Build a better sand box... ?

[PocketThunder]

I want to build a sand box for my kids this weekend.  I'm thinking at least 10' x 10' and placing it under a tree so that its in the shade.  I can buy old aluminum scaffold planks at work and i was thinking those would make good side boards. 

Any good ideas out there?   

Paul
in Minnetonka

[bakerhillpins]

The two things that come to mind are how hot the metal sides would get when the sun is on them and the risk of a sharp edge.

Though wood runs the splinter risk. I would avoid PT lumber though as it checks more often and if they do get splinters it gets nasty quick.

What about the plastic decking?

Bryan

[Charger_Fan]

Just ask Bob; http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/CBS/DeluxeSandbox.html 

Be built one for our kids when they were little...the very next week, we made a lid. Every cat in the neighborhood considered the sandbox their personal litterbox...the kids were stacking the cat turds in piles...just about made my Wife puke.

[Guns N Rotors]

I built this for my boys last summer.

[Old Moparz]

Just ask Bob; http://www.bobvila.com/BVTV/CBS/DeluxeSandbox.html 

Be built one for our kids when they were little...the very next week, we made a lid. Every cat in the neighborhood considered the sandbox their personal litterbox...the kids were stacking the cat turds in piles...just about made my Wife puke.

Ain't that the truth.   

Someone gave us one of those big plastic turtles that has a lid when our daughter Kate was little. The 2 biggest problems were cat turds if it was left uncovered, & wet sand that never dried out if it was covered. BTW, ever try to brush wet sand off a baby's ass after they've made their own turds?   

[Back N Black]

I built this for my boys last summer.

Very nice, was that a kit that you buy at a local hardware store or did you come up with the plans yourself?

[timmy]

WORMS  thats what come to my mind when you say sand box

[Shakey]

10' x 10' is a very large sandbox.  I realize there will be three little ones in there at once but does it need to be that big?

If you're not concerned about a lid and the neighbour hood cats (I never see cats around where I live) then perhaps more of a sand pit / area which will save a lot of work.  Make sure the rain is able to drain away from it and put some fresh play sand in there at the beginning of each season and the children will be just as happy.

If you do need to have a lid on it and are concerned about enclosing it, make sure the children are able to remove the lid themselves.  I know you'll be the one to put it back in place each night.

Rather than just have seats in the corners, maybe a bench along the rail would be an option.

I'd also use wood as mentioned above.

[PocketThunder]

My plan was to dig out a trench into the ground about 12" deep, set the "form boards" just like you would do when pouring concrete, and then fill it with sand.  then the kids will have a bench all around at grade level.  My other idea is to have a post on all 4 corners that would support one of those party tent roofs.  I have this all sketched out on paper at work (on my lunch hour ofcourse) i just need to scan it and post it up.  I'll get pictures of the area its going in tomorrow, up on a small hill in the back yard so drainage shouldnt be a problem.

10x10 is a nice size i think, gotta have room for 3 kids + me in there Shakey!  Although i just checked with the Equipment guy at work and he doesnt have any 10' planks for sale, but he does have 7' planks, so 7x7 might be the size i end up with.  Time to buy a whole fleet of tonka trucks too.  No wonder my Charger doesnt get worked on.

[Shakey]

No wonder my Charger doesnt get worked on.

I'm a member of that club also.   

[Charger_Fan]

BTW, ever try to brush wet sand off a baby's ass after they've made their own turds?   

That's what a garden hose is for.

[Old Moparz]

BTW, ever try to brush wet sand off a baby's ass after they've made their own turds?   

That's what a garden hose is for.

  The well water here is ICE COLD & would have turned the cheeks blue in 7 seconds.

[PocketThunder]

Update.  We went with 8 foot 2x12's and made a simple box.  I'm thinking about putting down a layer of free brick pavers on the bottom, then pour in the sand.  that way the kids wont dig into the dirt and then mix dirt with the sand.

