You've been framed

Mark Rayner builds a simple frame for runner beans from treated timber and plastic-coated washing line.

You will need:

Saw, drill with 6mm drill bit, small adjustable wrench or socket set, hammer, large set square, pencil and paintbrush
Approx 7.2m of 50mm x 50mm treated timber
Two 1.8m metal fence stakes
Six 65mm x 6mm stainless steel gutter bolts with washers and nuts
Galvanised fencing staples
Exterior PVA glue
Approx 20m of plastic coated washing line
Resene Woodsman Penetrating Oil Stain in Resene Fern Frond

Finishing off: to position the bean frame, simply tap the metal fence stakes into the ground with a hammer or mallet, checking that it's upright and level with a spirit level, then plant your beans.

Step one
Cut the 50mm x 50mm timber into four 1.8m lengths.

Step two
Use an offcut of the 50mm timber to mark a straight pencil line around each end of the four lengths of timber. Draw a second central line dissecting this at 90 degrees, as shown.

Step three
Carefully saw halfway through each end of the timber using the first pencil line as a guide. Turn and saw back along the second pencil line, as shown, to remove a small rectangular piece of wood to form each comer joint.

Step four
Lay the frame on a flat surface and overlap the top corners. Drill through with a 6mm drill bit.

Step five
Fix both top corners with PVA glue and a stainless steel gutter bolt. Use the set square to ensure each corner is 90 degrees.

Step six
Overlap the two bottom corners in the same way and position the metal fence stakes along each side, aligning the lowermost hole (In the fence stake) with the corner of the frame. Drill through this hole and bolt through the comer joint as in step five. Drill through the uppermost hole and fix to the frame with a bolt, as shown.

Step seven
Using galvanised staples and a hammer, attach the washing line in an up-and down, zigzag formation, about 155mm apart.

Step eight
Stain the outer frame with one coat of Resene Woodsman, and allow 24 hours to dry before applying a second coat.

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Resene Paints Ltd – www.resene.com