|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sandbox for your kids
|
 |
|
Build this inexpensive yet fanciful sandbox for your kids
|
|
|
By Art Mulder, photos by Roger Yip, illlustration by Len Churchill
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your kids will set sail on a sandy adventure in their new play centre. The built-in umbrella stand provides shade on hot, sunny days.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My family loves a day at the beach-the hot sun, the cool shade of an umbrella, the feeling of sand between their toes, and watching the sailboats along the horizon. Yet for all those other days, when the beach is just a daydream, here is a unique, easy-to-build sandbox to bring a bit of the beach into your back garden.
The sand area is approximately 4' x 6' on this design-enough for a small crew of sailors. The design is also deep, with lots of room for sand. There are wide comfortable seats on the sides that also keep the sand confined. I added a hinged lid made of plastic lattice to keep out nocturnal visitors, such as cats and raccoons, but allow rainwater in to moisten the sand.
When it comes to outdoor construction materials, there are lots of choices: composites, pressure-treated lumber and cedar. But instead I went with ordinary, inexpensive spruce construction lumber. I expect it will last six to eight years, and by then my kids will have lost their interest in sandboxes. I bought seven 8'-long 2x10s and two 10"-long 2x10s for the project.
Play Time
The first thing to do is sort your lumber, deciding which pieces you'll use where. Next, use a belt sander to go over all the boards with an 80-grit abrasive. This takes care of splinters and also increases surface absorption so your finish will penetrate the wood well and last longer.
Cut all the base parts to size. Using the plans, lay out the outside long sides and shorter ends in a rectangle. Use three 3" deck screws to secure them together in butt joints. Next, add the inside long sides and ends.
To complete the base, build the bow. At the tip, the prow sides meet at an easy 90º angle. At the body of the sandbox, they meet at 45º angles. Use a tablesaw or a sliding compound mitre saw to complete these cross cuts. Make the 45º cuts first, leaving the boards an inch or two longer than needed, then fit the boards to the sandbox and measure for the final 90º cut at the tip.
Next, install the prow middle just to one side of centre. A centre placement would require a point on the end of the board. By placing it off centre, a much simpler 45º cut is all you need.
Cruising Along
Every sailboat needs a mast. I?added a standard patio umbrella to shade the kids. Due to the placement of my sandbox against a fence, I was forced to position the umbrella off-centre in the front deck. But you can place your mast to suit your situation.
I securely attached a 9"-tall pipe into the front structure of the sandbox where one of the prow sides connects with one of the outside ends. A length of 1 1/2"- diameter PVC pipe should be just the right size to hold a standard patio umbrella pole, but check your pole first. Nail a scrap of lumber onto the other side of the pipe to ensure it's secure.
Now you can cut the three different front deck boards. The largest piece needs a hole cut into it to leave room for the pipe. Use a jigsaw or hole saw to create this feature. Next, install the front deck boards according to the plans, securing them with 3" deck screws.
Before you attach the seats, start painting. Prime all parts, then add two or three coats of exterior latex. To create the waves, make a cardboard template, trace it onto your boards, then paint to the lines.
Once all the paint is dry, cut and install the three seat pieces with screws. Then prime and paint the seats.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
