You’ve got in all probability seen lockers in a highschool hallway, a break room, or a locker room. Lockers are frequent in these locations as a result of they’ve a big concentrate on effectivity and lockers are a safe and environment friendly option to retailer issues. You’ve got in all probability by no means seen a locker in a toddler’s bed room or playroom, nevertheless, as a result of regardless of their many sensible qualities, they’re boring. I wish to educate you how one can have a storage system that has all of the practicality of a locker, however is simply as enjoyable because the toys within it. I’m speaking in regards to the Lego Locker. Let’s reduce to the purpose. Beneath you can find directions on learn how to make the Lego locker, I like to recommend that you just go to http://www.schoollockers.com/blog/how-to/diy-lego-locker to see photos of the Lego Locker.
How one can Make a Lego Locker Supplies: 1 small used locker About 16 – Four in PVC Knockout Caps (quantity might differ relying on the scale of the locker) Enjoyable coloured spray paint (2-Three cans) Masking tape Liquid contact cement Other than the locker, all supplies may be discovered at your native ironmongery store for a low worth. I used to be capable of finding the plastic caps at Residence Depot for $zero.42 a bit. The locker that I used got here from the location listed on the backside of the article. This web site has nice, low-cost used lockers in lots of shapes and sizes. To make a Lego Locker, I might begin by their 1 tier lockers, or Children lockers. I used to be capable of finding an superior Four-foot-tall yellow locker for reasonable that labored nice for this mission. It doesn’t matter what measurement of locker you might be in search of, I might suggest a locker with flat doorways and sides. The colour isn’t essential as a result of you’ll find yourself spray portray the locker anyway. Remodeling the Locker: Most used lockers may have some minor rust, dents or paint chips. Earlier than doing the rest, it’s a good suggestion to hammer out any dents and calmly sand any rust spots or locations the place the paint has chipped. Sand areas even the place there is no rust or chipped paint to take away any residues from overseas substances that will have are available in contact with the locker over time. You do not need to take away all of the paint, simply the chips, rust spots and residues from its previous life. Take away any quantity plates or different attachments that you don’t want on the ultimate locker. In case you are feeling bold, you’ll be able to even take away the deal with and discover a option to make one of many Lego pegs work as a deal with. I solely suggest doing this in case you are actually good with mechanical issues as a result of each locker deal with is totally different and getting this to work nicely may be tough. After you have the locker stripped and sanded, it is time to determine the format of your Lego pegs. The locker that I used was 1-foot vast and Four ft tall. I wished to do 2 columns of pegs, so to stay with the pure width-to-height ratio of the locker, that meant that I wanted to do eight rows of locker pegs. Eight rows appeared like so much for a single Lego brick, so I made a decision to separate it up into 2 bricks. You need every peg to be fully on the door, so I began out by inserting a peg in every nook of the door with the skin edges of the pegs tight in opposition to the perimeters of the door. I measured the midway level of the locker (24″) and made a light line so that both bricks would be exactly the same size. I then did my best to evenly space out 8 pegs onto each brick. The spacing will vary for each locker size, but for me, each row of pegs ended up being about 1.5″ aside. After you have the pegs spaced out appropriately, mark a circle round every peg with a pen or sharpie. It would be best to restrict the variety of marks that you just make as a result of spray paint doesn’t cowl sharpie marks very nicely.
Together with your marks made, you at the moment are prepared to attach on all of the pegs. I like to recommend utilizing liquid contact cement for the gluing as a result of it’s sturdy, versatile, quick, and dries clear. Thinly coat the sting of every plastic peg with the contact cement. Apply the cement on the locker door as nicely on the spot the place the peg will keep up a correspondence with the door. Let the contact cement on each the door and peg get a bit cheesy earlier than sticking the 2 elements collectively. Should you coat 1 peg, coat the door, then coat one other peg, the timing must be nearly proper for sticking that first peg to the door. Proceed this sample till you might be completed with all of the pegs. As soon as all of the pegs are caught, you might be prepared to color! I used Rustoleum 2x Spray Paint with Primer as a result of I’ve discovered that it covers nicely, and doesn’t require a primer coat. Use a paint with a “gloss” end, as a result of the shiny paint appears to be like similar to the shiny plastic of a brand-new Lego. Most tasks simply take 2 or Three coats. The yellow paint, nevertheless, didn’t cowl nicely and took extra coats, so it is in all probability finest to stay to darker colours like purple, blue or inexperienced. In case you are doing a number of colours you’ll want to use masking tape to supply a crisp, clear line between bricks. Paint the highest brick first in order that if and runs or stray clouds of paint that come down from the highest half will hit the (nonetheless unpainted) backside part. Sometimes, 20-30 minutes is sufficient time to attend in between coats of the identical coloration, however you’ll want to let the final coat remedy a number of hours or ideally in a single day earlier than continuing to a different coloration. It is best to wait till the paint is cured as a result of you’ll in all probability should put masking tape on high of your new paint if you swap colours and you don’t want to do that till the paint is good and cured. As soon as the paint is all dry and the masking tape is peeled off, you might be able to get pleasure from your shiny, new Lego Locker. Put the locker in a child’s playroom, daycare or kindergarten for a enjoyable new option to retailer toys and books!