Over the years I have come up with a number of tools and techniques that make the job of sprouting seeds a more efficient process.  Here are some photos and notes ~ I hope you can make use of
some of these ideas.

Mike Brown - Owner

Designated Sink
A sink designated for seed starting is essential.  In our basement, I have converted a sink I used as a darkroom for seed starting.  The sink itself has a sprayer and the drain goes to a basement sump.  A 4ft fluorescent shop light gives good illumination and I make use of empty notecard envelope boxes to store extra seed packages by variety.

Flats & Cell Inserts
If you're serious about starting plants from seed, make the effort to gather plastic flats and inserts.  You might be able to pick some up for free at greenhouses and nurseries (and your friends?) - but if you have to buy them go ahead.  The 10-20 sized flats are the most popular and I use the 72 cell inserts (each of the 12 blocks per flat have 6 cells) - but also 18's and a few 48's. 

Cake Sheet Dirtcatcher
Get a shallow cake sheet that's larger than the 10-20 flat.  It will catch most of the potting soil that comes from working the flat and it's easy to lift and dump the leftover dirt back in your soil barrel.

Potting Soil Scoop
I found this metal scoop is the best for getting potting soil from my soil barrel and loading one flat.  I got the scoop at our local farm supply store where it's sold for scooping livestock feed.

Potting Soil Tamper
Here's a 5 minute construction project - take a 5 x 10" piece of 1" pine, drill a hole in the middle, and power screw a 6" length of broom handle.  Don't let the simplicity fool you - this is one of my most valuable seed starting tools.

After you have overfilled the 72 cell flat by 1/2" to 1", use the Tamper to firmly press down to compact the soil.

Next, turn the Tamper on its side and use it as a scraper to pull off excess potting soil.  When you're done, you should have a perfectly filled flat.  Notice how most of the excess potting soil is being caught by the cake sheet.

72 Cell Press
This construction project is a bit more challenging.  Cut a rectangle of laminated paneling (smooth white surface won't hold dirt) larger than a 10-20 flat.  Next, cut 72 pieces of 1" diameter wooden dowel 1" long.  Arrange empty 72 cells so their bottoms rest on the white surface of the paneling.  Mark the individual cell centerlines through the drain hole of the cell on to the paneling.  Drill holes in the paneling then power screw the dowels to the paneling.  The finished Press should look like that shown in the photo.

Align the dowels of the Press with the openings of the 72 cell flat that has been filled and scraped with the Tamper described in the previous note.  Use 2 hands to get a firm even press (I was using one hand to take the photo).

If everything lines up, you should have a 72 cell flat with each of the 72 cells having an indentation that will ensure the seeds stay inside their designated cell.

Sink Sticks
Another easy project - cut 2 lengths of lath sticks so they are long enough to span the sink.

Move the prepared flat on to the Sink Sticks.   Then, use the faucet sprayer and give the flat a good soaking.  Excess water will drip into the sink.

This is usually when I grab the Cake Sheet and dump the excess potting soil back in my soil barrel.

Card Stock Seed Placer
I've tried all sorts of dibbles and seed placement devices - and I never found any I liked for all seeds.  I cut a 8" long and 3" wide piece of white card stock.   Next fold it in half lengthwise.  Finally, trim one end in a point.

The folded card stock can hold quite a few seeds.   The angle of incline determines the dispensing rate.

I sometimes just use my finger to assist in dispensing seeds or make use of the Seed Chaser shown in the next panel.

Dowel Rod Seed Chaser
I have found that this dowel rod Seed Chaser works well with the folded card stock.   Cut a 6" length of 1/4" dowel.  Stick one end in a pencil sharpener to form a point.  Next, use a file or sander to flatten the point in half.   Sometimes I use this to push out individual seeds ~ sometimes I use it to just tap on the card so the seeds march in-line down the fold of the card stock and drop one-by-one into their designated cell.

Dirt Sprinkle Cans
OK.  Here's your chance to use some duct tape.  Take two juice cans and cut off both the top and bottom.  Get some wide mesh and fine mesh screen stuff that will cover the bottoms of the cans (the left one was a wide mesh plastic material for roof gutters, the right one is traditional door screen).  Use duct tape to secure the screen material to the can.  After the seeds have been dropped into their cells, I bring the loaded flat back to the cake sheet.  Depending one the seed size and recommended planting depth, I select the appropriate can and scoop up about a half can of potting soil and shake it over the flat to cover the seeds.   Sometimes you have to bang on the side of the can as you shake it to get the amount of cover soil you want.

and the front side has the item identification and price:

Grass - Ornamental
Golden Eye
Grass

$2.00

Taa-Daa
After a few weeks of water, light, and warmth - you should have a flat of something sprouting in your potting soil.