Slot Together Pyramid Garden Planter

Intro: Slot Together Pyramid Garden Planter

I have been busy with my Pallet Dismantling bar again, and this time I have made slot together pyramid garden planter from the reclaimed Pallet timbers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipQLy-0Pfag

This planter took me approximately 90 minutes to make: The design is simple, and so is the required level of woodworking skill, the only tools required are a square, pencil, electric/cordless drill and suitable spade end drill bit, and a tenon saw; although a chisel and some sand paper would be useful for tidying up the slip joints.

I cut down some 2.4 metre long pallet deck planks that were 9 cm wide and 1.9 cm thick to 1.9 mtrs long for the base tier so that the tier inside the slip joints is a 1.8 mtr X 1.8 mtr square.

STEP 1:

The corner slip joints for the first (base) tier are positioned 5 cm from the end of each plank and this measurement is used for the corners of all of the tiers. The slots for the tier above have been set at 20 cm in from the slots from the tier below, and again this measurement has been used throughout the construction of this planter.

Only the slip joint slots at the corners of the lower tier need to be half the plank's width in depth, this is to allow all four sides to sit firmly on the ground. All of the remaining slots used in this planter have been set at a depth of 1/3rd of the planks width.

Note that that the 1/2 depth slot is 5 cm from the end of the plank, and the 1/3  depth slot for the second tier is 20 cm in from the inside edge the first slot:

It is important to remember that on all the slip joints you are working inwards so that you keep the dimensions and the slots in the correct place.

STEP 2:

Each tier is 20cm in from the previous one, and the slots are cut 5cm from the end of each plank.

STEP 3:

After a couple of coats of wood preservative the pyramid planter is now ready to be assembled and placed in its final position before filling with compost and adding the flowers and plants.

Comments

[kc cabinite]

Very good instructable. I love this site cause I learn so many new things that I can make.
My friends all want one of these now. Think I may have found a way to finance my garden this year. Thank you!

[christopher.leblanc.98]

by turning the cut grove down instead of up like in your pics , they would last longer by allowing moisture to escape and not pool at the bottom of the joint , thus delaying decay significantly, great fesign though and 2x6 would last longer as well

[Gareth0123]

I'm sorry I don't understand what you mean "by turning the cut grove down instead of up."

There are two grooves to each slotted joint on every board.... one facing up and and one facing down as is clearly shown in photos 5 & 6 of step 1.


Yes I agree about using the 2X6,
However, this slot together planter was made using reclaimed pallet timbers, which are usually around 3/4" thick. There have been many hundreds of these planters made here in the United kingdom by various Not-for-profit wood recycling groups, and there sales have made many £1,000's for these groups.

[ZanWessel]

I was hoping to find an Instructable to create terraced planters for succulents. This is perfect!

[Gareth0123]

If you scroll about half way down the page of this forum posting of mine, you can see the version of this pyramid planter to create an area for my succulents and horseradish plants. http://overthegate.myfreeforum.org/about27455.html

[LeonardW1]

WOW BE POSITIVE

[strider1864]

[strider1864]

[adial1]

wow.. what a wonderful idea..now to convince my Husband

[daelan9999]

or you can try doing something yourself

[adial1]

well that would just take the fun right out of it ..If I did it ...:) hehehehe

I usually start all my garden projects and as like most Husbands they walk by and see what were doing...stop and look ..see that it's taking way too long and start helping and poof before you know it they are doing it anyways and you are left watching..LOL so I thought I would just delete the middle man and let him Start and finish :)

[Gareth0123]

I have now changed the wood preservative that I use on my reclaimed pallet timber projects from the store bought commercial made chemical based wood preservatives to a home blended raw linseed oil and beeswax.

This only takes 30 or so minutes to make, seems to cover an area approx. 3 X larger than the store bought preservatives, seems to be considerably more durable, has a wonderful "semi wet look" finish, and is made from only two natural ingredients; Cold pressed raw Linseed Oil, and Beeswax.

Here is a link to how I make it; https://www.instructables.com/id/Wood-Preserver-Home-Blended/

[elizabethingham1]

Where do you get pallets that size? I've been searching everywhere for them and would love to know. :) Love this project. :D

[Gareth0123]

I obtain the larger pallets from window manufacturing companies, Aluminium and Stainless Steel welding & fabrication companies, farm machinery dealers, and plastic roofing material retailers.

Here in the UK these companies have to pay for disposal of these large pallets, so they are usually very happy to let me take them away for free.

[domidrewno]

Hi! Great work! Please check this out -> scam profile on FB stealing your project -> https://www.facebook.com/PierreLab.Woodworking/pos...

[pepsidave48653]

You can use unfinished cedar for the planking as cedar is naturally rot resistant. The only downfall is the price. Cedar is more expensive than regular lumber.

[SlavicFMJ]

Love it man, just love it! My wife has been asking about a raised garden and now I will finally make one. Thanks!

[patricia341b]

Thank you! :)

[patricia341b]

Thank you for the great ideas!! :)

[Justice581]

I am new to this and would like to know instead of a wood preservative, would it be safe to use any type of paint?