How to Make a Toy Box With a Rounded Top

Apply glue to the 24-inch edges of the two 24-by-34 1/2-by-3/4-inch pieces of plywood. Secure them between the two 24-by-24-by-3/4-inch plywood pieces with wood screws to create a box measuring 24 inches tall, 24 inches deep and 36 inches wide. Clean up the excess glue with a damp cloth.

Run a bead of glue to the 3/4-inch edges facing up. Place the 24-by-36-by-3/4-inch plywood on the glue. Secure it with the wood screws and clean up the excess glue. This makes the bottom of the toy box.

Put the 1-by-4-by-37 1/2-inch lumber on a worktable. Measure from the ends of the lumber and make a mark at 3/8 inch. Place the combination square on the marks and draw a line across the wide part of the lumber. Drill 1/16-inch pilot holes on the lines 1 inch from the long sides.

Apply glue to ends of the 1-by-4-by-24-inch lumber. Place them between the 37 1/2-inch pieces and secure them through the pilot holes with the finish nails. Place this frame around the bottom of the toy box and secure it from the inside with the wood screws.

Place the 24-by-36-by-3/4-inch glued panel on a worktable. Make marks on the 24-inch sides at 10 1/2, 12 and 13 1/2 inches. Put a straightedge on the mark at 12 inches and draw a line from one 24-inch side to the other. This will make the sides of the rounded top.

Mark the 36-inch sides of the glued panel at 18 inches. Drive a nail on the line 1/4 inch from the 36-inch side. Repeat this for the other 36-inch side. Next, drive nails 1/4 inch from the 24-inch sides on the 10 1/2- and 13 1/2-inch marks. The nails will hold the plywood strip in place to draw the arc.

Stand the 1-by-2-by-1/4-inch plywood strip on one long side. Set it against the nails on the 24-inch sides and on the outside of the nail on the 36-inch side. Trace a line using the plywood as a guide and then mark the plywood piece where it meets the 24-inch sides of the glued panel. The distance between the lines indicate the depth of the rounded top.

Cut the center line drawn on the glued panel on a table saw to make the two sides of the rounded top. Cut the arcs with a band saw. Sand the edges until they are smooth. Set the depth of the 3/4-inch router bit in the router to 3/8-inch. Route the arcs of the rounded top sides. This notch is for the slats of the rounded top.

Measure the distance between the marks on the 1/4-inch plywood piece and divide it by the desired width of the slats for the rounded top. The length of the slats is 35 1/4 inches. Cut the slats needed for the rounded top with the table saw. Secure the slats to the top of the rounded lid sides with finish nails. Drill pilot holes if necessary.

Install the hinges to the rounded top and the back of the toy box. Install the hasp on the front of the toy box.