Hot Summer's Day Project

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Summer's Day Project
It was like any other day in early June. The weather was beastly hot, the clear blue sky had a boring sameness about it and potted plants wilted under the unmerciful sunshine. Any real gardening has been done early in the morning before the temperature reached 90 degrees. The constant hum of the air conditioning had lulled me into a trance I call the heavy eyelid syndrome. Thoughts of a summer afternoon nap crossed my mind. Luckily I happened to pick up a garden catalog just for something to read and to help combat the effects of the heavy eyelid syndrome. On one page of the catalog a rustic wooden wheelbarrow caught one of my half opened eyes. I could make one I decided as I headed for the refrigerator to refill my tall tumbler with crushed ice and sun tea. The burst of energy and sudden impulse to do something constructive is the best medicine to combat heavy eyelids brought on by Tucson's hot summer days.

I looked around the carport for wood I had accumulated from other projects. Fortunately there were some cedar fence boards. I set up shop in the shade of the carport and pulled out a minimum of tools to go with my Workmate from Black & Decker that I would use as a working surface.

square
pencil
jigsaw
handsaw
hammer

galvanized finishing nails
tape measure
electric drill and drill bits
screwdriver & woodscrews
waterproof wood glue

The catalog page with the wheelbarrow read "No two are exactly alike." That meant my creation didn't have to be exactly like the one in the catalog. I could be creative so I improvised as I went along. The hardest part of the project was finding two pieces of wood to make the wheelbarrow handles. I ended up using two old tree stakes that were no longer in use. I happened to have a piece of 1/2 - inch wood dowel I used for the wheel's axle.

This prototype wheelbarrow was ready to hold a couple of potted plants. Petunias hanging over the side might be pretty.

As I looked at the finished project I decided I liked it but overall the wheelbarrow box was a bit too large. I needed a smaller version for the garden. It was back to the refrigerator for more iced-tea, the drawing board and then a trip to the lumber yard for a supply of inexpensive wood.

The Second Time Around
Once I had a basic plan for the wooden wheelbarrow it was pretty easy to make adjustments in size and style. I purchased inexpensive cedar fencing boards some 1 by 2's, 2 by 2's, wood screws and another 1/2 - inch wood dowel to use for the wheel axle.

I quickly made a 27 - inch wheelbarrow box and a 24 - inch wheelbarrow box. Then I made a 12 - inch diameter wheel and a 10 - inch diameter wheel. For the wheel two layers of wood were glued together making sure the wood ran in alternate direction on each side so that seams didn't match up. I used waterproof wood glue and finishing nails to hold the wood together. I used a piece of string and a pencil to draw the circumference of one wheel and traced the outline of a dinner platter for the other. A jigsaw made quick work of cutting out the wheel making sure I didn't cut into any of the finishing nails I had used to help hold the wheel together while the glue dried.

With the test model on the bottom two more boxes and two more wheels were made. All that was left was to attach the handles and wheel axles.
Three wooden wheelbarrows all a little different in appearance.

Probably the hardest part of the project was lining up the wheelbarrow handles and cutting them where they come together so there's enough room to slide in the wheel once holes are drilled for the axle. A finishing nail through the handle into the dowel axle holds the wheel in place. Made from a single piece of scrap cedar fencing the two legs were screwed to the handles.

One mistake I did make was using extremely green wood - it still had a lot of moisture in it. Once the projects were done and placed in the sun they dried out causing the wood to shrink which left some gaps I didn't expect. The gaps were unexpected but didn't harm the appearance of the decorative garden planters.

On the inside of the wheelbarrow two slats are screwed to the side panels to hold them together.
A small support beam is screwed to the bottom on the wheelbarrow box between the handles.
A large metal washer is placed on the axle between the wheel and the wheel support. A 1/2 - inch dowel is used as the wheel's axle and a single finishing nail driven into the dowel holds the wheel in place.

I ended up making four of the wheelbarrows including the prototype with no two looking exactly alike. I did nothing to protect the wood. If you decide to make a wheelbarrow and want to make it a bit more decorative a drawing on the side using a wood burning tool might prove interesting. Also paint could be added if natural wood doesn't fit with your garden needs. Sheet metal or even copper hammered around the wheel's circumference might also add to the decorative appeal.

A pot of yellow and orange portulaca add quick color to this decorative wheelbarrow.

With a minimum of tools, a little experimenting, and a free Saturday or Sunday afternoon just about anyone should be able to make a decorative wheelbarrow planter. (2000)