DIY PLAY GRILL!

All of my DIY posts begin the same. “I was on Pinterest…” haha, & I came across a play grill that I knew Giovanni would LOVE! It was repurposed from an old table & I immediately began looking for a DIY tutorial online. I looked & looked & found NOTHING where people built theirs from scratch. I had it in my mind that I wanted to make a gas grill “just like daddy’s” so I was determined to figure it out & share my DIY!

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I was right. Giovanni LOVES it.

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I looked into https://www.sublimegardens.co.uk/best-weed-killer/ and found the best supplies & ended up with leftovers that I can use for other projects. The dimensions of this grill are: 22″ height, 20″ width, 14″ depth. You can adjust your measurements accordingly, I thought this was a good size for my 19-month-old… it’s bigger & taller than most of the plastic ones you can buy.

BTdubs… I am in no way a professional woodworker or toy builder, haha– I don’t have fancy wood cutting machinery so I had all my wood cut at Lowe’s. (They do the first 2 cuts for free & the rest are $.20 each.)

*I suggest you read this tutorial in it’s entirety before you start yours or get your supplies*

Here is the list of supplies I came up with:

  • One 2″x4″x8′ cut into four 22″ pieces (which will be the legs).
  • One 2″x6″x10′ cut into one 20″ piece (which will be the front where the knobs go) & two 9″ pieces (which will be the sides)– if you don’t want the front & sides so chunky, go with a 2″x4″x12′ instead of the 8 ft mentioned above & have your legs, front & sides all cut from that same piece.
  • 1″x16″x36″ sheet of pine panel board cut into a 14″x20″ piece. (This will be the top of the grill.)
  • 1″x10″x4′ cut into two 9″ pieces (side tables) and one 20″ piece (which will be the backsplash)
  • 1″x2″x6′ cut into four 10″ pieces (which will be the edges to the side tables)
  • One 1″x2″x8′ cut into two 7″ pieces (which will hold up the grate) & two 14″ pieces (which will be on either side of the top)
  • Drill
  • 2 1/2″ wood screws. I used the Pro Crafter brand, more expensive but very nice!
  • 1 1/2″ wood screws. Also Pro Crafter brand.
  • Sand paper- I already had this
  • Chrome spray paint
  • Sample size of black paint
  • White paint- I already had this
  • Paint brushes- I already had this
  • Stove knobs- I got mine on Amazon, 5 for about $5
  • Grill grate- I got mine on Amazon for $8
  • 2 packages of three #8-32×3″ flat Phillips with nuts (You only need 3 screws, but you need 6 nuts)
  • Flat Washers #10
  • Hot glue/gun- I already had this
  • 6 Screw-in hooks- I already had these

Here’s what I did:

The first thing you’re going to do is screw the legs (2″x4″x22″) into the side pieces (2″x6″x9″). I used the 2 1/2″ wood screws.

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I used the wall as leverage to drill the wood screws in, haha.

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Make sure the 9″ side pieces are set up so they are flush with the outside of the legs before you screw on the 2″x6″x20″ front piece.

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You might want to skip putting the top on until AFTER you get the side tables on… I had to take mine off to get a good enough angle with my drill but it’s up to you. I screwed down my 1″x14″x20″ piece of wood onto the top using the 1 1/2″ screws. It should be flush with the back & overhanging in the front. Make sure the edges are nice & sanded.

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Sand any rough edges & prime the front piece (2″x6″x20″) as well as the side table pieces (two 1″x10″x9″ & four 1″x2″x10″ pieces) with white paint, then spray paint them chrome.

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I got excited & painted before I took the picture but the next thing you’re going to do is screw on the “backsplash” part. I made mine about 3 inches off the top but you can really make it as tall as you want. Also, make sure you spray paint the silver front first & then do the black.

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The next step is using the 1 1/2″ screws to put the “edges” (1″x2″x10″) on the side tables (9″x10″) so it’s not just a flat piece of wood. I did one on front & one on the side. You can do another on the back, just make sure you get 2 extra pieces cut for that because it’s not on my supplies list. *Important: make sure you pre-drill holes so you don’t split the wood!!*

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This next part was SUCH A PAIN. I had to take the top off & flip the grill on it’s side to screw on the side tables because I couldn’t get a good angle with the top on. You’re going to need someone to help you hold the side table in place while you pre-drill holes then screw it together using the 1 1/2″ screws.

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I even ended up taking the backsplash off because one of the sides was giving me a hard time. Here’s what it looked like after & let me tell you it was SO satisfying when this part was complete, haha!

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Put the top & backsplash back on, & now it’s time to add your knobs. Mine are actually stove knobs but they were the most inexpensive & I’m sure Giovanni doesn’t care, haha.

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First you’re going to pre-drill a hole in the center of the front piece.

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The knobs I got have 2 pieces, the small piece goes inside the hole.

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To attach the knobs, I put the screw through the hole & then glued the piece (& top of the screw) into the knob.

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Next, add on a washer, put it through the hole in the wood, add another washer on the back & 2 nuts so it stays put.

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Continue for the other 2 knobs. They should turn but not come loose. My OCD is telling me they are not exactly in a straight line but we’re going to try so hard to just ignore it.

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Spray paint silver, then screw down your 1″x2″x14″ pieces by pre-drilling then using 1 1/2″ screws to fasten them on the left & right side of the top.

Paint your 1″x2″x7″ pieces that will hold up the grate. Line up where you want your grate to be then pre drill holes & screw down using the 1 1/2″ screws.

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Go back & do touch up paint where it needs it & cover all your screw heads, then go ahead & put your grate on. I didn’t fasten mine down because I figured it would be easier to clean… Giovanni hasn’t tried to take it off so I’m leaving it for now!

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Screw in 3 hooks to the side of the side tables, so you can hang tongs & other grill tools on them.

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Gio loves his grill. Just a little.

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Looks like we are having grilled watermelon in a bowl, guys! Sounds good ;)

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By the way, I ordered the play food from Constructive Playthings. It’s their BBQ set, it was $30 + $8 shipping. That’s almost as much as I spent making the grill, hahaha! BUT… It’s vinyl, life-sized, realistic & VERY well made. Gio was gnawing on a hot dog all day & there isn’t even a bite mark in it, haha. I can tell it will last for a long time & he loves playing with it so I don’t mind paying more for something quality!

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I eventually want to add a cover that opens & closes, but for now I want to keep those little fingers safe from pinching.

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I hope you guys enjoyed this post, I loved figuring everything out & putting it together! It was supposed to be a Christmas present, but I obviously couldn’t wait that long to show him, haha. Thanks for stopping by, we’re going to go have ourselves a burger now. Gio knows how I like mine… ketchup, mayo, pickles & extra cheese :)

xokristen