®

PROJECT PLAN

Cedar potting bench

This article originally appeared in The Family Handyman magazine.
For subscription information, visit www.familyhandyman.com

Please note that pages that appeared in the magazine as advertisements will not be included with this pdf. Page numbering may be
interrupted if an advertisement ran within the original story. Addresses, phone numbers, prices, part numbers and other information
may have changed since original publication.

Copyright ©2005 Home Service Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction, in any manner, is prohibited. The Family Handyman, Handy Hints and Great Goofs are regis-
tered trademarks of RD Publications, Inc. Ask Handyman, Handyman Garage, How a House Works, Re.Do, Re.Mod, TFH Reports, The Home Improvement Authority, Using Tools,
Woodworks, Wordless Workshop, Workshop Tips, You Can Fix It, You Can Grow It are trademarks of RD Publications, Inc.
Cedar
Potting Bench
You can
build this
handy
potting
bench in a
weekend.

Whether you’re
a spare-time
gardener or a
hard-core enthu-
siast, this bench
is for you. It has
plenty of storage
to keep all your
SOLID GRATE-
NOTCHED
plant supplies in
COVERED
JOINTS BUILT-IN DIRT one convenient
POTTING CATCHER location, and it
SOIL
CONTAINER features a built-in
potting soil con-
tainer and a
grate-covered dirt
REMOVABLE catcher to make
CONTAINER messy potting
COVER
and cleanup a
snap.
by Jeff Gorton

THE FAMILY HANDYMAN JULY / AUGUST 2000 69

Fig. A POTTING BENCH A 1/4"
6 S R

1-1/2" x H 2 N
3/4" (BACK)
1-3/4" 2" (FRONT)
NOTCH
1

REMOVABLE GRATE

R,S
SHELF M
K
BRACKET
Q 1
1-1/2" x
1-3/4"
H NOTCH REMOVABLE
COVER

N 2,4
K
Q Q
M
Q
P

J P
E
U
L
T
W
1
2 CUT OUT 1
TO FIT

1 G

E
2,4
T
1-1/2" x 1
2-1/2"
2 F NOTCH

B
V

1/4" SPACING
A D C
F
1" x
2-1/2"
1 NOTCH
C
2,5
F,J
A C,E 3/4"
2 FASTENERS
1. 1-1/4" STAINLESS SCREWS
2. 2" STAINLESS SCREWS
3/4" x 1-3/4" F,G
3. 3" STAINLESS SCREWS
3/4" NOTCHES
4. 3/8" WOOD SCREW PLUGS
5. 3/8" WOOD BUTTON PLUGS
C,E B 3,5 6. 1-1/4" FINISH NAILS 3,5 B

62" (REAR LEG A)

55-1/2"
2" x 45° 44"
BEVEL 29-1/2"
3-1/2" 3-1/2" 7-1/4" 2-1/2" 6"

2-1/2" 3/4" DEEP (TYPICAL)

LEG NOTCHES 3-1/2"

33" (FRONT LEG B)

70 JULY / AUGUST 2000 THE FAMILY HANDYMAN

Shopping List Cutting List
ITEM QTY. KEY PCS. SIZE & DESCRIPTION
2x6 x 8’ cedar (rip A 2 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 62” (back legs)
to 2-1/2” for legs) 1 B 2 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 33” (front legs)
2x4 x 6’ cedar (rip
to 2-1/2” for lower C 2 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 21” (lower
cross members) 1 cross members)
2x4 x 4’ cedar 1 D 1 1-1/2” x 2-1/2” x 21” (middle
1x2 x 4’ cedar 3 cross member)
1x3 x 8’ cedar 1 E 2 1-1/2” x 3-1/2” x 21” (upper SQUARE
1x4 x 8’ cedar 2
cross members)
1x8 x 4’ cedar 3
5/4 x 6 x 4’ F 2 3/4” x 2-1/2” x 47” (lower rails)
bullnose cedar 9 G 1 3/4” x 3-1/2” x 47” (upper rail)
2’ x 2’ 3/4” H 2 3/4” x 3-1/2” x 47” (shelf rails)
plywood 1 J 1 3/4” x 7-1/4” x 47” (backsplash)
HARDWARE K 2 3/4” x 7-1/4” x 47” (shelves)
1-1/4” stainless L 1 3/4” x 3-1/2” x 42-1/2”
steel screws 80
(bench-top support)
2” stainless steel BACK
screws 50 M 2 3/4” x 1-1/2” x 10-1/2” (cover
LEGS (A)
3” stainless steel cleats)
3/4" DEEP

