I did this project with my eight year old boy in about one and a half hours. It uses a 1/2 dowel and a six foot pieces of 10″ wide pine. Cost is about $14 with a bit of leftover wood.
I used a table saw to rip the 10″ pine into pieces measuring:
- four 12″ pieces (two of these are ripped lengthwise at 5″ height)
- two 14″ pieces
I used a small bowl to trace the curve at the top of the 14″ pieces for nice radius, then used a Ryobi scroll saw to cut the radius.
Measure the center of the radius (or whatever looks good to you) and mark with a pencil, then use a 1/2 paddle bit to drill a hole (both 14″ pieces) for the dowel.
I used a Kreg pocket hole jig to put pocket holes on the inside of the pine pieces. Glue the edges then use Kreg 1.25″ course screws. The Kreg screws hold tightly and will not go through the pine pieces. This project could easily be done with a harder wood (use fine thread Kreg screws instead of course).
I let the boy put nails in the ends for fun (all boys love hammering). A bit of 100 grit sand paper takes the rough edges and sharp corners off.
