"Launched in 2005, Home-Dzine was created to realise a dream; to express my love of home DIY and decor and share with other South Africans. As a non-commercial website I am free to express my own opinions and pass on valuable information to readers.
I feel that more people can benefit by being able to DIY home improvement and home repairs. And we're not talking about major DIY home repairs, but those that anyone with a bit of DIY savvy can do themselves."
Make a crib or cot for new baby
ABOVE and LEFT: This beautiful, sturdy baby crib or cot easily turns in a striking and practical pair of chairs
BELOW: Two window sash latches (one on each side) hold the two components (chairs) together safely.
You will need:
1 of 2400 x 503 x 20mm laminated pine shelf cut into:
- 4 of 500 x 500 x 20mm - seats and shelves
1 of 1800 x 220 x 20mm pine plank - rounded backrests
4 of 780 x 44 x 44mm - front legs
4 of 480 x 44 x 44mm - back legs
44 of 315 x 10mm dowels
20 of 8 x 70mm chipboard screws
Ponal wood glue
120-grit sandpaper
Wood filler
Paintbrush and foam roller
Prominent Paints wood primer
Acrylic paint - white
2 of Sash latches
Tools:
Drill/driver plus 10mm wood bit and 3mm combi countersink bit
Jigsaw plus fine cut blade
Orbital sander
Combination square
Tape measure
Pencil
Putty knife or small scraper
Here's how:
1. Mark out a 180 degree curve on each of the 500 x 500mm pine sections. Start the curve at 250mm along the edge and have the 90 degree point of the curve touch midway along the other edge. Use a jigsaw with fine cut blade to cut these half-round sections.
Mark out 44 x 44mm sections in each of the remaining corners and cut these out. Now mark and cut 44 x 44mm cut outs approximately 400mm along the curved edge of the bottom sections and cut out a 44 x 22mm section at the apex of the curve of the top (seat) sections. See diagram above.
2. Use one of the curved sections to replicate the curve on the 220 x 22mm pine plank. Cut this along these lines with the jigsaw. This will form the outside curve of the rounded backrest.
DIY Tip:
Offset the seat plank in order to fit the curve into the 220mm-wide plank, and work at an angle to ensure you can cut four equal curves.
3. Use offcut pieces of wood to create a simple measuring block to recreate the same curve 50mm to the 'inside' of the curve cut in Step 2 above.
4. Use the jigsaw to cut out the arm/backrest sections.
DIY-Tip:
Use a clamp to firmly hold the sections in place while you are cutting.
5. Place the longer front legs alongside each other and mark lines across all four at the 310mm, 330mm, 480mm and 500mm marks. Mark the shorter back legs only at the 310mm and 330mm marks.
6. Place the armrest sections over the top (seat) sections as shown. Mark a line in the centre of the armrest and mark points along this curve approximately 50mm apart. Use the drill and 10mm bit to drill holes at these points.
DIY Tip:
Use a piece of electrical or masking tape to mark a position 35mm along the drill bit to ensure that the hole only goes through the armrest but only midway into the seat section.
7. Fix the legs to the seat and lower platform, at the points marked out in Step 5 using the 8 x 70mm chipboard screws. Fit the 450 x 44 x 22mm back support section in place.
DIY-Tip:
Always apply wood glue to ends before screwing these in place.
8. Dab wood glue into the holes of the seat section and position each dowel. Apply wood filler to all joints and imperfections using the putty knife. Once the filler is dry, use 180- or 240-grit sandpaper to finish all these areas.
Finishing
Use a paintbrush and foam roller to apply wood primer to the entire project. Leave to dry overnight and apply your choice of finish. You can use a Prominent Paints Ultragloss for a glossy, scrubbable surface, or Prominent Paints Satin or Sheen.