anyone make their own playstands?

[minimunklemama]

was it easy?
i found a pattern to buy,if anyone knows of a free one,that would be good
i am going to ask FIL to help me.i want to use nice wood.does it pay to make them or does it work out nearly the same price?
cheers for any input

[magpie mamma]

My DH just made some out of clear pine and they are great. We adapted from various plans found on line, one has a single shelf, one has two shelves. My DD (2) loves them and has only just started to figure out how to play with them. Both of them came to about $50.00 so it was worth it and they are as I wanted. Don't have the camera up and running but will try to sent photos. Also, it was pretty quick, he did biscuit/glued joints and they look very clean. Good Luck

[Minoh]

Dh and I were considering doing this as well. It sounds like a really fun project! I have a pattern from the book "Toymaking with Children". We're also going to try making some simple wooden toys.

Would you mind posting links to on-line playstand patterns? I'd love to see the other options out there.

[magpie mamma]

Here are a couple,if I can get this to work... www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/playstands, http://www.waldorfresources.org/gall...gns/playstands and www.playstandsplans.com. I think I found one or two more but can't seem to find them. Good luck

[Purplehaze]

great article/free plans

http://www.waldorfhomeschoolers.com/playstands.htm

[ericsprojects]

I've put together a number of playstands. If you have the tools and the time, it does save money. If you have to buy tools, not so much.

There are some rather step-by-step (free) plans on my website, here:

http://www.ericsprojects.com/?page_id=40

I also have plans for stools and a sand and water table.

[kandkrose]

AWESOME!!! thank you for the plans!

[Tcarwyn]

My dh and a few friends made two each for each of the kids two years ago for the holidays and they came out great. we use the waldorf homeschollers patter and they made 4 pair (so 8) in one evening ( 4 people working on them)

I think it ended up being $35-40 a pair, something like that...we used pine as well

tanya

[gracesmommy]

Those look great! Thanks!

[birthdancedoula]

I made some a few summers ago. I adapted then from various versions I'd seen and made them w/ the features that I liked. They're just simple white pine w/ a salad bowl oil finish. I ordered the canopy from Brianswoodshop

Here is a photo. And another one.

[Selah L.]

Thanks for posting photos birthdancedoula - it looks great! Here's an embarassing question - what tools exactly did you use to make it? We're crafty but not carpenters!

[Minoh]

Originally Posted by birthdancedoula

I made some a few summers ago. I adapted then from various versions I'd seen and made them w/ the features that I liked. They're just simple white pine w/ a salad bowl oil finish. I ordered the canopy from Brianswoodshop

Here is a photo. And another one.

Wow, those are super nice!

We hope to be making some this summer with friend's of ours at my friend's father's workshop. I can't wait to give it a try and see how they turn out.

[birthdancedoula]

Originally Posted by Selah L.

Thanks for posting photos birthdancedoula - it looks great! Here's an embarassing question - what tools exactly did you use to make it? We're crafty but not carpenters!

TY!! As far as tools go (don't worry- not a silly question at all) I used a circular saw to cut down the boards and a jig saw to shape the ends and cut the square holes for the cross bars. I used a router to make the inset to attach the shelves and then a drill to make the holes for the dowels to attach the cross bars.

I made it sound way more complicated than it actually was...I'm much more crafty w/ my sewing machine than I am w/ a saw but I made it work!

[Selah L.]

I don't know why I even asked which tools you used since all I have is a hammer and a screwdriver! I have handed the project over to the boys granddaddy and I'll stick to the playsilks for now but thanks for the idea. I wish you could check out powertools from the library.

[purplesmiley]

Just found this link for playstand directions http://www.ericsprojects.com/?page_id=40

Not used it but it looks quite useful

[isaberg]

Originally Posted by Selah L.

I wish you could check out powertools from the library.

You can, actually - most towns have a rental place that rents everything from giant tow-behind wood chippers to all kinds of power tools to extra tables for parties. Check the phonebook - my town of 15,000 folks even has one.

[rabbithorns]

We also made our own, but without plans. I took some pine dh bought and drew out the sides, told him how it should look in the end and he just used a regular saw and some sandpaper. He did have to drill the hole for the dowel on top. Cost $35 for one.

[isaberg]

I'm making a set from aspen right now. It's beautiful, very light wood (and oh man is it renewable - those trees are like weeds up here) but it gets fuzzy when it's sawed or rough sanded; you need to go over it with steel wool to make it nice again. The price was pretty much exactly what clear pine would have cost - $95 for a pair and canopy. I suspect if I shopped around, I could have found a better deal on the wood, but shopping around would cost me $20 in gas and a few hours' driving, so that seemed pretty silly. Personally, I think regular pine would be just fine, but the husband is a wood snob, and walnut would have been even more expensive. :-)