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Portable Toy Box.
David's children now store and remove toys with ease from this custom-built piece.

Do-It-Yourself Profile: David Kennedy

Skill Level: Intermediate
 
 

Never ask David Kennedy what his favorite tool is. It's almost like asking a parent to name his favorite child-the reaction is one of confusion, heartbreak, and inner conflict.

"I probably have 25, maybe 100 tools," David says. "And one is no good without the other." Lowe's is happy to provide this information as a service to you.

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Toybox.
David Kennedy, woodworker and father, created this toy box for his twins Ashley and Joshua.

Thankfully, David designs and creates a wide variety of woodworking projects, which means he has a chance to use each of his tools. And as a result, his home, his family, and his friends all benefit from the interesting items he makes.

While he has built projects as large as a deck for his home, David has also enjoyed the smaller-but no less important-creations. After his first son, Levi, was born, David built him a toy box. And lately, he's been putting scrap wood to good use by crafting birdhouses and bird feeders.

"I like the challenge of designing a project with no instructions, just by looking at an example," he says. But for those of you who don't feel up to this challenge, we've provided instructions for the toy box David made for his twins, Ashley and Joshua.

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Tools & Materials

Tools

Materials

  • 1 (3⁄4" thick) 4' x 8' sheet of birch plywood*
  • Wood glue
  • 1 pound 6d finishing nails
  • Primer
  • Paint (American Tradition, Polished Apple #95-9C, semigloss)
  • Paint (American Tradition, Crown Derby Blue #95-21B, semigloss)
  • Paint (American Tradition, Jonquil Yellow #95-1B, semigloss)
  • Braided polyester rope
  • 4 industrial swivel casters with brake (3")
  • 16 (#12 x 3⁄4") pan combo metal screws

*Selection varies by market.

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Cut List
Part Material Size Quantity
Sides plywood 30" x 18" 2
Ends
plywood
16" x 18" 2
Bottom plywood 26 1⁄4" x 18" 1
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How-To Steps

Step 1: (Click here for illustrated instructions) Use a table saw or circular saw to cut all pieces according to the cut list. With a jigsaw, round the four corners of each side at an approximate 2 1⁄4" radius. (Tip: Use a large soup can as your guide.) On one of the ends, drill a 3⁄8" hole for the rope.

Step 2a: (Click here for illustrated instructions) Sand all rough edges as needed. Mark guidelines on the side pieces for the placement of the ends.

Step 2b: Assemble the box. First attach the sides to the bottom using wood glue, and secure with 6d finishing nails.

Step 2c: Attach ends to the bottom and sides in the same manner.

Step 2d: Use pan combo metal screws to affix casters on the bottom of the toy box in each of the four corners.

Step 3a: (Click here for illustrated instructions) Sand, prime and paint the assembled toy box.

Step 3b: Once dry, thread a length of rope through the hole from Step 2; knot at both ends.

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