DIY Plant Box Stand

I’ve been needing some more space for plants. Something that doesn’t take up a lot of floor space (I love this one we made and gave to Caitlin last year; but I needed something a little smaller) and something I could move around to sit in front of different windows to get the best lighting throughout the year. So pretty much a box, on legs, for plants…😏 And that’s what we made! I loved these stands, but wanted to customize the size and look, so we DIY’d something similar. This little stand is perfect for being able to move from room to room as needed. And I’m excited to have an excuse to get plants to keep it filled! And hopefully now that I have a place to get the best lighting, some of my plants that haven’t done as well can thrive!Materials:

– 1 x 8 x 8’ pine
– 5/4 x 3.5 x 8’ pine
– 3/8 inch doweling kit
– 3/8 dowels (you’ll need more than come in the kit)
– drill
– nail gun and compressor
– table saw
– power planer
– mitre saw
Directions:

With the table saw, cut the 1×8 to 6 inches wide and cut the 5/4 into two pieces 1-1/8” wide.

Using the power planer, take 1/32 off all four of the edges on the 1-1/8” pieces

With the mitre saw, cut two 24” pieces, two 22-7/8” and two pieces 7-7/8”.

Using the mitre saw, cut the 6” wide piece into two 25” pieces and two 8-1/2” pieces and one 23-1/2” piece.

Make a mark in the center of the ends of the 5/4 by 22 7/8” pieces (leg cross pieces).

Using the doweling kit, set the stop on the 3/8” drill bit at a little more than half the length of the dowels.

Drill the holes into the ends of the 22-7/8” pieces.

Use the dowel center provided in the dowel kit to mark where the hole will go in the side of the 24” (legs) piece. Lay the leg cross piece on a flat surface and place the leg standing up against the end of the leg cross piece and press together so that the dowel center will make a mark in the side of the leg where the dowel hole will go. Make sure to label the bottom of the leg cross piece with a matching mark on the bottom of the leg so that you will know that they go together.

Repeat these steps with the other other three legs and other leg cross piece.

Set your drill stop so that the drill bit will not go through the leg. Drill the holes in the 4 legs.

Take a set of legs and leg cross piece and put glue into the holes on the legs and insert a dowel into the hole, use enough glue in the hole so that when you push the dowel in, a small amount of glue comes up around the dowel.

Put glue into the hole in the end of the leg cross piece and spread a little glue on the end of it; slide this onto the dowel in the leg.

Make sure the marks on the bottom are correct, put glue in the hole in the other end of the leg cross piece and spread some glue on the end. Slide this onto the dowel in the other leg.

Lay them all on a flat surface and use a clamp to clamp them together; check the measurement at the top of the legs to make sure it is the same as the length of the leg cross piece, if it is not shift your clamp up or down to make it correct.

Repeat with the other set. Let glue dry.

Drill a dowel hole in the center of the ends of the two 7-7/8” pieces (cross pieces) with the stop collar set to drill a little more than half the length of the dowels.

Draw a mark on the top inside of the leg cross piece 3” in from the edge of the leg on all 4 ends of each leg assembly.

Put the dowel center in the end of one of the cross pieces and with the leg assembly standing up on a flat surface, line up the outside edge of the cross piece with the line and press the pieces together to make a mark for the center of the dowel hole. Make sure to mark the bottom of the cross piece and the bottom of the leg assembly at each location so that you know which ones match, repeat at each location.

Set the stop collar so that the drill bit will not drill through the leg assembly. Drill each of the four holes.

Lay the leg assemblies down so that the holes are facing up, put glue into each of the holes and insert the dowels.

Put glue in the holes in each end of the cross pieces and spread some on each of the ends; making sure to match up the marks assemble the leg assemblies with the cross pieces between them.

Clamp together, making sure the gap is the same at the top of the legs as at the bottom. Allow glue to dry.

Assemble the plant box by glueing and nailing the 6” x 8-1/2” pieces between the 25 inch pieces, keeping the edges flush. Keep the nails at least 1-1/2” up from the bottom edge.

Center the 23-1/2” piece between the two sides and flush with the bottom and glue and nail it into place.

Set the drill stop collar to drill a little more than half the length of the dowel.

Mark the center of the top of each leg, 3/8” in from the outside on the long side of the assembly.

Drill the dowel holes.

Place dowel center in one of the holes and set the plant box in position with the leg edges flush with the outside of the box and press down to make a mark.

Repeat this with all 4 legs.

Drill the dowel holes in the bottom of the plant box.

Turn the plant box over and put glue and dowels in holes.

Put glue in the holes and on the tops of the legs.

Put the box on top of the legs and clamp in position, allow the glue to dry.

-Manda