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Cost
$ $ $ $ $
Difficulty
• • • • •
Time
4h00

DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts
I made the first version of this project with my husband a few years ago. Since then, we’ve learned a lot about simplifying the process, so you get to benefit from our mistakes. Having a planter this size is perfect if you want to add flowers at a front entrance or plant herbs or vegetables right outside of your kitchen.

Posted by FW Media Published See FW Media's 84 projects » © 2024 Laura Putman / F+W Media · Reproduced with permission. · Excerpted from DIY Rustic Modern Metal Crafts: 35 Creative Upcycling Ideas for Galvanized Metal Copyright © 2015 by Laura Putnam and published by F+W Media, Inc. Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved. Photos courtesy of Laura Putnam.
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  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 1
    Step 1

    Put on your work gloves and eye protection and use your drill to create drainage holes in the bottom of each of the galvanized buckets. I drilled seven holes for the smaller buckets and eighteen holes for the largest bucket.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 2
    Step 2

    Use your measuring tape and measure the diameter of the largest bucket a few inches down from the top. Also measure the diameter of the bottom of the bucket for later use. With your miter box or chop saw, cut two pieces of wood strapping to the length of the bucket’s diameter a few inches down from the top (your first measurement). Place the door, shutter, or piece of plywood in the base of the large bucket and sandwich the door between the two pieces of wood strapping board. Use your screw gun to attach each end of the wood strapping to the bucket with a sheet metal screw from the outside of the bucket.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 3
    Step 3

    Use your level to check that your door is straight.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 4
    Step 4

    Use your drill to create a pilot hole at the center and at each end of the front side of the strapping, then attach the strapping boards to the door with your screw gun and a wood screw through the pilot holes.
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    Tips & Recommendations
    Although this project works great for flowers, it is also a great for herbs or even some vegetables. Keep the planter close to your kitchen access and you can easily pick some herbs or vegetables while you are cooking.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 5
    Step 5

    Lay the door down so you can have access to the bottom of the bucket. Use your screw gun and attach a sheet metal screw through the center of the bottom of the bucket and into the bottom of the door.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 6
    Step 6

    With your miter box or chop saw, cut a piece of wood strapping as long as the diameter of the bottom of the bucket (your second measurement in step 2). Cut the ends at a 45-degree angle and place the strapping vertically in the bottom of the bucket, on the back side of your door, shutter, or plywood. Use your screw gun to attach the vertical piece of strapping with a wood screw where it meets the horizontal strapping board.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 7
    Step 7

    Attach each of your two smaller buckets to the front of the door with a screw gun and 1 sheet metal screw.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 8
    Step 8

    Add a wood screw under each bucket but do not drill it all the way in. The purpose of this screw is to support the weight of the planter.

  • How to make a vase, pot or planter.  Three Tiered Outdoor Planter - Step 9
    Step 9

    If desired, use plate hangers to attach decorative plates on the back of the door.

    Tips & Recommendations
    If you are unable to find a vintage door or shutter, look at new ones. When all else fails, you can also use a piece of plywood with molding attached.

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