Bonsai Plant Stand: Developing a Prototype

I’ve been kicking around an idea for a low plant stand, pot stand, bonsai stand or knights-who-say-ni shrubbery display stand. Since this little stand is still in development, now’s a good time to describe the process we use in developing a prototype of a new product.

The first step is the drawing. This was done on the proverbial napkin, but unfortunately that napkin has gone the way of all napkins so you’ll just have to imagine that there was a napkin and it had some scribble on it that resembled the stand and leave it at that.

The next step is to rough out the shape on some scrap stock. That’s what you see here. This produces a 3-dimensional object I can look at from all angles and modify as desired.

Once I’m satisfied with the shape, I make a template, use it to trace the design on scrap stock, then cut it out on the bandsaw.

Here (sitting on the sunroof of the Cooper to give it the pond effect) is the rough shape with notches cut out on one side for the battens and some scrap on top to simulate the deck of the stand.

The completed stand will have an identically-shaped piece maybe 12-18″ behind the first piece and the decking will run parallel with these shapes. The slats of the decking are screwed to battens (the two ends you see protruding on the left of the picture). The battens, in turn, are screwed to these shapes. Should be pretty sturdy.

Once I decide on a final design, the template will be modified to reflect the changes. It can then be used over and over again.

Of course, the photos simply show the design in the rough. In the finished product, the wood will be milled flat and sanded smooth, the edges rounded over, the top slats rounded over and undercut, and a finish applied.

So that’s how a quick description of the design process. You can find the finished result here.