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Rust-Oleum Projects

Modern Mini-Cactus Planters

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  • Dresser After
    Turn Old Dresser into Modern Entry Table
  • Wall art constructed of wooden boards and metal dowel rods
    Modern Wood Wall Art

  • Estimated Time

    4-5 Hours

  • Challenge Level

    Easy

  • Tools & Supplies:

    • 16" x 2 1/2" x 2 3/4" Piece of Solid Wood Stock Material
    • 1 7/8" Forstner or Spade Drill Bit
    • Drill
    • Power Chop/Miter Saw or Handsaw
    • Sandpaper: grits 100, 150, 220
    • Painter's tape
    • 4 Mini-Cactus/Succulent Plants
    • White Aquarium Gravel
Find In Store

  1. Select and cut a piece of wood stock close to the dimensions outlined above, with interesting or attractive straight wood grain along the 2 3/4" surface. This will be the front face of your planters.
  2. Set your miter saw (or mark a line) at 7 degrees and cut both ends of your piece so it resembles a long trapezoidal shape — sloping at a downward angle from top to bottom along the 2 3/4" side.
  3. Locate three unequally-spaced lines along the length of the piece and cut along each at a 15-degree angle so that you have four pieces total at different lengths.
  4. Locate the center along the top widths of each piece and draw a line along the top length of each piece. That line will represent the center of the 1 7/8" planter hole that will be drilled into each piece. Mark a randomly-spaced hole along the center lines of each piece.
  5. Securely fasten each piece in a vise or with a clamp and drill a hole in the top each piece to a depth of ~ 2".
  6. Sand all the parts with 100, 150 and 220-grit sandpapers and remove all remaining dust.
  7. Apply two coats of wood stain to each piece according to product instructions and allow to dry for 24 hours.
  8. With the painter’s tape, carefully cover all sides of the pieces except for the end-grain.
  9. Apply three to four coats of spray paint to the end-grain of each piece. Allow to dry for 24 hours before carefully removing the painter’s tape.
  10. Transplant each plant into the wood planters and cover the top surface with white aquarium gravel.
  11. Position your pieces so that the original grain orientation connects from one piece to the next, while keeping a space of about 1/2"-1" between each of the white-painted ends.