How to Build Your Own Heated Sand Box With a PVC Pipe & a Fan
- 1). Disassemble the fan, keep the frame and both grates. Leave the back grate attached to the fan frame. This will provide structure to the fan frame. Set the front grate to the side.
- 2). Place a PVC elbow fitting on the corner of the fan frame. Turn the elbow in the same direction as the corner of the frame. Center the elbow on the edge of the frame. Trace the edge of the frame along the base of the elbow. The elbow will need to be cut to fit over the fan frame. Repeat with three more elbows.
- 3). Cut through one side of the elbow along the traced line. Repeat with three more elbows.
- 4). Place the elbows over the frame. Measure the distance between each elbow. Cut a PVC pipe to this measurement.
- 5). Cut down the length of each PVC pipe. Cut through only one side.
- 6). Remove the PVC elbows from the fan frame. Connect the PVC pipes to the elbows to create a box shape. Turn each of the cuts to face the same way. Apply PVC cement to the inside of each joint and connect carefully; PVC cement dries almost instantly.
- 7). Position the box shape over the fan frame. This will need to be maneuvered and forced over the frame. Option: It is possible to skip step 3-6. Assemble the PVC box shape, then glue it to the top of the fan frame using construction adhesive. This will add an inch of additional height to the sandbox.
- 8). Place the fan on the ground in a location that has full sun for most of the day. Especially in the morning, the sun will warm the sand before the children come out to play. Fill the frame with sand.
- 9). Place the front fan grate inside a black trash bag. Fold the edges of the trash bag over and tape them down. Set the grate over the top of the PVC pipe on the sand box when the children are finished playing. The black trash bag will draw heat from the sun and trap it inside the sand box, warming the sand for the children when they are ready to play.