What are the finished dimensions?

18" (457 mm) square top, 28 3/4" (730 mm) high, 17" (432 mm) square at the floor. The drawings are dimensioned in feet and inches; the materials list, cut list and steps give metric sizes alongside.

What skill level do I need, and how long does it take?

It's rated intermediate. Expected build time: One weekend, plus a week for the finish to cure. It suits someone who has built a simple piece of furniture or cut a mortise and tenon before; each step still names the tools it uses.

How much does it cost to build?

Roughly US$110–170 in materials at typical US lumber-yard prices. Prices vary a lot by region, so price the materials list at your local yard before you start.

What tools do I need?

Pencil; Combination square; Straightedge; Level; Marking gauge; Scissors; Glue stick; Printer (pattern at 100%, 2 sheets); Masking tape; Handsaw; Rip saw; Backsaw; Pull saw; Scroll saw or jigsaw, or a coping saw with a 6 1/2" (165 mm) deep throat and 15 TPI blades; Miter saw or miter box; 1/4" (6 mm) chisel; Jack plane; Block plane; Bench vise; Sanding block; Sandpaper 120, 180 and 220 grit; Paint brushes; Lint-free rags; Damp cloth; Drill/driver with 1/8", 1/4" and 3/8" (3, 6, 10 mm) bits and a countersink; Tape for depth flags on the bits; Pocket-hole jig for 3/4" (19 mm) stock, and a 6" (150 mm) driver bit; Dowel centers, 3/8" (10 mm); Screwdriver; 6 bar clamps, 24" (600 mm) opening or more; Band clamp or strap; Four scrap cauls cut to a 4-degree wedge; A 1" (25 mm) scrap block and a blanket; Stud finder; Anti-tip strap kit and screws (see the hardware list); Toggle anchors rated 100 lb (45 kg) in pull-out, or a 1x3 cleat (no stud at the strap); Scrap V-block for the dowel holes; plus a tape, pencil, safety glasses, hearing protection and gloves. The interactive checklist on this page lets you tick off what you already own.

Where does this plan come from?

It is restored from "Square Fancy Table", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 2, pp. 832-833, with Figs. 31-34, an unsigned how-to article from that is now in the public domain. We redrew it as a modern build guide with a materials list, metric sizes, a cut list and clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings, every part drawn. Every dimension follows the original article, and the article is reproduced inside. This edition is our own; it is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher.

Can a beginner follow it?

It's rated intermediate, so it helps to have built something framed before, or to have a handy friend on the bigger lifts. Each step is a single job with its own drawing: the parts that step adds are shaded, the nails, screws and bolts it drives are marked where they go, and the hardware for that step is listed beside it. An exploded drawing at the front shows how the whole build goes together before you cut anything.

A 16-page print-ready PDF (US Letter) to download after purchase. It prints well at home or at a copy shop, and reads fine on a tablet in the workshop.

Plant Stand Plans · Restored Plan PDF

Name: Plant Stand
Brand: Square & Furrow
SKU: SF-WS-28
Price: 12.00 EUR
Availability: InStock

Plant Stand

€12,00

"Suggested woods ... birch for the legs and the other parts of pine, and all finished in white enamel", says the old book. Ours is poplar, with a shelf on curved arms.

At a glance

Size: 18" (457 mm) square top, 28 3/4" (730 mm) high, 17" (432 mm) square at the floor
Skill: Intermediate
Build time: One weekend, plus a week for the finish to cure
Materials: approx. US$110–170
In the plan: 16-page PDF, US Letter, 14 illustrated steps, imperial, with metric in the lists and steps

Inside the 16-page plan

The original article and its drawings, restored and reproduced in full
An exploded drawing that shows how every part goes together
Dimensioned views of the finished build, in feet and inches
Materials list and hardware schedule, with today's actual lumber sizes and metric equivalents
Cut list, so you can cut everything before you start assembling
Clear illustrated step-by-step assembly drawings: one job per step, every part drawn, fastener positions marked

Safety: It holds a potted plant or a lamp, never a person: do not sit, stand, climb or lean on it. The 18" (457 mm) top stands on a 17" (432 mm) footprint, so a bump can tip it: empty, about 3 lb (1.4 kg) of push; with a 20 lb (9 kg) pot, about 9 lb (4.1 kg). Top 20 lb (9 kg) at most, shelf 10 lb (4.5 kg); heavy or tall loads: anchor it (steps 13-14).

The PDF plan is a digital download; nothing ships. Adapted from "Square Fancy Table", The Practical Woodworker, vol. 2, pp. 832-833, with Figs. 31-34, an unsigned public-domain article. Restored, redrawn and edited by Square & Furrow, produced with AI-assisted tools and checked against the original article. Not affiliated with the original publisher.

Illustrated step by step

Imperial + metric

Cut list & checklist

Instant PDF download

Built to work

Plant Stand

Built in home workshops more than a century ago, and redrawn for the way you build today.

Rendering

From the workshop archive

Restored from the original article

From the archive “Square Fancy Table” Public domain · restored by Square & Furrow

This is the public-domain how-to article home craftsmen built from more than a century ago. We restore its drawings and reproduce the article in full inside your plan, then rebuild it as a modern edition: today's lumber sizes, metric measurements, a cut list and illustrated steps. Every dimension is checked against the original.

The original article for the plant stand, public domain, restored — The original article, restored

Inside the plant stand plan: original sheet, exploded drawing and assembly steps — Inside your plan

Step by step

Every part drawn. Every fastener marked.

Each step is one job with its own clear drawing: the parts it adds are shaded, every nail and screw position is marked, and the hardware and tools sit right beside it. An exploded view shows how the whole build goes together before you make a single cut.