How to Make a Garden Wishing Well
If you're fortunate enough to have room for a garden, there are many hours of satisfaction to be had in its creation and ongoing development. A delightful addition, if you have the space, is a garden wishing well. You can imagine it already, tucked away in a romantic corner of your garden. It conjures up childhood memories of picture books at bedtime, and a place to cherish your secret dreams. It makes a great planter, and will become a focal point of your garden. You may even start your own rituals for wishing. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Power saw
- 14 cedar boards: 1 inch x 4 inches (cut to your choice of height for the base)
- 2 upright posts (cut to your choice of height for the well)
- Measuring tape
- Marking pencil or pen
- 2 metal straps
- Galvanized flathead nails
- Temporary prop to support base once it is upright
- Wood screws
- 4 cedar boards cut at 45-degree angle on one end of each piece
- 2 pieces of weatherproof plywood cut into a triangle
- Roof boards (number determined by amount of overlap when placing board)
Instructions
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1
Place the 14 pieces of board on the ground, and check that the bottoms of the boards are even. Insert the two uprights between the boards, making sure there are seven pieces between each upright. Measure and mark 1½ inches from the top and bottom of each board, except the uprights. These will be marked 1½ inches from the bottom only.
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2
Take one metal strap and nail one end to the middle of an end board, using the galvanized flathead nails, and nailing the bottom of the boards first. Continue to nail the metal strip along the bottom mark so the boards are joined in one continuous strip. Allow the strap to overhang at the other end by 1½ inches. Take the other metal strap and nail it in a similar fashion along the top mark, making sure to also nail it to the upright posts that were not marked.
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3
Turn the whole structure over and form it into a circle. Support the circle with a suitable prop and secure the circle by nailing the other ends of the metal straps into place.
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4
Screw two of the 45-degree cuts together to form a triangle. You are now building the roof. Repeat this step to form the second triangle. Screw the two triangles you have just made to the top of each upright.
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5
Measure the dimensions of the triangle formed by the rafters. Make two gables by cutting two pieces of plywood to fit into the triangular spaces on each side of the roof. Screw the plywood securely to the uprights.
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6
Place a roof board on the lowest end of the rafter and screw in securely, allowing the board to overhang the rafters on both sides by ¾ inch. Overlap the next board over the one just secured to your preferred dimension, and screw into place. Continue up the rafters, screwing each board into place. Repeat on the other side.
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Tips & Warnings
Place a floor in the wishing well by measuring the inner diameter of the well, and using this measurement to mark out a circle on a piece of plywood. Cut it out with a jigsaw and drop it into the well from the top.
To turn your wishing well into a wedding well, simply paint it a glossy white, and add wedding-themed decorations.
Always use hearing and eye protection when woodworking and follow all accepted safety practices when using power tools.
