www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

Hi all.

My wife is a childminder, and a few weeks ago she was offered a wooden play kitchen that had been stored outside for some time. All the MDF was rotten, but the plastic fittings were still useable. She said" you can copy the old one can't you......."
Well, I had a go, and here is the result so far. I used the measurements from the original. The top and bottom are 20mm MDF. The sides are 12mm MDF, and the back panels 4mm hardboard, in a routered groove. Unlike the original , my sides rest ON the base, as she wants it on castors.
I still have to cut a hole for the sink, fit the doors(and oven "glass" window), fill, paint and then fit the knobs etc.
I managed to save the plastic sink bowl, the "tap"(which was rusted to hell, but came up beautifully after a quick tickle with a drill mounted wire brush cup) and sundry knobs and handles.
It's cost nearly as much as buying a new one, but that wouldn't be half as much fun...and I wouldn't have a excuse to buy tools
I'll try to do some more when it's finished, and again when it's painted.

It is square honest, the camera makes it look tapered!

It'll look fab when it's painted! Lucky kids!

Hi,

You are certainly living up to your name Timllfixit because you are fixing this up great and I wholeheartedly agree with your comments about enjoying doing the work rather than simply buying new which seems to rule these days? Very well done so far and I'll look forward to seeing pictures of it finished; given the materials used it won't be pushed around much? The kids will love it and your wife will be out buying you more new tools?

Do you have a biscuit jointer? I find for this kind of work my biscuit jointer is perfect speeding the job up whilst giving accuracy and strength.

Kind regards, Col.

Thanks for the comments so far.
I don't have a biscuit jointer, but I agree it would be handy in this case.
I didn't do enough to warrant one, but now SWMBO has seen my work she wants me to do some more. Perhaps I can put one on my santa list.
I have just used wood blocks(as did the original) to join the top and sides, which are then glued and screwed. There are support rails under the shelves, and the shelves themselves are glued and panel pinned through, although I am contemplating putting a support under the right hand shelf(with the small space beneath) in case the kids stand on it.
It does wobble ever so slightly, but I am banking on it stiffening up once it is filled and painted.

I'm just off to Google biscuit jointers...........

Hi,

If you do buy a biscuit jointer Timllfixit you will find it remains idle in its case for very long periods of time being unused; however once you do use it it will be worth its weight in gold as I've found out. Bron kindly bought me my Freud biscuit jointer over twenty years ago as a Christmas present and its seen some decent action the last project being my computer desk.

For members unfamiliar with a biscuit jointer here is a YouTube video which should help;



Sorry to hijack your thread Timllfixit but when I saw what you were doing I thought how useful a biscuit jointer is in such a situation. I made and installed our fully fitted hardwood kitchen; the top wall units and base units have seven doors each these being face framed; I cut the 28 mortice and tenon joints for the wall unit doors by hand taking two full days to accomplish. Christmas was fast approaching and Bron kindly asked of me what I would like for Christmas; I had been drooling over a Freud biscuit jointer which I think was the first model made JS100? It was supplied with 1,000 free biscuits as a special offer and was bought from Tabwell Tools of Bakewell.

Keen to use this new toy I had already pre-cut the base door timber to length and with an hour before dinner I set about using the jointer for the first time; it was a revelation to me; I cut all the 28 joints (56 slots) in less than an hour and even tidied up before dinner; I still like using my biscuit jointer as a job crops up suitable for its use. I only ever use genuine compressed beech biscuits of #20 size and the last box of 1,000 cost around £30 but I don't know what they cost these days. Fitted wardrobes; fitted kitchen cabinets; bedside tables and even bookcases have been made using the biscuit jointer; coffee table tops have been jointed as has the leg joints. All those years ago Bron paid a lot of money for my biscuit jointer but it's paid for itself many times over and sits in its case awaiting the next project. I must admit I'm a tool and machinery junkie for which there is no known cure.

There are other methods of creating rapid joints such as dowelling and pocket screws but I still like my biscuit jointer. Biscuit joint router cutters can be bought allowing a router to cut the biscuit slots but if money is available a dedicated biscuit jointer is best in my opinion.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/erbauer-biscu ... -set/65290

I've owned industrial square chisel morticers which took up lots of floor space so were sold and I have a slot morticer attachment for my Startrite combination woodworker which I only ever use for big jobs. However I'm now very interested in making a Pantorouter and have already stripped my brand new 2,100W router in readiness. A Pantorouter can be seen here;





The main thing of course is however projects are completed the making is the enjoyable part as you have just shown Timllfixit; good on you and lets see more of your work in future. Again sorry to hijack your thread but I enjoy woodworking and would encourage anyone to have a go.

Kind regards, Col.

Looking forward to seeing this one finished!

I did a scratch built one for my Niece last year...made to fit in a specific space.
Might offer some more ideas should you want some.
kitchen-unit-t70650.html

Hitch, I'm not worthy....................I'm not worthy

Looking forward to seeing this one finished!

So am I!

I managed to get some more done at the weekend. I fitted one of the doors, fitted the drainer and cut out the aperture for the sink.

The door is square, but the frame obviously isn't as the door is a couple of mil out, so don't look too closely.

Timllfixit wrote:
The door is square, but the frame obviously isn't as the door is a couple of mil out, so don't look too closely.

Just like the real thing then............. well. if it's a B&Poo kitchen....

Oh, hang on, these pics should be in my play kitchen thread!

post618689.html#p618689

MODS, would you kindly oblige?
Thanks

I have inadvertently added pictures of the next stage to another of my threads, but have asked the mods to move them here.

Meanwhile:

my-little-project-last-weekend-t71087-15.html

Timllfixit wrote:I have inadvertently added pictures of the next stage to another of my threads, but have asked the mods to move them here.

Meanwhile:

my-little-project-last-weekend-t71087-15.html

I think I have done what you requested.

FYI the *Alert Moderator* button is the exclamation mark at the bottom right of any post. By hitting that you will be given an option of how to report the thread. The chances of a Moderator just finding a request to move/split/merge a post or two are virtually nil.

Unless Mod 2 is on duty.

I think I have done what you requested.

FYI the *Alert Moderator* button is the exclamation mark at the bottom right of any post. By hitting that you will be given an option of how to report the thread. The chances of a Moderator just finding a request to move/split/merge a post or two are virtually nil.

Unless Mod 2 is on duty.

Thanks!

(searching in vain for a Dunce icon!!)

There is still the "oven" door,which is made but not yet fitted and the control knobs for the hobs to go along the front strip.Then it's just handles etc. fill and paint.

Well done mate and as you say well worth the effort and fun doing it.

Looking good but one word of advice seeing as your wife is a child minder and the ages of the kids playing with it will vary no doubt. Use child safe paint when painting it as some kids can be very sensitive

Do a search for 'child safe paint' or 'toy paint' and get one that has been tested and certified for that use