How to Build a Wooden Garden Obelisk (Step-by-Step)

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utilise these free plans to build a garden obelisk from wood . Painted in a bold colour , they are both a garden idiom and gross for supporting mounting vines .

We have more good afternoon projects for beginners here:32 Wood project for the Garden .

Homemade blue painted garden obelisks.

Obelisk side diagram showing measurements and angles

DIY Garden Obelisk

Overview

I build this dagger using two sizes of timber ( 2x2s and 1x2s ) . The top does not have the traditional pyramid top because I need a spot to rate a pot and garden art .

I covered the sides inchicken wireto give the watermelon plant ’s tendrils something to take hold of onto .

While there are many ways to establish obelisks , I further you to use amiter saw : either electric or manual . This enables you to well trim angles that give the obelisk a more professional and ruined visual aspect .

DIY garden obelisk painted blue.

I sympathise if you do not have one available for enjoyment , but if a basic fear is holding you back , I ’ve got a peppiness talk here for you : How to Get comfy with Power Tools ( So you’re able to Make Cool Stuff ) .

Alternately , for this labor you may use a bridge player saw with a miter box to guide your gash .

In this tutorial , I ’ll show you how to work up your own obelisk and give some summit for keeping the construction appendage simpleton .

Definition of obelisk

Materials

If you want a Pyramids of Egypt top , you will need 59 feet of 2x2s ( for an 8 - pes obelisk ) , some scrap wood , and some sort of wooden ball or other topper .

2×2 Vertical Wood Posts

2×2 Horizontal Rails

Garden obelisk building plan diagram with measurements.

Do not cut the 1x2suntil you have piece the main social structure with the 2x2s : the precise wood size of it you need may be slightly different than mine .

1×2 Design Pieces ( Optional )

1×2 Top Frame

Trim ends of horizontal rails with 7-degree cuts.

Tools

Assembly

Cut 2×2 piece of Ellen Price Wood as listed above . DO NOT cut the 1x2s yet : your measurements may require to be different than mine .

After disregard horizontal 2×2 rails—3 of each size of it : 24 - inch , 19.5 - inch , and 13.5 - inch — snip the end at 7 - degree angles using a miter byword . The lengths listed are the long ( bottom ) edges of the pieces .

The terminal cuts are known as ‘ not parallel ’ , because they both angle inwards .

Diagram showing placement of screws through corner main posts.

touch : How to Build a Decorative Garden Ladder

Layout all the pieces for your two principal sides of the dagger on the floor .

Each side consists of two 6 - infantry side post and three different horizontal rails .

Use a Kreg jig tool to create hidden screw holes for a more finished look.

Mark and predrill where you will be insert screws . Predrilling muddle with a drill bit modest than the nooky is essential : otherwise , the Grant Wood can split .

Keep in mind that you will demand to place two roll in the hay at each corner where two horizontal rail both attach to the same side position . To do this , do n’t screw through the middle of each horizontal rail but instead place one screw chief scurvy than the other .

you may also use apocket hole jigto better conceal your screws .

Use a Kreg jig tool to create hidden screw holes for a more finished look.

Here ’s how it works :

This is one of my pet tools . In the photo ( above ) , you may see one of the horizontal rail sit in the gigue . A special drill bit is used to make an angled hollow in the wood . Do n’t worry , the jig guides it perfectly , so you just have to exercise with no measurement required .

Here ’s what the jig holes also call ‘ pocket holes ’ calculate like . They are in reality like little tunnel through the wood , enable you to drive a screw right through to an adjoining piece of wood . When these jig golf hole are situate on the underside of the horizontal rails , they are not seeable . Just a nice spare touch but not essential .

Assembling a diy obelisk for the garden.

Usecarpenter ’s gluewherever you conjoin wood with screw propeller .

Hold in place withclampsuntil glue has set .

Now , with all your pieces ready and your jam predrilled , you may go ahead and assemble two very side slice .

Adding decorative details to wood obelisk with 1x2 lumber.

Work from the bottom horizontal runway up ( score as 1 in the diagram above ) .

When screw the part together , the end of the horizontal rail should be gracious and snug against the side Charles William Post , so there are no gaps . you could also expend carpenter ’s Sir Henry Wood mucilage to further varnish the deal .

With two main sides assembled , add the remaining 2×2 horizontal railing . This is the part where you ’re glad you exit room for the screws to go through the corner pieces into each of the side rails .

Paint or stain the completed obelisk for use in the garden.

Once you have the introductory social structure made from the 2x2s , the eternal sleep is considerably done by measuring your dagger to confirm exact duration of 1x2s involve .

The simplest way to do this is to take lengths of forest and oblige them against the area you need them and score you cut line of merchandise with pencil .

Next comes the decorative point using 1×2 timber . You will want to double - hinderance the measuring require before cut your Mrs. Henry Wood .

Strong wood obelisks are perfect for heavy vines like watermelon.

In the next pic , on the correct side , you could see how I do quintuplet musical arrangement with the 1×2 Grant Wood . The top V is right side up , the low-spirited V is upside - down )

To get the pieces right , I first cross out the midsection of each horizontal rail .

I then took some long pieces of 1×2 and assess it against the dagger to mark exactly where cuts were necessitate for the man to fit between the horizontal rails , on an slant .

Use four hayrack planters to create a giant garden orb.

Preplan your piece of tail hole localization and predrill them . As long as you sink your jailor heads ( recitation until they are just below the Ellen Price Wood surface ) , they will face fine . you may also apply thepocket hole jigto confiscate these decorative pieces if hope . You know I get it on it .

If you look closely at the photo , you ’ll see I also did a few ex arrangements with the 1x2s . This requires additional lumber so stick to Vs if you favour .

Add top pieces ( see them in the next photo ) . Measure your obelisk at the top before cutting this wood to affirm what length you need .

Use four hayrack planters to create a giant garden orb.

I used two 17 - inch 1x2s , and two 14.75 - inch 1x2s .

I establish these mensuration by holding a piece of 1×2 where I desire it at the top of the structure and evaluate the breadth of the obelisk plus two wood - widths superfluous . This allows enough distance to sandwich the shorter pieces , form a frame around the top of the obelisk .

Stain or use exterior primer and key .

Make a DIY wood garden obelisk for your garden.

Repeat as needed .

I added panels of volaille wire with a craft stapler so I could train a Citrullus vulgaris plant life around the obelisk . The vine is held loosely in place with twine .

Add a topper or interior decoration .

Garden obelisk with watermelon vine

idea include a pot , tearing cans , or a giant eyeball .

you could make a heavyweight orbit from wall - mounted metal hayrig planter like these unity :

I attach four of them together with cable ties . you’re able to also append light like this :

Watermelon fruit forming on vine.

Here ’s the obelisk in my garden with a pot sitting on top :

And two weeks later , the watermelon vine vine is see very happy :

And the yield is starting to mould :

Wooden garden obelisk painted blue.

I hope you ’ll make one for your garden . But remember , once you get into woodworking , it ’s the gateway to manymore creative project .

~Melissathe Empress of Dirt ♛