DIY: WOODEN PLAY PEN

'Success? Failure?' Rating: ★★★★★

It was time to construct a Holly Containment Facility (HCF)!

I came up with a modular design that can be added to to make the play pen larger in area. Each panel consists of: a pair of 60cm [24"] lengths of 50mm x 25mm [2" x 1"] clear pine, routed to round off all edges; and five 60cm [24"] lengths of 15mm [5/8"] dowel. Each corner/hinge section consists of: a pair of 10cm [4"] lengths of 50mm x 25mm [2" x 1"] clear pine, routed to round off all edges; and one 58cm [23"] length of 15mm [5/8"] dowel. Each dowel is recessed into the holder at each end and then screwed to secure. The panel dowels are set at 10cm [4"] centres. I held off cutting the dowels at each corner/hinge until I'd done a trial assembly - just to make sure the lengths were exactly right. All timber work was coated with beeswax. Each panel and corner/hinge articulation uses a 50mm [2"] M6 bolt, washer and nut set.

Play pen expanded
Play pen expanded
Corner detail
Corner detail
Corner detail
Corner detail
Hinge detail
Hinge detail
Play pen collapsed
Play pen collapsed
With baby installed
With baby installed

Success? Failure?

★★★★★

Pros: Looks great; robust, yet light-weight; expandable (by adding extra panels).

Cons: None.

Enhancement Suggestions: With some concerted effort on the part of the inmate, the pen can be nudged along the floor. A built-in base would eliminate this possibility, but it would fix the pen's size/shape and make it all much less stowable.