FLOWER POTS

I made several flower pots for different hangers.

I resawed some rough cedar fence pickets for making the pots. I needed to sand both sides of the cedar. The inside needed to be smooth enough for wiping down the glue ooze out when gluing up. The outside needed to be smooth enough for the tape to stick to the cedar for gluing up.

I died the cedar different colors. Then I put a coat of shellac on the side that will be the inside. This is so that the glue ooze out will wipe off easily without soaking into the cedar.

The next step is to cut the staves. This way I have clean wood at the edges for the glue.

For the small pots, I cut the staves 4" long. The taper is 1 1/8" at the top, with 13/16" at the bottom. I used 12 staves, so the saw blade is tipped at 15°. The hole in the shelves is 3 1/2" diameter.

For the large pots, I cut the staves 5 1/4" long. The taper is 1 3/16" at the top, with 3/4" at the bottom. I used 18 staves, so the saw blade is tipped at 10°. The hole in the shelves is 5 1/8" diameter.

I taped the outside of the staves. Then flipped the assembly over, ready for glue up.

Now I can spread a thin bead of waterproof wood glue in the joints of the staves. After they are glued up, just wrap the assembly and wipe out all the excess glue with wet paper towels. Now you see why I shellaced the inside of the staves.

For the smaller flower pots I made a teardrop hanger. To bend the wood, I ripped it the about 1/8" thick, so that it would bend easily.

Here is a form made to shape the wood. I laminated three layers of 1/8" boards with waterproof wood glue. Before assembling the laminations, I wiped the form with candle wax, so that the glue wouldn't stick to the form.

For clamping the top joint together, you need to add some temporary blocks for the clamps to have a place to grip on to. The temporary blocks can be glued on with hot glue.

When your done with the clamping, a little denatured alcohol dissolves the hot glue. The temporary blocks just fall off, with no glue residue left.

A jointer makes it easy to clean up the edges.

For the shelves I used a scroll saw to cut the holes.

I held the teardrop shape on the shelf to mark the angle that needed to be cut, then cut ii on the bandsaw.

I wanted to use dowels to attach the shelves. To keep the unit weatherproof I wanted to use dowels made of white oak. I didn't have any on hand, so I made some. I ripped some 5/16" strips, then used an 1/8" roundover router bit. to shape the dowel.