1
screws 10 N 2 3/4” x 1-1/2” x 12-1/2” (grate
1-1/4” finish nails 1 lb. KERFS
cleats)
3/8” wood screw P 2 1” x 5-1/2” x 23” (bench-top
plugs* 30
3/8” wood button ends; cut to fit)
plugs* 10 Q 5 1” x 5-1/2” x 23” (bench top)
10-oz. tube of con- R 7 1” x 1” x 23-1/2” (slats)
MARK THE NOTCH LOCATIONS on the legs (A and B)
struction adhesive 1 S 12 1” x 1” x 4” (spacers)
Water-resistant using the dimensions in Fig. A. Make a series of 3/4-in. deep
T 2 3/4” x 1-1/2” x 25-1/2”
wood glue 1 saw kerfs about 1/4 in. apart to create the notches.
(container cleats)
6”x 8” decorative
shelf brackets 4 U 2 3/4” x 1-1/2” x 16-3/4”
10”x 14” x 18” deep (bench-top cleats)
Rubbermaid V 4 1” x 5-1/2” x 47” (lower shelf)
wastebasket 1 W 1 12-3/4” x 20-1/4” x 3/4”
14” x 20” x 4” deep
plywood (container support)
litter pan 1
100-grit sandpaper
* Wood plugs are available from home centers
sheets 2
and Woodcraft (800-225-1153, or on-line at
www.woodcraft.com). NOTCHES
FOR SHELF
RAILS (H) CHISEL

In this article, we’ll show you how to build this cedar potting
bench in a weekend with about $176 worth of materials.
We designed this bench to be strong without complex joints.
An experienced woodworker can complete this potting bench in
a day. If you’re a beginner, allow two or three days.
You’ll need basic carpentry tools like a tape measure, large
and small squares, and a chisel. You could make most of the cuts
for this potting bench with a circular saw. However, a power
miter box will ensure perfectly square end cuts, and a table saw
is almost essential for cutting the grate slats. If you don’t have a
table saw, ask a friend, neighbor or the staff at the lumberyard to
cut the pieces for you. You’ll also need a drill with the bits men-
2 WOOD
RASP

tioned in the story and a jigsaw. CHISEL OUT THE WASTE WOOD from the notches and
smooth the bottom with a wood rasp.

Choose straight, nice-looking lumber

the bench. Also, avoid boards with large knots, which
Use the Shopping List above to buy your materials. We used will weaken key parts and make it harder to cut the
cedar for our bench, but pine is cheaper. Consider using pres- notches.
sure-treated pine if you’ll be leaving the bench outside. All of When you get your materials home, cut the pieces to
these are available at home centers and lumberyards. But make size using the Cutting List above. Many of the parts, like
sure to pick straight boards with at least one nice-looking side. the 1 x 1-in. slats for the grate and the 2-1/2 in. wide legs,
You can hide a few minor defects on the back or underside of

THE FAMILY HANDYMAN JULY / AUGUST 2000 71

Cedar Potting Bench

have to be cut the length of the board. This operation,

3 FRONT LEG
ASSEMBLY

called ripping, is possible with a circular saw, but it’s much

quicker, easier and more accurate with a table saw.

