Garden paper pot maker.

[Dave Lehnert]

I had a set of plans, I thought, on my computer to make a paper pot maker. Not a difficult turning project to figure out but why reinvent the wheel. Anyone know where to find the plans on-line?

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31BV5H3GY2L._SL500_AA300_.jpg

[Stephen M Johnson]

This may be what you are looking for:

http://www.austincreekwoodwks.com/Plans.htm (http://www.austincreekwoodwks.com/Plans.htm)

[Rick Markham]

Ok, I understand the plans... how does it work? How do you orient the paper. I am POSITIVE, that my mother would LOVE one of these for mother's day! :D

[Tom Winship]

Rick, I am just guessing from looking at the picture that you would cut the newpaper in strips longer than the straight part of the upper turned piece. (Long enough to wrap over the significantly). Wrap around the straight part a few wraps, fold the bottom end over and the press the upper turned piece into the lower turned piece. Probably crimps the bottom of the pot where it won't unwrap.
As I say, just guessing.

[Robert Henrickson]

Lee Valley sells these. Part of the blurb says 'This smart little device turns strips of old newspapers into ideal starter pots for young transplants and seedlings. No glue is required. Just roll and press..." and has a picture showing several stages. I think the key is to have the paper strips long/wide enough to extend below the end of the 'plunger' so that the paper can curl under to form the base.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/garden/page.aspx?p=10566&cat=2,44713,40757

[Glenn Barber]

I read somewhere that it is recommended that the color print not be used for the pots, only the black and white areas.

Glenn

[Sid Matheny]

I ran across these instructions.

Cut strips from your newspaper about 3/4 inch wider than the spool. Let the extra hang over the end and fold into the center. Push cap onto spool and with pressure applied turn the cap a few times. Be sure your news paper is at least 3 thicknesses on the spool or it won't be strong enough. The paper pots will need to support each other so must fill the flat. It is satisfying to find something to do with the newspaper that gives it some value.

Sid

[Glenn Barber]

I found this video on making the these: http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=EAA187E65DE68A15

Glenn

[Tom Giacomo]

Having a greenhouse and an avid gardner I turned one of these pot makers several years ago. The first year I tried making the pots and was discouraged by the first few I made, but peat pots where only 4 cents each so I kept using the peat pots, I use about 800 a year. However last year when peat pots became 7 cents each I tried again and found that your first dozen or so are not very good however after that you start to get real good at it. This year peat pots went to 10 cents each so I have used the pot maker for all my pots. I turned mine 2 inch in diameter as I use them mainly for seedlings. I use tabloid size newpaper cut it across that is side to side in about 3 1/2 inch strips this makes a 2 inch round pot about 2 1/2 inch high. Now I am at the point that I make a pot a minute. So far this year I made 350, 32 fit in a standard tray, and 160 have seedlings in them already. It took aproximately 7 tabolid size papers to make that many.

[Dave Lehnert]

I did make one out of an untreated 4X4. Works as advertised. The news print is holding up good enough but think next year I will try using something heavy like a paper bag.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Don't know how I missed this one Dave but made one for the wife. Works great and she loves it. She loaned it to my sister Friday so she could use it.