[Old Moparz]

Update.  We went with 8 foot 2x12's and made a simple box.  I'm thinking about putting down a layer of free brick pavers on the bottom, then pour in the sand.  that way the kids wont dig into the dirt and then mix dirt with the sand.

That should be a good size. 

When they aren't looking, put some loose change in the sand so when they're digging they find the coins. When they show it to you, tell them "Wow, I bet there's lots more buried treasure in there!......Better get back in & keep digging!" That'll keep 'em out of your hair.   

[moparstuart]

Update.  We went with 8 foot 2x12's and made a simple box.  I'm thinking about putting down a layer of free brick pavers on the bottom, then pour in the sand.  that way the kids wont dig into the dirt and then mix dirt with the sand.

wow  that is going to take a ton of sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[PocketThunder]

Update.  We went with 8 foot 2x12's and made a simple box.  I'm thinking about putting down a layer of free brick pavers on the bottom, then pour in the sand.  that way the kids wont dig into the dirt and then mix dirt with the sand.

  wow  that is going to take a ton of sand !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

3200 lbs to be exact!     thats at 6" thick.  A ton of sand delivered is $90.  Or my neighbor two houses down has all the sand i want for free.  His kids are grown up now and he wants the sand gone from his kids old play area.  I would really have to love my kids though to haul 3200 lbs of sand one wheel barrow at a time.  I think i'll be getting a couple pickup loads from the local sand quarry this weekend.

[Charger-Bodie]

Id just justify buying the sand with something like : "Its cleaner , therfore safer for youre kids" and they are worth spending the 90.00 because you love them so much.


See how I turned that around for you? Now you can walk proud like a great Dad and do it the easier way.

[jackel440]

Update.  We went with 8 foot 2x12's and made a simple box.  I'm thinking about putting down a layer of free brick pavers on the bottom, then pour in the sand.  that way the kids wont dig into the dirt and then mix dirt with the sand.

That should be a good size. 

When they aren't looking, put some loose change in the sand so when they're digging they find the coins. When they show it to you, tell them "Wow, I bet there's lots more buried treasure in there!......Better get back in & keep digging!" That'll keep 'em out of your hair.   

man thats a great idea.too bad my kids would find me out thee digging it up with them for gas money later to get to work

[Ponch ®]

Don't forget to throw in a couple of broken King Cobra bottles, half a dozen or so cut up beer cans, and 3 or 4 hypodermic needles. You know, for a realisitc city park feel.

[PocketThunder]

 

We got some work done today!  We picked up some free pavers from a friend down the street and built a nice level base under the box frame.  The we shoveled the sand in.  We went thru 4,000 pounds (2 tons) so far.  We could probaby use another ton of sand but we'll save that load for next year when its exciting to get fresh sand in the sand box.

Paul
in Minnetonka

[PocketThunder]

 

I offered a short handel spade shovel but Junior insisted he use his snow shovel.   

[G-man]

i might be 25 but I WANT WHAT HE HAS!

Gimme Gimme 

[moparstuart]

nice new big cat litter box !

[Finn]

Very cool!
My dad made ours out of cinder blocks. It was about 8x8 stacked 2 blocks high and had a wooden roof supported blocks at the corners. My brother and I had a blast in that thing, made cites, volcanoes, you name it. We also hooked up those mister things on the roof so we could simulate rain and get the sand nice and moist for shaping.

[General_01]

When I was a kid, we lived on a dirt road and had a dirt driveway. No need for a sandbox.

Nice job Paul. Nice shaded area too.

[moparstuart]

  hey paul looks like the bears got in to you mega sand box 

http://www.snopes.com:80/photos/animals/playgroundbears.asp

   

[PocketThunder]

  hey paul looks like the bears got in to you mega sand box 

http://www.snopes.com:80/photos/animals/playgroundbears.asp

Almost, we have a doe and bambi deer in our back yard almost every morning sleeping in the wood chips under the swing set next to the sand box.