How to: Do-It-Yourself Garden Work Table

Garden worktables take the pressure off garden enthusiasts. If you have a garden worktable, all the back-aching work of the garden, such as potting plants, can take place at back-friendly height. These tables also serve as a handy place for storing garden tools. If you're woodworking savvy as well as a whiz in the garden, make your own simple garden worktable. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Cut the 2-by-4 lumber into two lengths of 54 inches and two lengths of 34 inches, then use the miter box to trim the ends to 45-degree angles. Cut six planks more to 30 inches. Cut the plywood into a 34-by-54-inch piece and a 30-by-36-inch piece. Sand all the components.

2

Form the planks with the mitered ends into a rectangular frame. The 45-degree angled ends will mate to form 90-degree corners. Use one wood screw through each side of the corners to screw them together -- 8 screws in total for securing the frame together.

3

Place the 34-by-54-inch plywood sheet over the top and secure it into the frame with three screws evenly spaced along the shorter sides and four evenly spaced along the longer sides.

4

Turn the frame upside down so the plywood is flat on the work surface. Clamp four of the 30-inch planks into each corner of the frame -- the 4-inch face of the planks should be flush with the 34-inch side of the frames and the planks should jut upward at right angles. These are the legs of the garden worktable.

5

Drive two screws through the shorter sides of the frame into the legs and two through the longer side into the legs -- use four screws all together for each leg. Turn the table back upright, and rest it on the legs.

6

Position the remaining two 30-inch planks across the legs 5 inches from the ground to create the cleats, or supports of the table's under-shelf. Secure the cleats in place with two screws through the cleats into each leg.

7

Place the 30-by-36-inch plywood piece over the cleats and secure in place with three screws evenly spaced through the top of the shelf into the cleats.

8

Varnish or paint the garden worktable, applying two coats. Follow the manufacturer's recommended drying times between coats.