tutorial

Lately I’ve been scouring Craigslist and the thrift stores in search of a water/sand table for my youngest with no luck. Looking at the retail prices, there was no way I was paying $60-$200 for one. Then yesterday while in Walmart I had an idea…

I found this Sterilite 41 quart storage box and asked my hubby to make a simple wood frame for it.  Good man that he is, he went to work.  Here’s what you’ll need if you’d like to complete this project:

• Sterilite 41 quart storage box with lid (found in-store at my local Walmart).
• 1″ x 3″ lumber.  We opted for cedar.
• Saw
• Screws or nails

He started by measuring the dimensions of the Sterilite box. Depending on the size of the box you purchases, your lengths may be different.  For ours, we needed the lengths shown above:

(3) 33 3/4″ pieces

• two for top frame
• one for support brace that goes underneath the length of the box

(4) 16 5/8 pieces

• two for top frame
• two for support brace

(4) 22″ pieces for legs

REMEMBER: These lengths will only work if you use the same box we did. Otherwise, measure your box just below the lip to get your lengths.

1) Make the frame.
2) Attach the legs.
4) Attach braces for extra support as shown below.

Super easy!  We paid $9 for the Sterilite box and $9 for the lumber.  Final price: $18!

It was such a huge hit with our little guy that we made a second one for sand.

The beauty part is that when playtime is over, you can put the lid on so everything inside stays clean!

Posted in: summer,tutorial

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