Creating a Planter for the Girl Scouts: A Hexagonal Design with Equilateral Triangles
The creator of this planter design is thinking outside the box, literally. They've come up with a unique idea that incorporates a hexagon and equilateral triangles to create a fun and interesting shape for the Girl Scouts' event. The design features a hexagon in the center, surrounded by six smaller equilateral triangles that form the exterior of the planter.
To start building the planter, the creator begins by drawing a circle on paper. They then space out the circle's radius six equal times around it to create a hexagon. Since each side of the hexagon is equal, they can use this symmetry to their advantage when cutting the wood for the planter. The diameter of the circle will determine the size of the planter, and in this case, it's set at 40 inches.
By dividing the diameter in half, the creator determines that each side of the equilateral triangles needs to be 20 inches long. This is a crucial measurement, as it will guide the cutting process for the wood pieces. The creator notes that they need six pieces, each with a right angle cut on one end and a miter saw angle of 30 degrees to create the 60-degree angles required for the equilateral triangles.
To make the planter, the creator sets up their miter saw and adjusts it to the correct angle. They explain that using cedar wood is a good choice because it's rot-resistant and won't leach chemicals into the soil. The creator also notes that they don't want to use pressure-treated wood due to its potential negative effects on the environment.
With their miter saw set up, the creator begins cutting the wood pieces according to the measurements they've determined. They note that pre-drilling holes for screws will make it easier to assemble the planter and reduce the risk of splitting the wood. As they work, the creator is careful to measure carefully and ensure that each piece fits together perfectly.
The next step is to create a second planter that fits inside the first one. To do this, the creator needs to calculate the size of the inner hexagon based on the outer hexagon's dimensions. They note that the inner hexagon will be shorter than the outer one, so they need to measure carefully to get it right.
The creator decides to use a different method to determine the length of the inner planter piece. By drawing a circle and dividing its diameter in half, they can calculate the length required for the inner planter. In this case, the result is 36 and three-quarters inches long. The creator then cuts this piece according to their measurements, carefully cutting along the diagonal to create the required shape.
With both planters cut out, it's time to assemble them. The creator notes that they can use a lapped miter joint to join the pieces together, making it easy to attach the screws and secure the planter. As they work, the creator is excited to see their design come together and can't wait for the Girl Scouts to see the finished product.
As the creator finishes up the last details, they step back to admire their handiwork. The resulting planter is a beautiful example of hexagonal geometry, with six equilateral triangles forming the exterior and a central hexagon adding visual interest. The creator notes that this design will be a hit at the Girl Scouts' event, and they can't wait to see the looks on everyone's faces when they see it.
In conclusion, creating this planter involves careful measurement, precise cutting, and attention to detail. By using geometry and symmetry, the creator has come up with a unique and eye-catching design that will be sure to impress anyone who sees it. Whether you're a seasoned woodworker or just starting out, this project is a great way to challenge yourself and learn new skills.
"WEBVTTKind: captionsLanguage: enforeign all right well I'm thinking a little different something like a hexagon hmm with a hexagon inside it and then little Planters around the exterior of the center hexagon that's funny because I was thinking Square but okay it's for the Girl Scouts let's Jazz it up a little bit let's start with a circle now a hexagon has six equal sides so if I take the radius of the circle and space it out six equal times around the circle I'll get my hexagon so these are equilateral triangles equilateral all three sides of a triangle are equal exactly that's an equilateral triangle exactly so if we want to make a planter that is this diameter what are you thinking in terms of total size all right so let's say 40 inches okay diameter is 40. half of that is 20. gotcha so that means we have 20 20. oh there's our outside cut it's a right side cut so now we need one two three four five six pieces 20 inches we just have to figure out the miter okay the miter now inside the circle 360 Degrees six equal parts that's 60 degrees 60 degrees is right here every one of those every one of these are 60 degrees okay now because of the way the miter saw cuts angles if you want to make a 60 degree angle on the board you need to set the saw at 30 degrees to make that cut right because zero degrees on a miter saw is actually at a 90 degree angle to the piece correct so you're going to have six pieces kind of 20 inches long with 230 degree angles on the outside exactly girl scouts this is why you need to stay in school I have an MBA and that's my head's melting this is fun stuff let's do it all right all right so set my SAR at 30 degrees I'm using cedar because it's rot resistant I don't want to use pressure treated because of the chemicals will leach into the soil and get absorbed by the herbs good now we flip it over and make it 20 and an eighth long to Long foreign but I'm going to do a lapped miter basically that way it'll be easy to join the boards together with screws I want to pre-drill those holes less chance of splitting the wood s foreign one hexagon down that looks pretty cool yeah all right and that's the first one now we have to build another one to fit inside oh gosh it's a little bit tricky we have to think about the hexagon inside has to be basically shorter than this piece from The Long Point here to the Long Point here 20 and an eight got it I now have to measure this side piece on the diagonal inch and three quarters we take the inch and three quarters off the 20 and an eighth twenty an eighth minus an inch and three quarters is 18 and 3 8 3 8 18 3 8 18 and 3 8 so that will be from long to long for this piece this piece that piece then so and that will give us our that's why we have to cut them right now another way you could figure it is for this hexagon is uh three foot four or forty inches so those are diameter this is actually 40 and a quarter so that's that's our length we cut that in half right 41. so to get the length for the inside ones I would make a circle and this way that is 36 and three quarters divide that in half it's 18 and 3 8. I cannot wait for Girl Scout cookie let's just cut all right let's get them cut honestly Tommy I got very little no faith I know all the faith in the world but yeah the math and the geometry test you put me through here I always loved the challenge when it framed roofs and stuff like that it was always fun gazebos all kinds of stupid things you know what I don't frame what roofs died because of this it's fun oh Moment of Truth will it fit oh it's gonna fit foreign there you go wow wow Pops that looks terrific yes cannot wait for the Girl Scouts to see this now we just need Nathan to pick it up beautiful well done thanks for watching this old house has got a video for just about every Home Improvement project so be sure to check out the others and if you'd like what you see click on the Subscribe button to make sure that you get our newest videos right in your feed\n"
