Home Depot sells folding table legs at $16.99 (for a pair). The kind that can be folded under a table top of 30" x 72". We can also buy a low cost folding table with molded plastic top in the marketplace ($38, from Lowes). This one folds nicely into a thin suitcase of 30"x36"x4" (from Amazon, 27 pounds, $46 + $18 shipping; also from this online shop, 36 pounds, $89+$39 shipping; also available from Home Depot in early September, at $47.97+tax).
We already have 2 picnic tables around the house. There is no point building another one. But a conceptual design can be entertained nonetheless:
- Table top: 30"x96" cut into 2 equal 30"x48" pieces (use 3/4" cabinet-quality plywood, $24.99 for a 4-ft x 8-ft sheet)
- Hardware: Use self-closing spring-loaded heavy hinge to link the 2 equal pieces ($14, also need to use 2 interlocking levers to prevent the hinge from closing onto itself when the table top is open to its flat position, $4)
Total material cost is around $65, to build it ourselves. The job is relatively simple, I think: 1). get Home Depot to cut the plywood (2 free cuts), 2). install legs (8 screws), 3). install the hinge (8 screws) and 2 levers (8 screws). But the material cost only is about the same as the purchase price from Amazon, and, the plywood table top a bit heavier. At the end of the day, "buy" might be winning over "build", in this case anyway.
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