What do you look for in a potting table?

I'm dreaming about building a potting table, to be stored either directly outside in the weather, or maybe in an exterior structure like a shed. What do YOU look for in a potting table?

A table that I can work at which is built for my height. Slots to brush dirt through and a shelf or two for storage. I put mine against a fence, so it has a few nobs to hang trowels on and a place for a trash can full of compost.Mine is tucked in an shady area which would have been difficult to grow anything something in anyways. I am interested to hear what other advice you get.

Patty from Yorktown

Slots all through the table, or just a couple? I can see it both ways, but I wonder how I'd feel about brushing precious Mel's Mix onto the ground....?

I like a broad work surface at waist height and multiple shelves. Storage for potting mixes, amendments, tools and pots required.
I really like this one http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/11832/free-plan-a-workbench-for-the-gardener


I like this lady's repurposed picnic table
http://www.flickr.com/photos/7604808@N02/2784204998

If you are worried about losing Mel's Mix, you can put slots on one end of the table with a collection bin underneath them. That bin can rest on a short shelf right under your work surface. I have seen some really neat pallet potting benches. Some have almost made me regret building my bench with nice lumber.

Patty in Yorktown

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/junk/msg0208082812766.html?15 There is a nifty potting bench from pallets in this thread from another forum.

Camprn, my husband already has so many projects to do, and now I want to add to his list Great Link, and Thanks.

Didn't someone one here have a picture of a table their husband made from pallets, not the one posted above, this one looked like 2 pallets with legs. I found some pallets the other day in my "secret stash" not being used that looked just like those 2 and now I cannot find the picture to steal some 2x4's to give them legs.

Found it, 2 actually, there are 2 pictures of pallet benches on this thread. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1692-pallet-potting-bench

FarmerValerie wrote:Found it, 2 actually, there are 2 pictures of pallet benches on this thread. [url=https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1692-pallet-potting-bench

https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t1692-pallet-potting-bench[/quote[/url]]

Thanks for finding these FarmerValerie! These look easy to make and I may have a source for free pallets nearby. What do I look for in a potting table? FREE!

TC

Sherwin Williams (paint store) used to give their pallets away locally at one point, I am not sure why or if they stopped, we just stopped getting them. They are a good place to check. Also call your local salvage yard, they won't have them, but may know who does. "Double Pallets" are heavier, but sturdier, and usually (not always) better quality wood. I used to lug those things around like they were nothing, maybe that's just one of the many reasons I have so much back trouble. Hubby started a porch out of pallets 3 years into our marriage, got the walkway done, and got busy with work, so that was my introduction to power tools, I had little ones running around by then, so it had to get done. When I finished the porch, I built a "fence".... maybe that's why hubby stopped bringing pallets home, cuz I kept finding things to do with them. Currently I have 6 stashed in my "secret stash". They are behind the chicken coop, 4 are on a tarp that is spread out, and I use it to store lumber on, so the grass does not grow up around it, and I found 2 out there the other day after seeing the picture of the potting table, and said HHHHMMMMM. All I need now is some 2x4's, a saw, and some nails/screws.

I have some pallets, too. Here is the picture that fired my imagination. Really more of a piece of furniture than anything.....


http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/04/pallets-for-people.php