Christmas gift for my kids: Builder Boards

[Joelm]

Last year my wife bought me a book by Jack McKee called "Builder Boards How to build the Take-Apart Playhouse" and wanted me to make a set for my kids.https://woodshop4kids.com/builder-boards/

I bought 5 sheets of plywood in June and only just finished in time for Christmas. My kids are super happy with their playhouse and we can't wait for the weather to dry up around here so we can set up a new playhouse outside.

Thanks FOG members for answering my questions throughout the project. It was greatly appreciate. During the build I bought several tools I needed and built a custom router table that was invaluable to doing template work on 4' long boards. I'll post a few WIP images of the process. 

 

[Joelm]

View attachment 1
I had to cut close to 100 individual boards measuring between 4' and 5 1/2".

View attachment 2
My template created using my Kapex and it's trenching feature.

View attachment 3
A view of my router table. I was adding a 45 degree chamfer to each notch.

View attachment 4
Soooo many boards

View attachment 5
Soooo much sanding

 

[Scott in San Diego]

I like it and nice work.  The playhouse is awesome and has almost as many parts as a Fast Cap workbench.  [big grin]

 

[Mario Turcot]

Well done  [thumbs up]

Kids will never forget that house  [big grin]

 

[SoonerFan]

Nice work.  I am sure the kids will love it.

PS - I am also jealous of your router table setup.

 

[jarbroen]

That's a lot of parts!  That looks like sanding purgatory... lol
Agreed on the nice router table setup.

This Christmas I agreed to finally build my girls the loft beds I kept promising... man, that was a lot more work than anticipated.
And they aren't quite done.
I just have to remember how excited the kids get about stuff and that's enough reward to keep working.

 

[rmwarren]

Those are great!

My father was a carpenter. ~50 years ago (I can't describe how odd I feel to be able to make that statement...) he made a set of "blocks" for Xmas. Not nearly as fancy as your efforts, these were randoms scraps of 2-by lumber and plywood, packaged in a huge open-top cardboard box covered in wrapping paper.

Nearly the only gift I can recall from my childhood. Doubtless your lucky kids will look back the same way. Kudos.

RMW

 

[jeffinsgf]

I have to go to the outer reaches of my extended family to find a member the right age for that...but I think I'm going to! Love that project. I have to build a set for my grand-niece, just so I can play with them.

 

[gunnyr]

Very cool gift!!!  They'll remember this Christmas for ever!

 

[Joelm]

Thanks for the kind words everyone. I saw the title of the thread and thought "Hey I built some of those a few years ago". I didn't realize this was my thread until I opened the replies.

That was a great Christmas! My boys loved their builder boards and spent hours and hours playing with them. I even brought them to my youngest son's kindergarten class at the end of last year for the kids to play with. They are growing out of the builder boards now and my wife is trying to talk me into donating them to the school.

If you have a young one in your life that would like something like this, I highly recommend this project. They grow out of it quickly but will definitely enjoy building their own houses and forts.