36" Window Box
Edward Keogh
WINDOW BOX'S: ALL FINISHED
WINDOW BOX'S: ALL FINISHED
36" Window Box
Edward Keogh
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 6
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 6
36" Window Box
Edward Keogh
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 5
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 5
36" Window Box
Edward Keogh
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 4
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 4
36" Window Box, Outside Projects
Edward Keogh
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 3
WINDOW FLOWER BOX : PHASE 3

Sand & Water Table

PROJECT FINISHED: SAND & WATER TABLE

So today I finished the table and gave it to my son and he absolutely loved it, I needed to finish a couple of things on the table before I could give it to him.

HERE IS WHAT I DID TODAY

  • Added some round over details using my router
  • Sanded the whole unit 
  • In its new home

ROUND-OVERS

I needed to round-over all the sharp edges on the table because I didn't want my son to scratch himself. So I usede my palm router with a round-over bit to take care of this.

Here you can see the round-overs on the front & right leg

Here you can see the round-overs on the front & right leg

Another round-over

Another round-over

FINALLY I NEEDED TO SAND IT

Using my random orbital sander I sanded the whole unit from 800 grit to 220 grit and it is very smooth and more importantly kid friendly.

Sanding time

Sanding time

IN ITS NEW HOME

On the Deck

On the Deck

Front View

Front View

Side View

Side View

PROJECT: SAND & WATER TABLE

This morning I basically finished construction on the water table, all that I needed to do was build and attach the bottom shelf, but there was a lot more to that part than anything so far here is what I needed to do.

  • Crosscut the slats for the shelf
  • Pre-drill and countersunk the slats to receive the screws
  • Dry fit slats to frame
  • Added a round over to the slats
  • Glued & Screwed the slats
  • Attach the whole shelf assembly to the table
  • Construction Phase complete

CROSSCUTTING TIME

First I needed take all my 1x3 and cut them to size on my miter saw station, using a stop block on the chop saw to cut all 16 pieces to final size, below you can see a picture of my miter saw.

Here you can see the chop saw set-up using my kreg production stop that was on my top-trak on the miter saw station, this is a dream for doing repetitive cross-cuts

Here you can see the chop saw set-up using my kreg production stop that was on my top-trak on the miter saw station, this is a dream for doing repetitive cross-cuts

COUNTERSINK TIME

So now that I have all my slats cut I wanted to bury the screws beneath the surface of the wood, I was adding 4 screws per slat so that was a lot of holes to drill so I brought all the slats over to the drill press and using my home made drill press table I set up another stop block and prepared the countersinking bit for a lot of repetitive cuts.

Here is the drill press and table with the stop block clamped to my fence. I marked the pieces 3/8" from each face as they were being drilled in 3/4' thick frames.

Here is the drill press and table with the stop block clamped to my fence. I marked the pieces 3/8" from each face as they were being drilled in 3/4' thick frames.

Here is another view of the slats being prepared on the drill press.

Here is another view of the slats being prepared on the drill press.

All the slats are drilled

All the slats are drilled

DRY-FIT SLATS

I needed to determine what the spacing was for each slat so I lay out all the slats and experimented with the best spacing and I arrived at using a 3/4" space between each of the slats, you will end up with a slight larger space on the second-last slat from the end maybe 7/8" but I was OK with that.

Here is slats being spaced out evenly by 3/4" 

Here is slats being spaced out evenly by 3/4" 

ROUTER TIME

I was very excited for this step because I recently purchased a new Router from Bosch and I had only installed it in my router table last night so today was the first time I used it, and it didn't disappoint. Anyway I installed a round-over bit in the router as I was using it to apply a profile around 3 edges of each slat and it came out great, took any sharp edges and turned them into soft rounded edges, a necessity for anything that you make for children.

Here is my router table top, I just inserted the round over bit

Here is my router table top, I just inserted the round over bit

Here is the router under the table, its really powerful and has an awesome feature that let's me adjustments in bit height from the top of the table

Here is the router under the table, its really powerful and has an awesome feature that let's me adjustments in bit height from the top of the table

Here is a close-up of the rounded edges, although this pic was taken as I was securing them to the frame.

Here is a close-up of the rounded edges, although this pic was taken as I was securing them to the frame.

SECURING THE SLATS

So now that all the slats were milled it was ready to secure them to the frame, I used Titebond wood glue and 1 1/4" exterior screws to secure the slats in position. I used a 3/4" thick piece of wood as a spacer and just glued and screwed each piece until the shelf was finished. After the slats were installed I sanded the shelf with 220 grit sand paper in my orbital sander.

Here is the spacer I used to space each slat while I glued and screwed each slat to the bottom frame

Here is the spacer I used to space each slat while I glued and screwed each slat to the bottom frame

Shelf finished. Looks nice I am wondering should I finish it maybe a spar urethane on it

Shelf finished. Looks nice I am wondering should I finish it maybe a spar urethane on it

ATTACHING THE SHELF

Now that the bottom shelf is complete I needed to attach it to the legs, because the bottom shelf fits inside the legs and screwed, I needed to devise  a method of resting the bottom shelf assembly in place to screw into the screws. So to achieve this I cut spacers to act as ledges for the shelf to rest on temporarily and screw them home.

