How to Make a Potting Bench Easily

Potting benches are work spaces set up to pot flowers or small seedlings for the garden. These benches usually have a box to contain soil, keeping it off the floor, and storage for small gardening supplies. Make a potting bench easily by using a vintage sewing machine table. The built-in hole, used for holding the sewing machine, is ideal for access to a soil box. The hinged flip-top table extension adds extra work space and covers the potting mess when not in use. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Open the hinged flip-top table on the sewing table. Remove the sewing machine by unplugging the cords from the machine. Turn the sewing table upside down. All sewing tables will have a shelf, carriage or brackets underneath the tabletop. These components are what hold the sewing machine in place while stored under the tabletop or in an upright position for sewing. Use a screwdriver to remove the hardware that is holding these components in place.

2

Measure the dimensions of the hole in the tabletop. This is how big the opening will be for your soil box. Add 2 inches to the width and length measurements. Use a jigsaw to cut two pieces from a 1-by-6 board using the length measurement. Cut two pieces from a 1-by-6 board using the width measurement, plus 1 inch.

3

Stand each of the boards on a long side and form into a rectangle. Place the ends of the width boards over the ends of the length boards. Attach the corners. Drill two pilot holes through the outer side of a width board end and into the cut ends of a length board. Insert 2-inch wood screws into the pilot holes and attach. Repeat on the remaining corners. This is your box frame.

4

Place the box frame on a scrap of 1/4-inch-thick plywood. Trace around the outside of the frame using a pencil. Cut the traced shape using a jigsaw. This is the bottom of your box.

5

Place the cut plywood on the frame and align the edges. Attach the bottom to the frame. Space pilot holes approximately 2 inches apart, through the plywood bottom and into the frame. Insert 2-inch wood screws into the pilot holes and attach.

6

Stand the sewing table right side up. Hold the box under the tabletop and align with the table's hole. Use a brace or the help of a friend to hold the box in place. Space pilot holes approximately 2 inches apart, through the tabletop and into the frame of the box. Insert 2-inch wood screws into the pilot holes and attach.

7

Attach cup hooks into the front edge of the sewing table. Hang hand gardening tools from the hooks. Place seeds and other small potting supplies in the drawers.