I thought, “I’ve built a barn, a basement, and shelves. How hard can a table be?” Then the nerves kicked in. What kind of table should I build? What wood should I use? How do I finish it? What design would blow my wife’s socks off? And would I even have enough time? My mind spiraled faster than a dado blade.
After scouring the internet for inspiration and researching wood types, I landed on cedar—a decision that seems obvious now but wasn’t back then. I found a set of plans for what I thought was a really cool table and got to work in the barn.
Back then, I knew very little about wood selection, planing, or jointing. I took the cedar from the local building supply store and did my best. Progress was slow but steady, as I was squeezing in work between my day job and my kids' activities. The project took weeks, and as Christmas approached, the pressure mounted. Would I finish on time? Would it even turn out right?
A Race Against the Clock
By Christmas week, all the pieces were cut, but I was still assembling and applying the finish. Working in an unheated barn during freezing nights didn’t help either. Most dads were assembling bikes or toys on Christmas Eve. Me? I was putting together a picnic table at 11 p.m.
Come Christmas morning, my wife absolutely loved it. She especially adored the hidden buckets in the middle of the table, perfect for holding drinks or flowers. Mission accomplished!
Lessons Learned
Since then, I’ve taken on real clients and built countless pieces. With every project, I learn something new—a technique, a tool, or a way to improve. Every time I walk past that picnic table on my way to the barn, I think about how I’d build it differently now. Better wood selection, mortise-and-tenon joints instead of pocket holes, and so on.
One glaring example? The finish. That linseed oil didn’t last six months. The table turned black, and no one wanted to use it. Last year, I broke it down, planed and sanded every piece, and refinished it with Thompson’s Clear Water Seal. I also added a 1/8” round-over to the tabletop edges so we wouldn’t lose a layer of skin every time we used it.
Takeaways
Looking back, this picnic table wasn’t just a project; it was a pivotal moment. It taught me that you don’t need all the answers to get started. You just need the willingness to try, to learn, and to embrace imperfection. Your first project might not be perfect, but it’s the first step toward doing something you love.
Thanks for joining me on this little trip down memory lane. I hope it inspires you to take on that project you’ve been putting off. Who knows? It might just be the start of something amazing.