Make
tight-fitting
FRAMING SQUARE
joints for a
strong bench SPREAD A SMALL
BACKSPLASH (J) 2" SCREWS

BEAD OF CONSTRUC-
Photos 1 and 2 show how TION ADHESIVE in SHELF
RAILS (H)
to notch the legs for the each notch and lay the
horizontal pieces in BACK LEGS (A)
horizontal cross members.
place. Use a framing
Notching looks tricky, but square to make sure the
5/32"
HOLES
it’s simple if you follow cross members are at
these key steps: First clamp right angles to the legs, CONSTRUCTION
each pair of legs together, then drive a pair of 2-in. ADHESIVE
screws at each joint.
and using dimensions from
Fig. A, mark the lower edge
of each notch. Use a square
to draw lines across the
boards at these marks.
Then align the correspond-

4
SCREW THE HORIZONTAL CROSS
ing horizontal board with MEMBERS (C and E) to the back leg
this line and mark along assembly. Drill and countersink the front
leg assembly and attach it to members
the opposite edge to get an
C and E with 3-in. screws. Cover the screws
exact width. Using the with decorative wood plugs.
boards in this manner to LOWER
mark the width of the RAIL (F)
notch is more accu- 3" SCREWS
rate than measur-
ing. When you FRONT LEGS (B)
saw the notch, 3/4"
cut to the waste side SPACER
BLOCK
of the pencil line, leaving
the line on the board.
You can always enlarge
the notch or plane the
board to fit a notch that’s LOWER CROSS
too tight, but you can’t MEMBERS (C)

shrink a notch that’s too

wide. Tight-fitting UPPER CROSS
MEMBERS (E)
joints strengthen the
LOWER 2" SCREWS
bench and look
RAIL (F)
better too.

72 JULY / AUGUST 2000 THE FAMILY HANDYMAN

Assembly is
5
BENCH-TOP
SUPPORT (L)
quick once the CONTAINER
TRACE THE
WASTEBASKET onto the
parts are cut CLEAT (T) 3/4-in. plywood (W). Draw
a second line about 1/2 in.
inside the traced outline.
Photos 3 and 4 show how Drill a 1/2-in. starter hole
1/2"
to assemble the leg sections STARTER and cut along the inside
and connect them to form HOLES line with a jigsaw. Screw
the bench-top support (L)
the bench frame. Before and container cleats (T) to
you screw the horizontal the bench and screw the
pieces to the legs, pick the plywood (W) into place.
best-looking side of the WASTEBASKET
boards and make sure it’s OUTLINE

facing the front of the JIGSAW

PLYWOOD (W) WASTEBASKET
bench. (The best sides are
facing down in Photo 3.)
Drill 5/32-in. clearance
holes through the cross
GLUE AND NAIL THE
members to avoid splitting SLATS and spacers
them and to allow the together to make the grate.
1-1/4"
screws to draw the boards NAILS Drill 1/16-in. pilot holes for
WATER- the nails to prevent split-
tight to the legs. RESISTANT
GLUE ting the wood. Spread
Use only one 1-1/4 in. water-resistant glue on
screw to attach parts F and both surfaces and nail the
G to the front legs. Center SPACERS (S) slats and spacers together
the screw so it doesn’t SLATS (R) with 1-1/4 in. finish nails.
Clamp the completed

6
interfere with the 3-in. assembly with bar clamps
screws you’ll be installing and allow it to dry
1/16"
to secure the leg assembly DRILL overnight. Trim the 23-1/2
BIT in. grate to 23 in. with your
(Photo 4). Use a 3/4-in.
circular saw or table saw
spacer block (Photo 4) to and sand the edge smooth.
align the cross members
(E) before you drive in the
3-in. screws.
If you’ll be leaving your
POTTING SOIL
bench outdoors, use stain- CONTAINER
less steel screws or corro- (WASTEBASKET)

sion-resistant deck screws.

