Check it out DIY Dads (and Moms)...

A thread to post up links to DIY projects you have found and maybe even built. Perhaps start a new thread for a full build process so others can watch and learn about that specific project, but let this serve as a central location for that initial find you want to share. I suspect I'll post here alot. I have many aspirations, and not near enough gumption (or time). But perhaps you have just enough to do any given project.

To get it started: The "Helper Tower"

You know those super cool adjustable step stool towers for the kitchen for your lil' one(s)? Here's plans on how to build one, that folds up even, cheap and easy! Ima do this one for real. And of course I'll post up when I do. You should too!!

ana-white.com/2010/12/helping-tower.html

And here's the DadLabs videos regarding the commercial version of the "Learning Tower" from Little Helpers. If I had the means, I'd have no hesitation about buying one of these, I think they're really great!

Learning Tower

How to Make the Learning Tower Even Better for Kid

Gearing Up for Chowing Down

Incidentally, there will likely be multiple posts with links to www.Ana-White.com because her plans are easy to follow, and there are many many kid-centric projects there.

Have you rehabbed an old dresser into a baby changing station? Built a great playthemed bed? Perhaps some great bedroom toy storage? PLEASE! Share your projects with us all!

Great idea. Thanks for sharing the link. I'll definitely be building the tower and probably a play kitchen. Why do all toy store play kitchens have to be pink?

I will admire from afar. Hoping lots of guys post here. I'm always amazed by your crafty creativity. Wish I had me some a that.

I'm tempted to document some rebuilds of brewing equipment here! Lots to do before a big brew session Monday.

Don't discount Ikea builds. Even in the stores, they have creations made from multiple pieces and things from a hardware store. We're in the market for a train table. The Melissa and Doug one is winning right now, but if Ikea were closer and we weren't on the cusp of moving, we'd be assembling a monstrocity that uses four of their short cabinets with bins for toys and a sheet of MDF to make a 6'x4' table big enough to hold one of their many playscape rugs. It's awesome, but out of the question for us right now.

Oh indeed Ben! Much inspiration from Ikea hackers...

www.ikeahackers.net/

Lots of great ideas there. I've never actually been to an Ikea. When I do finally find myself in one, I imagine I'll be looking directly for things to hack more than 'use as originally intended.'

I love ths thread and the ideas. I am apparently building a train crossing arm with flashing red lights (just picked up LEDs from Radion Shack) for the boys' birthday party next weekend. I'll try to remember to take pics and post them.

Our boys' birthday party was a train theme but trying to get a bunch of train themed stuff that is not Thomas is tough and gets expensive quickly. So we thought we would set the theme as our guests arrive and then have mini mal inside decorations.

Last year we had a construction theme so I put a loaded wheel barrow, construction tape and a men working sign in front of our house, this year I built a train crossing arm.


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The upright is a spare 2x4 painted white and zip tied to a t-post driven into the frozen clay,

The arm is a spare 1x4 primed white with black spray paint stripes,

The Rail Road Crossing letters are address labels from Sears hardware ($0.46 ea)

The really fun part was the flashing red lights. The big circles are black bucket lids from Home Depot ($0.98 ea) with holes poked in the middle for the lights to shine through

The small circles around the light in the middle of the bucket lids are 3" PVC connector sleeves ($1.11 ea) painted black and gorilla glued to the lids

The flashing lights were red flashing LEDs from Radio shack (3.50 ea)

Whoa! I was expecting something much smaller there Cook. (That's what she said.) Well done! (She said that too.)

**** Cook - I'm not sure why your shutterfly image wasn't showing up but I think it may have something to do with the fact that your URL for the image didn't end in .jpg, rather it just ended in /. So instead I just saved the image and uploaded in the reply section and it worked. I'm not sure but I may have accidentally altered some text in your message, if so, I'm sorry! You might want to re-read that again.
Thanks, -dixie with dadlabs

Not exactly a "build project," but a 'rebuild/recycle.'

I'll do a full report in a new thread when the whole thing is done... but it has begun... probably be about 3 weeks before it's complete... the weather is just too variable right now...


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Dude! If we end up in S Indiana, you and I are SO going to start a Power Racing team!

Yes please. All the resources we need I believe can be found on Craigslist and at www.modifiedpowerwheels.com/forum/default.asp

Or the Peg Perego Outlet store is about five miles from here!

Peg Perego Factory Outlet Store
3625 Independence Drive
Fort Wayne, IN 46808-4504
800-671-1701