I signed up for an evening course to learn the fundamentals of woodworking. While I feel comfortable using my (basic) power tools in my workshop, I never took the time to learn how to work with hand tools and have mostly relied on pre-cut wood. In this class, we start with a raw tree slice and use professional tools to shape the pieces to the desired size, utilizing a tablesaw, jointer and planer. Next we use hand tools to create the connections and eventually learn how to finish the project with sanding and oiling techniques.

Our initial project involved creating a plant stand using four legs and two rulers. The rulers need to form a cross using a cross lap joint, and this is connected to the legs with an edge lap joint. The challenge was to ensure a perfect fit, eliminating the need for any glue.

While making the joints, one of the first things I learned was to take my time. It's easy to cut some wood, but when making a joint, the smallest mistake will ruin your work. And instead of taking away big chunks of wood, it's better to remove as minimal as possible. At least that was what I experienced.

There are endless possibilities in size and shape. Use your flower pot dimensions to get started. The most important measurement is the size of the cross. To make sure your pot fits, you take the diameter of the flower pot + the width of the legs (D) * 2. And all other measurements are personal taste.

See in my screenshot the measurements I used.

• A = Width of ruler

• B = Height of ruler

• C = Width of leg

• D = Depth of leg

I'm really happy with the end results. Of course, not all joints are perfect, but they fit without using a single drop of glue.