Pallet to Potting Bench
I have a 12ft x 6.5ft x 6.5ft Poly Tunnel to put up in the next week or so, once the weather calms down a bit.
So in the meantime I was looking for a Potting Bench on line, and in the local garden centers.
I was disappointed at the build quality of the units on offer, the price was also excessive.
So I decided to make my own.
The cost of the bench was zilch, it was all materials I had in my shed.
That place is like a Tardis :-)
So in the meantime I was looking for a Potting Bench on line, and in the local garden centers.
I was disappointed at the build quality of the units on offer, the price was also excessive.
So I decided to make my own.
The cost of the bench was zilch, it was all materials I had in my shed.
That place is like a Tardis :-)
The Pallets
The local community hall is being refurbished after a fire.
The skip outside was full of rubbish, but down the side was an 8' x 4' pallet they use for dry wall transportation.
I managed to wrestle it out of the skip,(with great difficulty). then carried it half a mile home.
Not the lightest thing to haul about.
The one in the photo is a 2nd pallet they left out for me, I used an old skateboard and some rope to roll this one home.
No way would they fit in a car.
I plan to use this one for shelves in the Poly tunnel.
The skip outside was full of rubbish, but down the side was an 8' x 4' pallet they use for dry wall transportation.
I managed to wrestle it out of the skip,(with great difficulty). then carried it half a mile home.
Not the lightest thing to haul about.
The one in the photo is a 2nd pallet they left out for me, I used an old skateboard and some rope to roll this one home.
No way would they fit in a car.
I plan to use this one for shelves in the Poly tunnel.
Break Down
I broke the pallet down, using an old broken garden fork.
It popped the planks without any split or damage.
I then cleaned and sanded the planks down before I began the build.
It popped the planks without any split or damage.
I then cleaned and sanded the planks down before I began the build.
The Frame
The pallet yielded 8 planks, 4 x 8ft x 3.5in and 4 x 8ft' x 5.5in planks.
I also had 5 x 4ft x 2in x 3in posts.
I cut 2 of the posts down to 3ft and left the others at 4ft
I also halved the 8ft planks into 4ft lengths.
I must have removed about 60 nails.
I also had 5 x 4ft x 2in x 3in posts.
I cut 2 of the posts down to 3ft and left the others at 4ft
I also halved the 8ft planks into 4ft lengths.
I must have removed about 60 nails.
The Build
The construction was pretty fast and simple.
I did use other scraps of board, wood and offcuts I had laying around.
The frame was nailed and screwed together.
I did use other scraps of board, wood and offcuts I had laying around.
The frame was nailed and screwed together.
The Topping
The work surface of the bench was just the same as the shop bought ones.
quite rough with gaps and uneven lumps and bumps.
I found 3 x 4' laminate floor boards in my shed.
I trimmed these up and used them as the work top.
It gives a nice smooth surface to work on, and makes it easy to clean off.
quite rough with gaps and uneven lumps and bumps.
I found 3 x 4' laminate floor boards in my shed.
I trimmed these up and used them as the work top.
It gives a nice smooth surface to work on, and makes it easy to clean off.
The Shelf
The lower shelf was made from an old fence that was blown down by the wind some time ago.
The frame was painted 2 tone with shed and fence paint.
I used a scroll saw to shape the bottom rail, I made a cardboard template for the shape.
I may add an eye level shelf and some hooks for tools at a later date.
But if you have the time, the materials and need a potting bench, give it a try.
The frame was painted 2 tone with shed and fence paint.
I used a scroll saw to shape the bottom rail, I made a cardboard template for the shape.
I may add an eye level shelf and some hooks for tools at a later date.
But if you have the time, the materials and need a potting bench, give it a try.