What materials can I use for my project?
Question:We have a large ground level cubby that holds our TV, speakers, etc. I want to childproof it by putting up a barrier across the bottom half of it, functioning like a short wide fence.
The barrier should be:
- an inexpensive material easily found
- not easily broken (since our little one will be banging on it)
- clear or clear-ish (to allow remote signals to reach components behind it)
- have holes to allow for the passage of sound (for the speakers that will be behind it).
One last thing...it needs to be 7' wide and 22" tall.
Serious answers only please.
Thanks!
Answers:
You can get a product called acrylic (a type of plastic).
It comes in various grades and thickness's and is probably be available through a glass merchant.
You will have to drill the holes your self. I would suggest you get a piece of pegboard to use as a template so the holes look orderly.
Plexiglas. You might be able to find it at a window or glass store, as sometimes it is used for window panes. Instead of one long piece, get two pieces. Frame them if necessary and attach them with hinges to swing open. Get matching hardware, a latch, to close it in the middle.
you should go to sears, they have good materials for electronics or try out a store for baby care, they might have something to protect your child from hurting himself/herself.
what a challenge!
Plastic fabricators could rig you up something out of plexiglass but quite frankly, the cheapest solution would be to invest in one of those kid corrals, and use it to surround the cubby .
This is how I used to keep the kids and the dogs from toppling the Christmas tree :)
Two of the folding child barriers for a standard doorway should cover that distance. Put one on each side of the room. I have one that measures 22 inches high by 44 inches long.
Would really need to see a picture to know what looks right. You're not going to find a product on a shelf. It could be a wooden frame with mesh panels (like a radiator cover), or as simple as a piece of plywood cut to size with many, evenly spaced-out, 3/4 or 1" holes drilled in it. Of course, that won't last long if it's humid where you live.
Will anything you can make look nice there, like it belongs? You say you want to childproof it. To me, childproofing is done to protect the child (lighters, pill bottles). This isn't poison under the sink that can kill, this is about electronics that your child can damage. Do what we all do, put what we can out of reach, and anything else, teach your kids "DON"T TOUCH"
you could use an invisible fence like they do for dogs..of course then you would have to put a collar on your child that give him a shock any time he gets near the fence than again this could be a good thing after all they train animals this way so why not human cubs!
Play pen. Either have TV inside of play pen or have old pen that you can take one corner loose so you can surround TV on the sides.
YOU CAN GET PLASTIC LATTICE(LIKE IN A GARDEN) AT ANY HARDWARE STORE. IT WOULD ALLOW THE SOUND TO PASS, KEEP THE KIDS OUT ,ITS EASY TO CUT(COMES IN 4BY8 SHEETS) AND YOU CAN PAINT IT ANY COLOUR YOU NEED. ITS ALSO DURABLE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE KIDS ABUSE AND EASY TO CLEAN
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