house design » diy projects » play pen

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

Corner detail

Corner detail

Hinge detail

Play pen collapsed

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.