Who can name this device?

[Mikey]

I had our son make these.  Do you know what it is called or what it is used for?  Since I'm posting this in the gardening forum you have your first clue.....  The pen is shown for perspective.

[miguynmkoi]

How many guesses do I get?  Is it a pestle and mortar for cracking seeds?

Nice woodwork from your son.    I like how he chose the different wood for trim.

[Mikey]

As many guesses as it takes

No it's not a pestle for cracking seeds.

Our son also made the table upon which the not a pestle for cracking seeds is sitting upon....

[Sean]

I once saw a soil press for making home made peat pots that looked similar but this does not have a deep enough reservoir for that, I am stumped...

Cheers,
Sean

[frloplady]

I still think it's for making pots of some kind..maybe out of newspaper or something??

[EagleEye]

I've used these before----------It is a seed pod crusher, used to remove the seeds from the pods.

Steve

[Jerry]

It sure is a nice one!   I agree with sean, a neat press to encapsulate seeds to start them.

[Mikey]

Sean was super hot with his thoughts but frloplady hit it on the head.  It's called a paper pot maker.  I use it for planting seeds.  You take strips of newspaper, about 10-12" long and about an inch wider than the length of the device. You then wrap the newspaper around it, fold the ends in and then push it into the press and twist. It then forms a free-standing paper pot. Bigger device, bigger paper pot. I had mine made at the angle shown because I have a planting tray with that same angle and I plan to put the paper pots into the planting tray, fill with soil and then plant. Once the seedling is ready for transplanting I will slide the paper pot out and stick the whole thing into the soil. Someone was pretty slick in thinking up this device. Some people use the paper pots free-standing but I prefer using them in the trays.  You can also make them using a drinking glass as shown here: http://www.ehow.com/how_1745_create-seed-starting.html

[miguynmkoi]

TOO COOL!  I love this idea!   

I didn't know about using newspaper to make seedling cups.  Well the paper pot maker your son made is a treasure for sure and it is very useful.  Now I can save $$ and make my own seedling pots (thanks for the video) instead of buying the store bought fancy-schmacy (not kind to me) peat pots.

Still learning 

[frloplady]

So Mikey is he making them to sell?  Beautiful piece and nice work!

[Mikey]

No, he made that one for me because I'm his dad.......and he's still living rent-free at home...   I found some paper pot makers on-line and printed out photos of them so he would know what I wanted. 

He makes pens and other stuff too.  Here's link showing one example of some wooden pens he has turned: http://www.israel2007.dphoto.com/#/album/28354/photo/583945/

[Sean]

It works amazingly well, I have seen something similar for paper pots and once you showed the how to pics I remembered seeing it done before as well.

I will need to make some of those this year, much easier than buying peat pots. Your son did an amazing job.

Cheers,
Sean

[Jerry]

Ecellent!!!!

[Jerry]

I saw one today in a garening catalog!

[Argos5]

Finally, a good use for the L. A. Times.

[Mikey]

I had planted some red wheat a week or two ago and it grows very quickly.  I removed the paper pots a couple of days ago and I was pleased to see the roots had grown right through the paper.