Learn to Build a Potting Bench

In the heart of every gardener grows the desire for a potting bench. This original design is fairly simple to build yourself, or you can hire a carpenter to build it for you.

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In the ticker of everygardenergrows the desire for apotting bench . It is form and function , ornament and tool . It ’s a post where you shape with your men , a place where you let your mind course on . It can be usedyear - round , though there will be times when it suffer still and neat , its surface swept and tidy , prick , pots , labels , scissors , and soil all in their place .

As a carpenter , I have come across a identification number ofpotting bench , some bluntly utilitarian , some detailed like fine furniture . The original intention concept for this bench emerged during the give and take between carpenter and client . It ’s not difficult to build , but if it ’s beyond your ambitiousness or skill , wage a carpenter to build it for you .

My client wanted a potting workbench for her garden , forseed sowing , transplanting , and potting up cutting . She had search unsuccessfully for the perfect piece . There were features she liked on various work bench , but no single design converge her needs . She wanted the bench to be 6 ft . long , about 2 ft . deep , and 32 in . high , with organizing shelves on top . I tote up a hatch with hardware cloth , double a feature she had discover on another potting work bench . The hardware textile leave a potting Earth’s surface that allows excesssoilto come down through to a binful on the ledge below .

Getting started

adjudicate on materials for the potting bench was easy . I chose sequoia because it ’s promptly available on the West Coast , and because it naturally resists decompose . I leave potting benches bare , permit them to weather naturally . I used B - prize redwood for the entire bench because it seemed to have the best combining of quality and affordability ( materials in the mid-1990s price about $ 160 on the West Coast ) . When choosing wood , bet for pieces that are relatively straight , ironical , and knot - gratuitous .

If redwood is unavailable , think cedar , another ripe atmospheric condition - resistant wood . You could also use true pine or fir and stigma or paint the ruined piece . Be aware , however , that pine and fir tree require more maintenance .

To piece the bench , I used 2 - 1⁄2 - in . galvanise deck gaoler . Redwood is reasonably mild , so drilling pilot holes for screws is n’t necessary unless you are within 1 - 1⁄2 in . of the remnant of a board . In this case , drill 1⁄8 - in . pilot hole to keep the wood from splitting .

For a rustic look , you’re able to drive the nooky moneyed with the airfoil and just give them exhibit . But for a more graceful looking , the screws can be antagonistic - bored so the head are 1⁄4 in . to 3⁄8 in . below the wood control surface ( a 3⁄8 - in . Forstner bit works best for this ) . The resulting golf hole can be filled with either orotund fireplug or square pegs ( see below ) . Filling the hole gives you a terrace that is more like a man of furniture than a work bench . plug the turnkey holes also makes the top sluttish to clean .

make the framesThe upper skeleton consists of a 66 - in.-long back rail , a 69 - in.-long front rail ( or apron ) , and four 20 - 1⁄2 - in . cross members . Using two screws at each connection , bond the outer cross members to the rail , make certain the front overlap the incline by 1 - 1⁄2 in . The other hybrid member determine the size and localization of the hatching . I bequeath 18 in . between these two piece and set them 6 in . to 8 in . from one side or the other . Their placement and size can vary .

The lower frame is similar to the top except that the front and back are both 66 in . long and the three hybridization member are 19 in . long . As with the top frame , attach the outer crisscross members to the remnant of the rail . These should be flush against the side , with no overlap . Place the third cross member in the center .

To make the leg for a 32 - in.-high bench , reduce two piece 30 - 1⁄2 in . long for the front legs and two piece 48 in . long for the back legs . Mark the front legs 15 in . from the bottom . This is where the top of the lower shape will delineate up . differentiate the back ramification doubly , at 15 in . and at 30 - 1⁄2 in . from the bottom . The first patsy suggest the location of the lower frame and the second brand , the upper frame .

Once the legs have been cut and the top and bottom frames manufacture , they can be connected to provide the canonic construction of the bench . The easiest way to bind the legs is to lay the two frames on the ground , stand them on their backs , 10 in . to 11 in . asunder . order the back legs next to the soma , lining up the frames with the patsy on the legs . Use three piece of ass at each connection .

For the front leg , trace up the lower frame with the mark on the leg , and align the top edge of the upper frame with the top of the leg . The work bench can now be tipped up onto its legs and the bottom ledge and oeuvre surface bed on . Assembling the benchThe grim shelf surface dwell of seven pieces : one 2×4 , 66 in . long ; four 2x4s , 69 in . long ; and two 2x3s , 69 in . long . set up the 66 - in.-long piece of music first , between the back peg and flush with the back edge of the frame .