Below are the pictures depicting the method I used, pictures are always vetter at describing something than words so here you are, please remember that the table is upside down in these pictures.

Here is the spacer clamped to the leg with a clamp, I added 1 of these assemblies to each leg, they are resting on the bottom edge of the top frame

Here is the spacer clamped to the leg with a clamp, I added 1 of these assemblies to each leg, they are resting on the bottom edge of the top frame

Here are all 4 spacers clamped to the legs

Here are all 4 spacers clamped to the legs

Finally here is the bottom shelf assembly turned upside down and resting on the spacers , all that was left was to screw them home

Finally here is the bottom shelf assembly turned upside down and resting on the spacers , all that was left was to screw them home

CONSTRUCTION & BUILD COMPLETE

Adding the bottom shelf completed the build phase of this project and it looks great, I still need to sand the whole unit down to 220 grit sandpaper, I was going to paint the unit but because it is pressure treated it doesnt take kindly to paint as the wood is still very moist and probably will remain that way for some weeks/months.

Below are some of the pictures of the unit completely assembled and it looks great

Here is the assembled water table, looks great and I am sure my son will get plenty of enjoyment out of it

Here is the assembled water table, looks great and I am sure my son will get plenty of enjoyment out of it

You can see the containers that the water will go into, just a suggestion but I might adjust the dimensions of the table by a little and possibly use a thicker piece of wood for the divider because I can not get the lids on the containers easily as …

You can see the containers that the water will go into, just a suggestion but I might adjust the dimensions of the table by a little and possibly use a thicker piece of wood for the divider because I can not get the lids on the containers easily as they bump into each other

NEXT

  • Sand the entire unit smooth
  • I will add the round over detail to the front of the top frame, thinking about adding the round over to the edges of the legs on the non tapered sides

NEW PROJECT: SAND & WATER TABLE

After working on projects for the Home Office over the last couple of months I decided to turn my attentions to my 5 year old son, he has been waiting patiently for a new water table. He had a plastic one last summer that has been around for years and it fell apart on him, so I decided to make him.

I came across this project online and the plans were already made for it so I decided to make it for him. I came across it on Ana White.com and she has plans available for it, I really like this design as it is very simple and anybody can make it with very little tools and/or experience. I also like the shelf on the bottom that you can store all the toys that come with having little ones that play on the deck.

WHAT I DID TODAY

  • Went to Home Depot to buy Supplies
  • Made the top frame
  • Made the bottom frame
  • Attached the legs

SHOPPING TIME

Materials needed for this build are

  • (1) 1x6x12 Pressure Treated lumber
  • (5) 1x3x8 Pressure treated lumber, I needed to buy 1x4's because my home depot doesnt carry them
  • Exterior grade woodscrews 1 1/4" #8
  • Exterior Grade wood glue
  • 2 Tupperware containers

TOP FRAME

The top frame consisted of 2 pieces of the 1x6 for the front and back of the top frame, 2 sides of 1x6 and a center divider that divides the top frame up so as that the containers can fit inside, you need to very precise or the containers will not fit. I used glue and screws to secure the sides to the front and back pieces.

Here you can see the top frame

Here you can see the top frame

BOTTOM FRAME

The bottom frame is very like the construction off the top frame , except the boards are smaller and there is no center divider, this part is what forms the frame for the bottom shelf, I will be adding slats across the frame and securing it under the top frame. I used the same joinery method of butt joints and secured screws throught the sides into the ends of the front and back pieces.

Here you can see the bottom frame, Like I said I will be adding slats across this frame as this is what makes the bottom shelf in the unit.

Here you can see the bottom frame, Like I said I will be adding slats across this frame as this is what makes the bottom shelf in the unit.

THE LEGS

The plans call for 1x3's to be used for the legs, 2 legs are positioned on the front and back. I also added a little taper on the inside of each of the legs to add some visual appeal, I used my jigsaw and just gang cut two at a time.

The legs are then secured into the top frame , I forgot to mention every screw that I have inserted into this build so far and going forward will be counter-sunked so as that you cant see them. In the past I have plugged holes that I have inserted screws into but I am not going through this process anymore as they eventually fall out because of the weather we get up here in the North East.

Here is what the leg assemblies look like  from above them, I am very seriously thinking about rounding these edges over with a router so as that he doesn't hurt himself 

Here is what the leg assemblies look like  from above them, I am very seriously thinking about rounding these edges over with a router so as that he doesn't hurt himself 

Here are the legs milled and tappered.

Here are the legs milled and tappered.

Here is a picture of the legs attached to the top frame.

Here is a picture of the legs attached to the top frame.

AN OVERVIEW OF TODAY'S TASKS

Here is as far as I got today the top frame and legs made and atatched.

Here is as far as I got today the top frame and legs made and atatched.

Here you can see how the legs are attached, and I also wanted to see how the containers fit, they do but barely, I followed the cut-list but the conmtainers are tight

Here you can see how the legs are attached, and I also wanted to see how the containers fit, they do but barely, I followed the cut-list but the conmtainers are tight

NEXT:

  • Attach bottom frame
  • Add shelf slats
  • Add some round over detail using my router