ASSEMBLE THE COVER
For extra strength and for the dirt container by
durability, put a small dab screwing cleats (M) to the
of construction adhesive bottom of the 5/4 x 6-in.
CLEATS (M) decking (Q). Screw cleats
on each joint before you
DIRT CATCHER (N) to the bottom of the
screw the pieces together. (PLASTIC LITTER completed grate.
To hide the 3-in. screws BENCH-TOP BOX)
BOARDS (Q)
that secure the front legs,
use a 3/8-in. brad point
drill bit to drill 1/4-in. deep
recesses before you drill
the 5/32-in. clearance
GRATE
7
THE FAMILY HANDYMAN JULY / AUGUST 2000 73
 BENCH-TOP
8 ATTACH THE
FIXED BENCH-
TOP PIECES (Q)
with 1-1/4 in.
Cedar Potting Bench

The bench top is made of 1-in.

3/8" WOOD END (P) screws driven up
PLUGS thick bullnose cedar decking. Join
through the
bench-top cleats two pieces with cleats to make a
(U). Secure the removable cover for the dirt con-
bench-top ends tainer (Photo 7). Glue 1 x 1-in. slats
(P) and bottom
together with water-resistant wood
shelf boards (V)
by driving glue to form the grate (Photo 6).
1-1/4 in. screws Scrape off excess glue before it dries.
through predrilled Then allow the glue to dry overnight
and countersunk
before you sand the grate and trim
holes. Conceal
these screws with the ends flush. Screw cleats to the
3/8" WOOD
BUTTONS wood plugs glued bottom of the grate to keep it posi-
5/32"
HOLES
into the recesses. tioned and allow easy removal.
Sand the plugs
The width of the end pieces (P)
flush when the
BENCH-TOP glue dries. varies, depending on the dimensions
CLEAT (U)
of your decking. To determine the
holes. Then glue 3/8-in. wood but- Photo 5 shows how to mark and width, first center the grate, remov-
tons into the recesses after you screw cut the plywood that supports the able cover and three more boards on
the parts together. potting soil container. We used a the bench top, leaving an equal space
Keep a framing square handy as plastic wastebasket, but any con- on each end. Then measure the dis-
you assemble the leg sections and tainer with a lip will work. Trace the tance from the last board to the out-
bench frame and use it to make sure shape on a piece of plywood and then side edge of the back leg and cut and
the assemblies are square before you cut the hole a little smaller so the ply- notch the end pieces to fit.
tighten the screws. wood supports the lip. Glue 3/8-in. wood plugs into

74 JULY / AUGUST 2000 THE FAMILY HANDYMAN

3/8-in. by 1/4-in. deep recesses to hide the screws that
9 SHELF (K)

hold the two end pieces (P) and lower shelf boards in
NOTCH FOR
place. Sand them flush after the glue dries. LEG
Complete the potting bench by notching the 1x8
shelves (Photo 9) and securing them with 2-in. screws
through the horizontal 1x4 shelf rails (H). We used
black metal shelf brackets to support the ends.

Protect your bench

with a good finish REMOVABLE
COVER
Unfinished cedar has some resistance to decay, but the
best strategy is to apply a top-quality exterior finish to
keep the wood from cracking, splitting and rotting.
Penetrating oil–type finishes with a small amount of
pigment provide a natural look and reduce fading. Fin-
ishes that leave a film provide the best protection. Spar
LOWER
varnish or Sikkens are two examples. Take extra pre- SHELF (V)
cautions to seal the bottom of the legs to keep them
from absorbing moisture from the damp ground. For
interior use, any good-quality varnish will work.
Art Direction • BARBARA PEDERSON
NOTCH THE SHELVES (K) and slide them into place. Screw
Photography • BILL ZUEHLKE and RAMON MORENO through the shelf rails (H) into the shelves. Support the front of
Technical Art • EUGENE THOMPSON the shelves with metal brackets.

THE FAMILY HANDYMAN JULY / AUGUST 2000 75