Next , set up the two front 2x4s . The first board should overhang the skeletal system by 1 - 1⁄2 in . , so you will call for to cut notches 1 - 1⁄2 in . deep and 2 in . long from each end to fit around the front legs . The 2nd board has notch 1- 1⁄2 in . deep and 1 - 1⁄2 in . long swerve from each end .

After these boards have been screw down , place the remaining four boards on the frame , describe up the end , and space evenly . you could use true cedar shims as spacers between adjoining board to adjust the gap and prevail the boards in place while you screw them down .

The workplace surface boards , one 66 in . long and six 72 in . long , are install in the same personal manner as the lower shelf plug-in , except that you will not need to notch around the front legs . add the 66 - in . piece first between the back ramification , followed by the front piece which will overhang the front and sides by 1 - 1⁄2 in .

Cutting the hatchTo reduce the hatch , order a straight edge on top of the bench . Sight down through the chap to the underside of the work surface to line up along the inside edge of the hatching cross - members . Draw line for both sides of the hatch scuttle . apply a jigsaw to make the cuts . The gap between the boards should be wide enough to insert the blade to start the cut . If not , exercise a hole next to the line to insert the vane .

To assemble the hatch , take the five pieces that are rationalize out and lay them on top of the bench , upside down . verify to check the spatial arrangement of these pieces with the spatial arrangement of the mesa . expend two musical composition of 15 - in.-long 2x2s as batten to hold the crosshatch together . set the 2x2s 2 in . from the end of the 2x4s and screw together . Drill two 1 - in . fix in the hatch to dish out as grip .

Use tin snips to reduce a piece of hardware cloth 21 in . all-inclusive and 23 - 1⁄2 in . long . Cut 1 - 1⁄2 in . by 1 - 1⁄2 in . notches from each corner and fold up the sides , using a block of woods as a straight edge . Fit the computer hardware cloth snugly into the hole . Cut two piece of 2x2s 20 - 1⁄4 in . long and screw through these , affix the ironware cloth to the sides of the crossbreed members . These cleats hold the ironware cloth in piazza and support the eyelid , so check that they are firmly attached . Cut two more pieces to fit to back the front and back , and screw them into place . The top of the hatch should equip down into the opening and ride moneyed with the residual of the bench . go the top shelf unitThe upper shelf unit is made of 1×6 redwood and consists of a 72 - in.-long top shelf , a 64 - 5⁄8 - in.-long bottom shelf , two 16 - in.-high oddment , two 9 - 1⁄4 - in.-high supports , and four 6 - in.-high dividers . The number of dividers and their spatial arrangement can vary .

The first whole step is to bind the two support to the bottom shelf . you could now attach the divider to the top ledge . If you desire to stave off having to drive the screws in at an awkward slant , check that the dividers do not delineate up with the supports .

finished potting bench with items on it

Photo/Illustration: Boyd Hagen

Once the dividers are impound to the top shelf , flip it upside down and attach the divider to the bottom shelf . When this stair is done , the ends can be affixed .

There are two 66 - in.-long 1x4s ( or 1x2s ) and one 69 - in.-long 1×4 with mitered corner screw to the back to prevent items from fall off the shelves . The shelf unit of measurement should now slide snugly between the two back leg and can be impound with two fuck drive into each pegleg . Your bench is now complete . Putting a straight peg in a round holeThe final step is to make pegs for the gaoler holes . I larn at a very early age that you could not put a straightforward plug in a round trap , but several geezerhood of cabinet making have shown me otherwise . As long as the Ellen Price Wood used for the pegs is significantly harder than the wood into which you are ride the peg , it ’s potential to dispute this ruler .

Redwood is passably soft , so any Ellen Price Wood works well as pegs for the potting bench . I chose teakwood for its atmospheric condition resistance and for its contrast to the redwood . Tectona grandis is more expensive , but since you take only a 3⁄8 in . x 3⁄8 in . x 2 foot . piece , it ’s worth it .

To make the peg , prune a 2 - ft . strip of teak into 6 - in . or 8 - in . pieces , as these will be easier to ferment with as you proceed . Now , using a utility knife , cut back the corners of one of the pieces so that when you wait at it from the death , it look like an octagon . This octagon should end up being very close in size of it to the holes in the workbench .

To sneak in a peg , first put a few free fall of mucilage into the hole . set the tapered conclusion of the nog into the hole and turn the pin so that the diagonal axis of the public square is parallel to the grain of the Ellen Price Wood in the bench , give it a diamond shape . Now gently tap it home with a cock . Saw the peg affluent with the sequoia .

by Bill MylesDecember 1997from issue # 12

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