Deck Railing

Mount the US500 onto your Dremel Ultra Saw. Clamp and cut the wooden components of your deck railing planter to the dimensions listed below. Note that our planter design features two separate boxes that will be joined and hung over a 4" wide deck handrail. If your railing is a different width, adjust the specifications of the lumber as needed. Wooden Frame and Base Dimensions (2) 1" x 6" x 39 ½" Cedar Boards (Outward-Facing Side Pieces) (2) 1" x 8" x 41 ½" Cedar Boards (Rail-Facing Side Pieces) (1) 1" x 4" x 41 ½" Cedar Board (Connecting Centerpiece) (4) 1" x 6" x 6" (Planter Box End Pieces) Clamp and cut the steel rods into ten 5 ¾" lengths. Remember to wear gloves and proper eye protection when cutting metal.

Each box will be composed of a 1" x 6" x 39 ½" outward-facing side board, a 1" x 8" x 41 ½" rail-facing side board, two 6" x 6" x 1" ends, and five 5 ¾" steel rods. Draw a line across the length of each side board ½" from the bottom edge. Measure and mark 5 evenly spaced points along this line on the 1" x 6" x 39 ½" side boards. Lay these marked boards next to their 1" x 8" x 41 ½" counterparts, vertically centering the paired boards relative to each-other. Use a ruler and pencil to align and trace over the points indicated on the 1" x 6" x 39 ½" boards to create corresponding points along the lines on their paired 1" x 8" x 41 ½" boards. These points are indicating where we will eventually add metal rod supports that connect the small and large side boards. Run the 4200 at a high speed and drill ½" with 3/16'' bit; deep holes into each of the marked points.

Assemble and secure the components of each planter box. Fit each pair of side boards together by inserting the metal rods into the holes drilled in Step 2. Tap the boards with a hammer so that the rods fit snuggly into place. Affix the 6" x 6" x 1" end pieces of each planter box to their side boards by placing wood glue on contacting surfaces. Allow time for the glue to dry. Clamp each connecting area and pre-drill points that will connect each side piece with the shorter end pieces using your 4200 rotary tool and 1/8'' drill bit from the 628-01 Kit at speed 10. Using a drill and 2" screws, secure the sides to the end pieces to form the completed planter boxes.

Position the planter boxes so that the the tall sides are back to back and affix the 1" x 4" x 41 ½" board along the top of these sides using wood glue. Allow time for the glue to dry. Clamp this area and pre-drill holes along the top edge of each planter box into the connecting centerpiece with your 4200 tool and 1/8'' drill bit. Secure the planter boxes to the centerpiece by drilling 2" screws through the pre-drilled holes.

Add decoration to your deck railing planter. We decided to paint ours then engraved a floral design onto each planter box. If you would like your piece to have a similar aesthetic, follow the instructions below. Apply paint of your desired color to each planter box and allow time for it to dry. Draw your intended design onto the face of each newly-painted planter box. Mount the 107 Engraving Cutter accessory onto your 4200 rotary tool. Set the tool speed to 10 and engrave along the design. Hang the completed planter on your deck railing and insert three 13" x 5" plastic tray planters into each planter box.