I've been building today and I am pretty darn proud of myself!
I have been wanting a place to put things by the pool pretty much since I got the pool. (Probably close to 10 years now!)
Most of the time I'm by myself and I have a combination of a drink and a book, my cell phone (in a waterproof case) and maybe a hat. Things like that. I always had to stick everything on the top of my ladder then try to work around it when getting in or out of the pool.
I have been looking for something to attach to the side of the pool and really haven't found anything. I've seen one for "real" above ground pools that was over $30 and recently discovered a small intex one that is discontinued and was $19.99.
I have a nice tray that I bought in Target a few years ago that I usually use to bring things out when I want to sit in my gazebo so I decided that it would be nice to make a sort of platform that I could set a tray on. It ended up fitting my tray perfectly!
I have always wanted to try making something with PVC so last night I did some planning with my sister in the Lowe's PVC aisle and here is a variation of what we came up with.
I am extremely happy with how it came out and I can't wait to use it next time I'm in the pool!
First a view from the front. Note the gloomy weather. Rainy today, not pool weather...pool accessory building weather!
A view from a little more above it for a better view of the pieces on the pool frame.
From the side
With the tray in place
From the side with the tray in place
And what it might look like while in use!!
Finally, a pic of the mess that is left behind. I should probably clean that now...
The total cost for pieces was $12.04 before tax.
I'll be nice now and tell you what I used...although part of me wants to hide these pics, apply for a patent and sell this thing instead! ;-)
(1) 1/2" x 10' PVC Pipe
(2) 1/2" 90 Degree Elbows
(2) 1/2" 45 Degree Elbows
(4) 1/2" 3-Way Elbows
(2) 1/2" x 2 x 2 Tees
I cut the 2" side of the tees to make a half circle that sits on the tubular frame of my pool. I have seen the pieces already cut before but Lowes only had tiny ones and Home Depot didn't have any. I'm not sure if they come in 2" but cutting a regular tee wasn't too bad. If you had "real" tools it would be even easier!
The top of the frame is a rectangle using (2) 10" pieces and (2) 14" pieces. About 12" x 16" when you add the 3 way elbows.
On the bottom piece of the front (2) 3-way elbows I used a 1 1/2" piece on each to connect to the 45 degree elbows. The diagonal pieces are 15" followed by a 90 degree elbow and connected at the bottom with another 14" piece to make the part that rests on the pool wall.
On the bottom piece of the rear (3) 3-way elbows I used a 1 1/2" piece on each to connect to the top of the 2 x 2 x 1/2 tees that I cut which then just rest over/around the top of the pool frame.
The hardest part was cutting the tees. A power tool would have been handy but I made it work with my cheezy miter box and saw and some sandpaper.
I may get some foam (I'm just thinking a sheet of foam paper from wal-mart or a craft store) and line the inside of the cut tees just to be sure to protect my liner from the edges that I cut. I did some sanding but I think a little padding certainly wouldn't hurt.
So, what do you think? Totally amazing isn't it? Hopefully it will work and not fall apart. Oh yeah, I didn't glue any of it together yet. I may, or I may not. We'll see.
Remember, the idea is to have a place to keep some small items so I won't be testing it with anything heavy. I'm not sure how much weight it would support but I think the heaviest thing I have is the tray itself. lol
I have been wanting a place to put things by the pool pretty much since I got the pool. (Probably close to 10 years now!)
Most of the time I'm by myself and I have a combination of a drink and a book, my cell phone (in a waterproof case) and maybe a hat. Things like that. I always had to stick everything on the top of my ladder then try to work around it when getting in or out of the pool.
I have been looking for something to attach to the side of the pool and really haven't found anything. I've seen one for "real" above ground pools that was over $30 and recently discovered a small intex one that is discontinued and was $19.99.
I have a nice tray that I bought in Target a few years ago that I usually use to bring things out when I want to sit in my gazebo so I decided that it would be nice to make a sort of platform that I could set a tray on. It ended up fitting my tray perfectly!
I have always wanted to try making something with PVC so last night I did some planning with my sister in the Lowe's PVC aisle and here is a variation of what we came up with.
I am extremely happy with how it came out and I can't wait to use it next time I'm in the pool!
First a view from the front. Note the gloomy weather. Rainy today, not pool weather...pool accessory building weather!
A view from a little more above it for a better view of the pieces on the pool frame.
From the side
With the tray in place
From the side with the tray in place
And what it might look like while in use!!
Finally, a pic of the mess that is left behind. I should probably clean that now...
The total cost for pieces was $12.04 before tax.
I'll be nice now and tell you what I used...although part of me wants to hide these pics, apply for a patent and sell this thing instead! ;-)
(1) 1/2" x 10' PVC Pipe
(2) 1/2" 90 Degree Elbows
(2) 1/2" 45 Degree Elbows
(4) 1/2" 3-Way Elbows
(2) 1/2" x 2 x 2 Tees
I cut the 2" side of the tees to make a half circle that sits on the tubular frame of my pool. I have seen the pieces already cut before but Lowes only had tiny ones and Home Depot didn't have any. I'm not sure if they come in 2" but cutting a regular tee wasn't too bad. If you had "real" tools it would be even easier!
The top of the frame is a rectangle using (2) 10" pieces and (2) 14" pieces. About 12" x 16" when you add the 3 way elbows.
On the bottom piece of the front (2) 3-way elbows I used a 1 1/2" piece on each to connect to the 45 degree elbows. The diagonal pieces are 15" followed by a 90 degree elbow and connected at the bottom with another 14" piece to make the part that rests on the pool wall.
On the bottom piece of the rear (3) 3-way elbows I used a 1 1/2" piece on each to connect to the top of the 2 x 2 x 1/2 tees that I cut which then just rest over/around the top of the pool frame.
The hardest part was cutting the tees. A power tool would have been handy but I made it work with my cheezy miter box and saw and some sandpaper.
I may get some foam (I'm just thinking a sheet of foam paper from wal-mart or a craft store) and line the inside of the cut tees just to be sure to protect my liner from the edges that I cut. I did some sanding but I think a little padding certainly wouldn't hurt.
So, what do you think? Totally amazing isn't it? Hopefully it will work and not fall apart. Oh yeah, I didn't glue any of it together yet. I may, or I may not. We'll see.
Remember, the idea is to have a place to keep some small items so I won't be testing it with anything heavy. I'm not sure how much weight it would support but I think the heaviest thing I have is the tray itself. lol
Gluing it together probably won't matter for making it stronger but it will fuse the seams and keep rain water out.
These kinda things make me smile, I'll have to try this for when the adults are just in the pool, less chaos. How about another one, with a tray that fits inside for ice and some cold ones!