Better Homes and Gardens (Australia)
GO ON A d r
Make a copper cactus stand to hold all of your prickly little plants
BEFORE go eclectic with copper
by creating a curvy li le coop for your cacti. It’s as tough as they are but creates a sensual and sinuous counterpoint to the prickly nature of your plants.
STEP 19
over pot to make an inverted J curve. Repeat with fourth 1.5m pipe.
STEP 10 Remove tape from both ends of all pipes and pour out sand.
STEP 11 Place shapes on top of each other. Trim ends so they are level and save offcuts for 6 braces.
STEP 12 To accommodate braces, cut both cactus arms with pipe cuer along lower level of arm close to second bend, then above 4th bend, making sure cuts match on both arms. This gives about 200mm between shelves.
STEP 13 You now need to cut J shapes, but cuts must line up with cuts on arm. Place all pieces on template and mark on J shape the points that are level with cuts on arm. Cut J shapes.
STEP 14 Do a dry run and assemble arms and J shapes with T joiners. As you build, insert braces into joiners. Each joiner adds 10mm to length/breadth of shapes.
STEP 15 When happy with shapes, secure each join with Araldite. Clean up spills immediately with a cloth and methylated spirits.
STEP 16 Cut 50mm-thick timber block to size for plant stand base with circular saw.
STEP 17 Place stand on base and mark 4 holes for pipe ends. Using 3mm bit, drill holes. Enlarge with 12mm spade bit. Sand smooth. Add Araldite to holes and insert pipe ends.
STEP 18 To make shelves, measure width of stand between outer edge of cactus arm and opposite side. Mark measurement on fence paling and cut with circular saw. Measure width between main uprights, mark measurement on paling and cut 2 pieces with circular saw. Sand smooth.
STEP 19 Drill holes in shelf corners with 2mm bit, position in stand, then thread wire through holes to secure to braces. Tie off and trim with pliers.
CHARLIE ALBONE
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