Making a moveable roof for a kid's sandbox

Dave & Tricia Claghorn <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<BCCD9B17.97B2%[email protected]>...
> O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go up
> and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of


I couldn't open the link, but I can picture to some degree what it is.
I made a removeable cover for a sandbox differently and it works
well.

I made a roof-shaped rigid cover with 1x8 sides cut into shallow
triangles (7.5 inches high in center tapered to 0 inches high at the
ends and the base of the triangles a little longer than the sandbox).
I then screwed 1/4" plywood to the the triangles to form a shallow
"roof" (the triangles form the ends of roof- picture the siding on a
house where the siding meets the roof of the house). I covered the
seam between the plywood sheets at the peak of the roof with a cap of
wood shaped like a ridge vent on a house roof. I then added 1x2
support strips under the plywood for strength. Finally, I added
wheels to one end and a handle to the other so that it could be rolled
off the sandbox.
It has worked well, I don't have to worry about it falling down and
it's proved to be incredibly strong (many kids have sat stood and even
jumped on it).

Hope this is useful in some way.

Charles Lerner

Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>
> O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go up
> and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
> sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
> furring strips to support a marine canvas top, so the whole contraption will
> be very light-weight. I want to use an iron bar, like some galvanized pipe,
> between the uprights, and a hand crank on ONE side to raise and lower the
> "roof".
>
> Does this sound do-able? Has anyone attempted any piece of engineering like
> this? Would be glad to post more details (that are swimming around my addle
> mind) if the task sounds realistic. I have seen a photo of a similar set
> up:
> http://www.alsto.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Alsto&category%5Fname=FunGam
> es&product%5Fid=14388
>
> Would this require two people to raise the top?
>
> Any help is indeed appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
> Dave in Dallas
and how will you feel when the thing comes tumbling down with the child
in the sand box??? leave it alone and be safe...

jim wrote:

> Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
> >
> > O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go up
> > and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
> > sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar

What is the purpose of the roof, and what's wrong with using a beach umbrella?
(or making your own..) If you really want to make your own, I'd model it
on the pull-up canopies on boats.

On 5/17/04 7:23, in article [email protected], "jim" <[email protected]>
wrote:

> Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>>
>> O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go up
>> and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
>> sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
>> furring strips to support a marine canvas top, so the whole contraption will
>> be very light-weight. I want to use an iron bar, like some galvanized pipe,
>> between the uprights, and a hand crank on ONE side to raise and lower the
>> "roof".
>>
>> Does this sound do-able? Has anyone attempted any piece of engineering like
>> this? Would be glad to post more details (that are swimming around my addle
>> mind) if the task sounds realistic. I have seen a photo of a similar set
>> up:
>> http://www.alsto.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=Alsto&category%5Fname=FunGam
>> es&product%5Fid=14388
>>
>> Would this require two people to raise the top?
>>
>> Any help is indeed appreciated.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Dave in Dallas
> and how will you feel when the thing comes tumbling down with the child
> in the sand box??? leave it alone and be safe...

There is this nifty little invention that just came out last week. It's
called a dowel. I know that they're expensive as hell, and it's impossible
to make one, even if you have a router table, or a drill and belt sander.
You're probably right...

You made that yourself?!?!

;-)


On 5/18/04 12:41, in article
[email protected], "Jim85CJ"
<[email protected]> wrote:

> http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SDAG/102-4033374-3782541
>
> My kids love it.
>
> [email protected] wrote:
>
>>
>> jim wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>>>
>>>> O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go
>>>> up
>>>> and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
>>>> sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
>>
>>
>> What is the purpose of the roof, and what's wrong with using a beach
>> umbrella?
>> (or making your own..) If you really want to make your own, I'd model it
>> on the pull-up canopies on boats.
>>
>>
>

I fill it with sand each year :-)

Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:

> You made that yourself?!?!
>
> ;-)
>
>
> On 5/18/04 12:41, in article
> [email protected], "Jim85CJ"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SDAG/102-4033374-3782541
>>
>>My kids love it.
>>
>>[email protected] wrote:
>>
>>
>>>jim wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go
>>>>>up
>>>>>and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
>>>>>sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
>>>
>>>
>>>What is the purpose of the roof, and what's wrong with using a beach
>>>umbrella?
>>>(or making your own..) If you really want to make your own, I'd model it
>>>on the pull-up canopies on boats.
>>>
>>>
>>
>

[email protected] wrote:

>
>
> jim wrote:
>
>> Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>> >
>> > O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will
>> > go up
>> > and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
>> > sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
>
> What is the purpose of the roof, and what's wrong with using a beach
> umbrella?
> (or making your own..) If you really want to make your own, I'd model it
> on the pull-up canopies on boats.

The design he shows would keep the neighbors' cats out when it wasn't in
use. This alone would be a significant advantage.

Seems simple enough to make--a couple of cut pieces on the ends, a couple of
supports, four pieces of pipe (plastic would probably be fine)--three for
spreaders. one for the axle, some brightly colored rope, a little bit of
waterproof coated fabric, a couple of disks, one with teeth, a pawl to
engage the teeth, a handle to crank it with.

--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004SDAG/102-4033374-3782541

My kids love it.

[email protected] wrote:

>
> jim wrote:
>
>
>>Dave & Tricia Claghorn wrote:
>>
>>>O.k. I'm making a sandbox for my daughter, and I want a roof that will go up
>>>and down. Something that I can raise and lower with a pulley system of
>>>sorts... I will be using 1x8 cedar for the sides and just a few cedar
>
>
> What is the purpose of the roof, and what's wrong with using a beach umbrella?
> (or making your own..) If you really want to make your own, I'd model it
> on the pull-up canopies on boats.
>
>

> and how will you feel when the thing comes tumbling down with the child
> in the sand box???

probably the same way your parents felt when they dropped you on your head
for the 10'th time. in case you havent heard, its possible to build stuff
that doesnt fall down.

randy