Bill in Chicago Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 I was given the Arthur dollhouse kit to make for my granddaughter. I haven't done anything yet other than read the directions. Am I reading it correctly that I should sand and paint the pieces before gluing and assembling them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 (edited) Hi Bill. Welcome to the forum. It's a good idea to sand before assembly. You will want to do a dry fit (assemble with tape to hold the pieces in place, no glue). This is the time to be sure the tabs and slots fit well. You may have to sand down a tab or widen a slot for a perfect fit. When you have done the dry fit, you will see if there are areas that might be difficult to reach for painting or wallpapering. Take the house apart and decorate those areas before final assembly. Mark the areas that will be glued together; leave those unpainted. The glue bond is stronger when raw wood is glued to raw wood, not paint. By the way, the instructions indicate using hot glue. Do not. It will over time dry out and shrink and the house will fall apart. Use a good wood glue -- Titebond, Elmer's, etc. No need to be overwhelmed. As one of our leaders, MInis on the Edge, says, "It may be hard by the yard, but it is a cinch by the inch." Attack it as you would eat an elephant -- one bite at a time. Edited October 15, 2021 by KathieB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill in Chicago Posted October 15, 2021 Author Share Posted October 15, 2021 Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 15, 2021 Share Posted October 15, 2021 2 hours ago, Bill in Chicago said: Thank you! You are welcome! Another thought -- how old is your granddaughter? If she is very young, you may want to leave out the plastic window panes and the door. When the tots play, they will reach through those openings with their little hands. Also, you did not mention wallpaper, but it would be more practical to paint with satin or semi-gloss. That type of surface is easier to clean after she redecorates with markers, crayons, stickers, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
havanaholly Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 Bill, you can always add the doors and windows to the house when your little one is older, and remove and wand off the stickers/ magic marker and re-prime and repaint or paper the walls. I think for a very young child I would also paint the roof and add shingles when she is older. Also, before you paint/ paper you might take some spackle or joint compound on a finger and gently rub it over the raw edges of the plywood to smooth them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KathieB Posted October 16, 2021 Share Posted October 16, 2021 3 hours ago, havanaholly said: Also, before you paint/ paper you might take some spackle or joint compound on a finger and gently rub it over the raw edges of the plywood to smooth them. Or cover them with U-channel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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