How to Build a Garden Roller

Garden Roller Body

• 1

  Cut a 3-inch-diameter pipe with a hacksaw to the length of a cardboard concrete footing form, and tape plastic sheeting over each end.

• 2

  Set the footing form on one end in the center of a piece of plywood. Lay the point of a marker against the edge of the footing form and trace its outline onto the plywood.

• 3

  Drill a ½-inch hole in the exact center of the circle you marked on the plywood. Insert a keyhole saw into the hole and cut out an opening that is 3 inches in diameter.

• 4

  Spread plastic sheeting over the plywood. Position the cardboard concrete footing form on one end on top of the plastic. Lift the plastic on the sides of the footing form to make certain the form is resting on the marked outline.

• 5

  Hold the footing form in place on top of the marked circle while a helper inserts the 3-inch-diameter pipe through the plastic and into the hole in the plywood.

• 6

  Use a tape measure to find the exact center of the end of the footing form. Mark the spot by stretching tape from one side of the footing form to the other. Hold the end of the pipe in the center of the footing form.

• 7

  Have the assistant shovel quick-mix cement, mixed according to label directions, into the footing form around the pipe.

• 8

  Fill the footing form with cement, position the pipe in the center and brace it in place while the cement sets.

• 9

  Pull off the plastic sheeting on the end of the footing form after the cement sets. Peel or cut the cardboard from the hardened cement and discard it.

Make The Garden Roller Assembly

• 10

  Turn the footing form on its side and slide a 2-inch-diameter threaded pipe through the 3-inch pipe running through the center of the cement. The 2-inch pipe must be long enough to extend 4 inches out from each side of the footing form.

• 11

  Position an elbow joint onto each end of the pipe. Tighten the elbow joints so that each end points in the same direction. Apply pipe joint compound to the threads to seal the elbows in place.

• 12

  Screw 4-foot lengths of 2-inch-diameter threaded pipe into the ends of both elbow joints.

• 13

  Thread an elbow joint onto each 4-foot length of pipe to act as handles to push or pull the garden roller. Position the open ends of the elbow joints at right angles pointing out and away from the 4-foot lengths of pipe.