Folding Climbing Module for Kids
Introduction: Folding Climbing Module for Kids
Our toddler is a climber. I mean, a CLIMBER. So I thought I'd make him something he can climb in different ways. Other parameters I considered when designing were:
* Can be used outside
* Foldable and not too heavy, so it's easy to carry around in the backyard/frontyard and to store for winter
* Minimizing the number of wood cuts by using standard dimensions of timber
Instructions below are fairly detailed in an attempt to make this project accessible.
Supplies
WOOD
Note on type of wood: I used brown treated wood only, as I wanted it to be used outside and didn't want to spend hours and hours sanding and varnishing. Basic spruce would totally work, you'll just have to be careful about splinters and finishing; you'd be saving on money for sure, though!
* 3 pieces of 2"x4"x8'
* 8 pieces of 1"x6"x4'
or
6 pieces of 1"x6"x4' + 2 pieces of 1"x4"x4'
* 7 pieces of 2"x2"x4'
(I actually used bevel-end balusters, as it's the only treated 2x2 they had in store, so make sure you check all aisles in your wood store before giving up on it)
OTHER MATERIAL
* 3 hinges (3"x3")
* 1/4" Braided Polypropylene Rope (under 6' total)
* Deck/Wood Screws:
+ A lot of 2 1/2"
+ About 18 screws of 1 1/2"
* Wood Glue (optional)
TOOLS
* Miter Saw (although a hand saw would be doable)
* Drill
* Drill bits:
+ Drill bits to pre-drill holes
+ Countersink bit
+ Wood drill bits: 3/8" and 5/8"
* Measuring Tape
* Pencil (to take marks when cutting)
* Lighter (or anything to slightly burn the rope)
For the option with only 1"x6" pieces of wood:
* Table Saw
For the option when keeping the bevel-ends (see Step ):
* Wood Chisel + Mallet
* Flat Rasp
* Hand saw
OTHER TOOLS
* Your protective gear: glasses, earmuffs/ear plugs, etc.
Step 1: Visualize
Look at this Instructable a couple of times, review my drawings, do your own drawing, etc. 431
In short: start visualizing and getting used to what you're going to build and what tools and material you'll need. I find there's nothing more frustrating than getting stuck because I don't have a specific tool or I need to go buy more wood.
You can check out my initial design in this SketchUp model:
https://3dwarehouse.sketchup.com/model/d3ef18c1-58...
You'll notice that I first thought of using round bars on the "back" side of the module. However, I ended up using 2"x2" pieces, as round bars were just too expensive for my desired budget (even broom handles were not as cheap as the 2"x2" I found).
Step 2: Build the 2 Frames
Material & Tools
* 3 beams of 2"x4"x8'
* Miter saw (or handsaw)
As shown on the "SIDE VIEW" in the drawing, the length of the 2x4's for the sides is 46 3/4", and the angle is obtained by adding 1 1/4", requiring 48" (or 4') of wood for each side. The resulting angle is somewhere between 19 and 20 degrees, which was useful to know so I could check if it was an appropriate angle for a toddler to climb, however you don't need to know that exact angle to cut the actual pieces. My drawing is hopefully self-explanatory to allow you to draw the cutting marks.
That means you'll be using 2 of the 2x4 pieces for the sides, and 1 piece for the top part of the frames.
Cuts to make at this step:
Using the miter saw (or a hand saw, knowing you'll have a bit less precision for the angles):
* Sides of the frames: 4 pieces at 48" (46 3/4" + 1 1/4" angled ends)
* Tops of the frames: 2 pieces at 45"
Notes:
1. 431