We did it! We have finally found something that Teheran (oldest child) wants to do. My oldest child has been on the epic journey of finding his “thing,” and boy has it been a long and confusing ride. Haha. I love my big confused boy. Bless his heart! He’s worse than his mother!
At the beginning of the 2017 school year, my oldest came to me asking if he could join Cub Scouts. I automatically went on the offense because we work late, and I just did not think I could incorporate it into our day. But you know what, we have to get him involved into something before it is too late. So, I took the time to set Teheran up at the local troop, and I can say it was the best thing I could have done.
Since the day he signed up for Cub Scouts, Teheran’s confidence has changed dramatically. Could it be the tasks that he gets assigned during the meetings? I think so. From learning how to tie a knot to building a bank, Teheran’s comprehending skills has excelled dramatically. We learned that woodworking is a great learning trait that the kids can use as adults, as well as help with their troubleshooting skills. Here is a detailed step-by-step process of how Teheran put together his first project, a tool box.
1. GATHER WOOD
Because this was an organized project, our wood was pre-cut. You can go to your local Home Depot or Lowe’s, and talk with a representative in the wood section, and they can pre-cut any type of wood in the design in which you would like. The representative cut the design for roughly 10 tool boxes. This came out to roughly $40. Not too shabby for an entire den. Note: Have representative cut holes in the side pieces for wooden dowels (aka handle).
Use the following sizes:
- 3 long rectangular pieces (12 in by 4 in)
- 2 short rectangular pieces with holes [for handles] (8 in by 4 in)
- 1 wooden dowel
2. GATHER TOOLS
Next, you will have to think of the tools you may need to accomplish this task. Most of these tools should be on hand, but can all be purchased for less than $30. Because we wanted the kids to become familiar with as many tools as possible, we had the boys use the following (but all are not necessary):
- Hammer
- Screwdriver
- Screws & Nails
- Wood Glue
- Sand Paper
3. BUILD BASE
Before you can remotely do anything, you have to build your base. This is simple. Take one of the longer rectangular pieces of wood (12 in by 4 in), and using it as a base. Next you will take the two shorter rectangular shaped pieces (8 in by 4 in) and place them on each side. This is your base. Secure together using wood glue.
4. SECURE BASE
Once the base has dried thoroughly, you will grab the last remaining long rectangular pieces, and adhere them to the sides. You can do this by using nails (or screws). We used the concept of nailing each corner of each piece of wood, and three evenly placed nails securing the bottom. Once that is done, your tool box is almost complete
5. ADD HANDLE…& TADA! YOU ARE FINISHED…BUT MAKE SURE IT IS PRESENTABLE
Now that everything is secure, you will want to add a handle. Grab the wooden dowel, place wood glue along the ends of both sides, and simply push the dowel through the holes in the sides. While the wood glue is drying, take the time to sand the tool box to make it look more presentable by smoothing the rough edges. FUN FACT: the boys became experts at sanding. They absolutely enjoyed it!
As you can see, I use it for storing my paints and frequently used enamel dots
If you like to see the entire process from start to finish, click the video below!
That is soooo cool and useful. Doesn’t get any better than that. Love the rustic look too.
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Yes! That was another trait my son learned while in Cub scouts. Thanks for noticing.
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This is a great post. I loved that you store your paints in it! Mine are currently in search of a home! I might have to try this, I feel like it would also look great with a plant in it as well! It is so rustic and charming👍🏻👍🏻
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All the work my son put into it, I couldn’t just let it sit. I had to find a home for it.
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Wow, that’s so neat, great job! Not sure I would be able to tackle this on, but will show my husband!
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The hardest part is actually getting the wood cut, but as I mentioned, as long as you have your dimensions planned out, the associate in the woodworking area will cut it for you. This goes for any project. We built a bed, and they cut the wood down to size for us free of charge
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One must help.kids develop a creative hobby
It helps in the overall growth
Beautiful tool box…..looks simple to make but it is not so
Thank you
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Sorry you feel it’s not simple. This is one of the beginner woodworking projects you will learn in Workshop. This project was also inspired by Home Depot’s Kids Workshop. They promote fun and easy projects in these classes.
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I meant for a child…it has to be done under observation..
God bless
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Of course. The children range from 9-12. They are given instructions, and can ask for assistance from the adults. Check out the video in the blog to see how everything went down. The kids truly enjoyed it. Only problem I saw was getting the hang of using a screwdriver.
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Thank you
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Great project……. Really gratifying to have done something….. Starting small can go a long way.
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This is such a cool DIY! I’d love to make one and paint it with chalk paint to give it a rustic appearance and use it in my laundry room! Thanks for sharing!
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Wow this is certainly very interesting but a bit tricky for me.
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