How to make a potting bench

Collect some rough-sawn timber and fence palings, and get stuck into this practical project ideal for a winter weekend.

To get the look: Mark painted the background wall with Resene Lumbersider tinted to Resene Rockbottom.

You will need: Rough sawn timber planks - ours were approx. 25mm x 100mm, two 1.2m fence palings, hand brush, clamps, exterior PVA glue, 40mm exterior wood screws, 40mm flat head galvanised nails, sandpaper and sanding block, screwdriver, set square, tape measure, hammer, paint stirrer and a paintbrush.

Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain tinted to Resene Earthsong and mineral turpentine for washing your brush.

Instructions

Step 1
To make back legs, measure, mark and cut four 1.2m lengths of timber and fix together, as shown, using PVA glue and wood screws.

Step 2
To make front legs, measure, mark and cut four 900mm lengths of timber and fix together, as shown, using PVA glue and wood screws.

Step 3
Measure, mark and cut a 1.2m length of timber. Fix the two front legs together, as shown, using PVA glue and wood screws. Use a set square to ensure corners are at right angles.

Step 4
Measure, mark and cut a 1.2m length of timber. Fix the two back legs together, as shown, using PVA glue and wood screws. Use a set square to ensure corners are at right angles.

Step 5
Measure, mark and cut two 650mm lengths of timber. Fix the front and back sections together, as shown, using PVA glue and wood screws. Use a set square to ensure corners are at right angles.

Step 6
Measure, mark and cut two 1.2m lengths of timber and two 650mm lengths of timber. Attach to the structure approximately 100mm from the base of each leg. Fix a piece of timber down the centre of the back and another piece along the top of the structure, as shown.

Step 7
Measure, mark and cut planks to fit across the main working area of the bench and shorter planks to fit across the lower shelf, as shown. Fix with PVA glue and nails.

Step 8
Fit the two fence palings across the back section, as shown, to create rear shelves. Fix with PVA glue and wood screws.

Step 9
Sand the entire bench with coarse sandpaper and dust off any sanding residue with a hand brush.

Step 10
Carefully stir the Resene Woodsman.

Step 11
Apply two coats of Resene Woodsman to the potting bench, allowing 24 hours for each coat to dry. Wash brush in mineral turpentine.

Top tip
If assembling the potting bench on your own, use clamps to hold wood in place while fixing together.

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