Garden Tool Leaning Tree

The Garden Tool Leaning Tree is a simple, yet convenient project that will make your life easier in the garden or vegetable patch. It is easy to set up and move to wherever you are working. You may even want to "plant" a few around your property.

The Tool Leaning Tree is constructed from rigid 1/2" copper pipe and 1/2" flexible copper tubing, making it weather-resistant. The small side hooks are perfect for hanging garden tools.

What You'll Need

Materials

• plumber's sandpaper 3210-750
• 6ft 1/2" rigid copper pipe (approx) 3249-050
• 3ft 1/2" flexible copper pipe (approx) 8676-266
• soldering flux 1139-253
• solder 1139-565
• 4 x 1/2" copper 'T's 3240-406
• 3 x 1/2" copper 90-degree elbows 3240-335
• 4 x 1/2" copper end caps 3240-200

Tool Kit

• pipe cleaning brush 1138-076
• locking pliers 1133-026/197
• pipe cutter 8676-756
• measuring tape 1048-832
• propane torch 1145-308
• metal snips 1136-309
• safety gloves 5525-121

Step By Step

1. Cut all pieces to length according to the diagram. The two curved pieces of the "tree" are formed by holding a 3" length of flexible pipe at either end and gently forcing it into a circular shape. Use a pipe cutting tool to cut out two semicircles, approximately 15" each in length. The circumference of our circle is approximately 7".
2. Clean and flux all joints in preparation for soldering, and spot-solder all joints.
3. To make it easier to stick in the ground, flatten the bottom 2" (approx) of each foot using locking pliers or a vise. Wearing protective gloves, use metal snips to form a point on each foot.

Connecting Copper Pipe:

1. Carefully measure the pipe and use a pipe cutter for a clean cut. Test assemble pipe and fittings, then double-check measurements before soldering.
2. Remove burrs and roughness with plumber's sandpaper or pipe cleaning brush. To ensure the solder adheres evenly to pipe and fitting, apply the paste to the contacting surfaces of both pipe and fitting. Soldering paste flux degreases and etches the surface of copper.
3. Insert the pipe into the fitting and apply heat to the fitting using a propane torch.
4. When the fitting is hot enough to allow solder to run freely on contact with metal, remove the heat and run the tip of the solder around the joint line.