A CHILDS PLAY CENTER

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Taking your measurements from the pattern we've included in the accompanying drawing, sketch the shape of the desk supports (four of them) onto the remaining portion of 3/4" plywood. Then saw these parts out with a band saw, a jigsaw, or a coping saw (and lots of endurance). Glue together pairs of the curved boards, and then sand them until their arcs are smooth and well formed. (You'll no doubt find that a drum sander will be a real boon when you're working on the inside curves.)

Four more T-nuts and 1/4"-20 X 3" flathead machine screws are used to hold the desk to its supports, and they in turn are fitted to pivots on the box ends . . . in the same fashion as was the box lid. After you've mounted the curved supports to the chest, check to see that the flat bottoms are resting on the floor, and mark the positions for the 2"-diameter stops. (These two disks will prevent the desk from folding beyond its correct position.) Finally, cinch down the desk-top pivot screws to the point where there's enough friction to prevent the work surface from falling by its own weight when it's lifted or lowered.

We applied a light golden oak stain to the activity center, and then coated it with polyurethane varnish . . . the most child resistant finish we've found. As you can see from the photographs, the chest/bench/desk has been thoroughly approved by our young model. In fact, we've had only one problem with the piece: trying to talk the youngster into giving it up!

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