Learning Tower

This tower is from two or three plans found on Pinterest as well as the plans on Ana White.  The materials are from 2 x 2 or 1 x 5.  Length of legs are 34 inches, all cross members are 17 inches  basically your cutting list is :

Quantity         Size                             Description

4                      2 x 2 x 34                     Legs.  You can change this to taller or shorter.

14                    2 x 2 x 17                     Cross members

3                      1 x 6 x 17                     Safety sides

1                      1 x 6 x 16 7/8              Door (optional)

3                      1 x 6 x 16 7/8              Floor

2                      1 x 2 x 17                     Floor Braces

1 set                                                   Hinges (Optional)

1                                                          Latch (Optional)

1                      ¾ x ¼ x 3                     Door stop (Optional)

Distanced between parts-I used Ana Whites dimensions.

Basic unit.

1. Cut, sand, rout, sand, to size.Do not rout the floor as yet.Save that for later.
2. Drill Holes for fasteners on the cross members.I used the Kreg unit for this.Be careful as the 2½ screws can come out on the finished side (the point) if you tighten too much.
3. For the Safety sides, drill using the Kreg unit.
4. Finish sanding.I finished with 220 grit.
5. I stained before I assembled.Worked great.If you are going to spray paint, assemble and paint.See floor assembly now if you are going to paint.
6. Assemble is easy.Use glue if you want.Fasten 2 cross members to the legs at the top.You now have 4 legs and 2 cross members fastened but do not have cross members fastening all four legs together.They are two separate units.
7. Now measure for the cross members for the floor and attach.Install the top cross members first and work your way down.
8. If using the safety sides, attach these.Install the door if you want at this time.I waited unit I finished spraying the finish to install the door.Install the doorstop when you want.
9. Now attach the remaining cross members to form the basic unit.
10. Admire what you have accomplished.

Floor Assembly

1. I did not use the Kreg drill to assemble the floor.I used glue and 1 ¼ inch nails to assemble the floor.
2. Lay the floorboards on the cross member as if the unit was finished. Scribe a light line on the bottom of the floorboards next to the cross members the floor is sitting on.
3. Remove the floorboards and turn upside down.Put some glue between the boards and clamp.Lay the braces near the line you drew about 1/8 to ¼ inside the lines.This is important-you must have wiggle room for the floor to wiggle.
4. Fasten the braces to the floorboards.After the glue dries, check to see that it fits.
5. Sand, rout and sand the floor.
6. Stain the floor.

Final Finish

1.         I love rattle can finishes.  Deft is my favorite.  Use what you like.  Take your time.