Make a potting bench

With wheels at one end, Mark Rayner's handy unit is easy to move.

You will need:

22mm treated plywood cut to the following dimensions:

1 x 1056mm x 400mm - Code A
1 x 1100mm x 444mm - Code B
2 x 1100mm x 100mm - Code C
2 x 400mm x 100mm - Code D
2 x 900mm x 100mm - Code E
2 x 900mm x 78mm - Code F
2 x 836mm x 100mm - Code G
2 x 836mm x 78mm - Code H
2 x 444mm x 539mm - Code I
2 x 713mm x 100mm - Code J

Also required: A stainless steel sink with plug fittings removed, three heavy duty 50mm castors, total height with mounting bracket 64mm, 40mm galvanised jolt head nails, 18mm zinc-plated pan head screws, exterior PVA glue, sandpaper, jigsaw, saw, drill with drill bits, hammer, screwdriver, tape measure, set square, pencil, paintbrush and turps for washing it. Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain tinted to Resene Grey Green.

Step 1
Cut the plywood to the dimensions listed. Smooth any rough edges with sandpaper.

Step 2
With the jigsaw, cut a hole in piece A for the sink, as shown. Smooth rough edges with sandpaper.

Step 3
To form the top of the bench, fix pieces C and D to piece A with nails and PVA glue.

Step 4
To form the legs, fix pieces E and F together, and pieces G and H together, with nails and glue.

Step 5
Turn the top upside down. Nail and glue the two longer legs to one end of the bench. Then nail and glue the two shorter legs to the other end. Use a set square to ensure the legs are at right angles.

Step 6
Turn the unit on its side. With PVA glue and nails, fix pieces J to pieces I to form the shelves and check they are level and evenly spaced.

Step 7
Turn the unit upside down. For the base, glue and nail piece B into place. Use zinc-plated screws to attach three castors along B’s shortest edge so the unit stands level when up the right way.

Step 8
Stir the Resene Woodsman penetrating oil stain with a wide, flat paint stirrer. Apply two coats to the unit (brush in the direction of the grain). Leave each coat 24 hours to dry. Slot the sink in place.

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Resene Paints (Australia) Limited – www.resene.com