How to build an open-shelf potting bench

DIY - $100 (Have it done for $300)

Skill - 2/5

Time  -Half a day

 

A budget solution for small spaces this bench is simple to make using butt joints and notches cut into the back legs for stability. It’s finished with two coats of clear polyurethane to protect the timber and keep it weatherproofed.

 

The bench frame is built using 90 x 35mm F5 pine, about $3 a metre, with the top and shelves cut from 2400 x 1200 x 19mm plywood, about $45 for half a sheet, and edged with 19mm thick pine, $2 a metre.

 

Have the parts cut by the supplier for accurate assembly or DIY using a circular saw and a straightedge guide.

 

To cut the shelf rails to size attach a rip fence to the circular saw.

 

TIP For all joints using screws, drill and countersink pilot holes before securing to prevent splitting and keep the heads flush with the surface.

 

The bench is 980mm high, an average height for most standing jobs.

 

To make it the same height as a standard kitchen benchtop, about 900mm, change the length of the legs and braces by adapting the cutting list measurements to suit.

 

TIP Secure the bench to a wall using coachscrews or Dynabolts, tightening them with a ratchet wrench.