Children naturally love to play in the sand. Some youngsters are fortunate enough to be able to stay at the seashore and have the beaches to play on while others must content themselves with an improvised beach, a sand box. Without a box of some kind, the sand would soon be all over the grounds and thereby become a nuisance to say nothing of the fact that in a short time there would be no more sand.

Use any workable wood for this model, that is 7/8" thick and smooth on all sides. A good size to make this sand box is 32" square and 6" deep. If several children are to play at one time in this box, it will be advisable to increase these dimensions.

Method Of Procedure

Step No. 1: Cut the four pieces to the correct length for the sides. Two of the sides should be 13/4" shorter in length to allow for the corner joints.

Step No. 2: Use 8 penny common wire nails (nails 21/2" long) and securely nail together the corners.

Step No. 3: Use tongue and grooved lumber and nail a bottom to the side pieces. Unless tongue and grooved lumber (matched lumber) is used, the sand will easily work its way through the cracks.

Step No. 4: Cut out 1/2" thick lumber for the corner seats. These pieces will also act as braces for the entire box.

Step No. 5: Nail four corner strips in place to act as legs; these pieces will keep the bottom of the box off the damp ground.

Step No. 6: With a small plane, slightly round off any sharp corners along the top edges, to prevent the kiddies from hurting themselves.

Step No. 7: Paint the entire box, inside and outside, with three coats of a good oil paint. The first coat should contain not quite half turpentine and the rest oil with just a little drier. The second coat should contain more oil and less turpentine and the third coat oil alone with just a little drier. Of course, you can use ready mixed paint and save yourself a great deal of fuss.

If you want to add a little extra interest to this project, paint some children playing on the four sides of this sand box. To do this you must have a little art ability.

Put about three or four inches of white beach sand in this box for the kiddies to play with. White sand can be procured from your lumber and masons' material man in town, or you may be convenient to some beach where you can easily obtain all the sand you will need without cost.