I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

On Jun 28, 12:51 pm, wrote:
I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

If I was going it, I'd use a regular stainless steel sink and install
a footvalve. I would operate as long as the kid was there and then
shut off when the kid left (as long as he didn't put a rock on it or
something). Then you could either wall mount it or build whatever you
want.

You could even install the foot valve and then run the water through
some sort of a gargoil as a cool feature for the kids.

Google for foot valve sink or something like that.

Here are some of the results:
http://www.hubert.com/store/p-detail...&src=froogl e
http://www.stepflow.com/
http://www.faucetfootvalve.com

In theory you should be collecting the drainage and putting it into
the sewer system. If you choose to do so (and you will if you get a
permit), that might impact where you put the gargoil ... I mean sink.

wrote:
....
...going to put in a sink ...in the yard so the kids can wash up ...

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any stainless sink would be just fine -- depending on the age range(s)
of the kids could determine size. A small utility room style might be
just the ticket.

I'm sure there are faucets to do the trick -- they'll be institutional
fixtures rather than household though, and all that I can think of at
the moment are various styles of the actuated ones. A higher-cost,
higher-tech solution would be the "hands present" sensor style if power
is available.

I've not tried the concrete counter nor have even seen one yet so no
real input. Depending on how big you wanted it, you might be able to
find some scrap solid counter material from larger installations at a
cabinet shop or salvage location relatively cheaply.

For the cabinet itself I might look for used kitchen stainless stuff at
one of the restaurant supply places to cut down. That sort of thing
usually goes pretty cheaply.

--

On 28 Jun, 12:51, wrote:
I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Teach the kids teamwork and cooperation:

All handwashing will be done in pairs. One kid washes while the other
holds down the spring loaded faucet handle. The values instilled
during this process will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

In a perfect world, this is a really good idea. ;-)

On Jun 28, 2:14 pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 28 Jun, 12:51, wrote:



I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Teach the kids teamwork and cooperation:

All handwashing will be done in pairs. One kid washes while the other
holds down the spring loaded faucet handle. The values instilled
during this process will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

In a perfect world, this is a really good idea. ;-)


That won't work. Girls have Cooties.

"Pat" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Jun 28, 2:14 pm, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 28 Jun, 12:51, wrote:



I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Teach the kids teamwork and cooperation:

All handwashing will be done in pairs. One kid washes while the other
holds down the spring loaded faucet handle. The values instilled
during this process will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

In a perfect world, this is a really good idea. ;-)


That won't work. Girls have Cooties.


i could use a ice piece of cooties myself

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:51:03 -0000, wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts

They sell faucets for public washrooms that turn off after maybe 30
seconds, but don't require holding down while running. I suppose they
are adjustable or come set for differrnt time periods. They have a
big rectangular button on the top, with rounded corners and edges and
a rounded side that points to you. They pivot at the rear.

Five minutes is an enormous amount of time. I think surgeons don't do
more than 3 minutes.

I guess you have in mind that a bunch of them will use the sink in a
row, but it's not so hard for each one to turn it on. Otherwise, even
though they can see the sink the rest of the day, except for the first
kid, it will be like the faucet is on when they get there and on when
they leave, and they have no responsibility at all.

off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

My frist thought was the simple china or is it porcelain sink attached
to the wall with the two chrome legs in front. Although it should be
big enough that the biggest kid can get his elbows into the sink. (I
wish my bathroom had one like that.) And big enough that you can
fill a pot in it, since you'll undoubtedly be using it yourselves,
also.

Maybe the sink would be mounted lower than a bathroom and that would
enable the chrome lets to do into the ground 6 inches, so it wouldn't
get knocked out. I wish I had a picture of the location.

I want to see those gargoyles, too!

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message

Teach the kids teamwork and cooperation:

All handwashing will be done in pairs. One kid washes while the other
holds down the spring loaded faucet handle. The values instilled
during this process will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

In a perfect world, this is a really good idea. ;-)

I can see that spilling over to using the urinals also. You hold mine . .
.. . .

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:51:03 -0000, wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.


What about a poly wash basin? The heavy-duty sinks are less than
$100. But really, kids under 5 are going to play in the water, not
wash in it. A garden hose, bar of soap, towel rack may be all they
need.

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:51:03 -0000, wrote:

I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.

2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)

3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

A metal sink might get to hot for the touch, while outside in So
Cal..

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Are you planning for the kids to dry their hands, before the return
inside?

--
Oren

"I don't have anything against work. I just figure, why deprive somebody who really loves it."

ww grainger sells all kinds of stuff like this, time operated valves
etc.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

If looks aren't real important, a plastic laundry room slop sink would work
great. Just cut off or bury the legs as needed to get the right height. As
to the faucet- does it really need to be on a timer, or can user education
cover that? A lab/bar style faucet (the big upside-down U), with big paddle
handles for flow, would work great for grownups, but if you are going to
have HOT water to the sink, a temp-limited faucet, or a hidden mixing valve
so temp is preset, is probably indicated.

aem sends....

On Jun 28, 2:05 pm, Oren wrote:

Are you planning for the kids to dry their hands, before the return
inside?

Isn't that what their tee shirts are for? G

Jerry

On Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:00:38 -0700, Jerry
wrote:

On Jun 28, 2:05 pm, Oren wrote:

Are you planning for the kids to dry their hands, before the return
inside?

Isn't that what their tee shirts are for? G

Jerry

You might just be right!
--
Oren

"I don't have anything against work. I just figure, why deprive somebody who really loves it."

On Jun 28, 10:14 am, DerbyDad03 wrote:
On 28 Jun, 12:51, wrote:



I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Teach the kids teamwork and cooperation:

All handwashing will be done in pairs. One kid washes while the other
holds down the spring loaded faucet handle. The values instilled
during this process will stick with them for the rest of their lives.

In a perfect world, this is a really good idea. ;-)

Hahaha. Have you been to a day care? You will spend more money on
steaks for black eyes than you would a foot valve...

Your biggest problem will be drainage. Where to dump the water from the
drain. If you dump it on the ground you are going to create a big mud
puddle. Think of where the water can run to without spreading across the
ground.

"Pat" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Jun 28, 12:51 pm, wrote:
I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

If I was going it, I'd use a regular stainless steel sink and install
a footvalve. I would operate as long as the kid was there and then
shut off when the kid left (as long as he didn't put a rock on it or
something). Then you could either wall mount it or build whatever you
want.

You could even install the foot valve and then run the water through
some sort of a gargoil as a cool feature for the kids.

Google for foot valve sink or something like that.

Here are some of the results:
http://www.hubert.com/store/p-detail...&src=froogl e
http://www.stepflow.com/
http://www.faucetfootvalve.com

In theory you should be collecting the drainage and putting it into
the sewer system. If you choose to do so (and you will if you get a
permit), that might impact where you put the gargoil ... I mean sink.

Check with the local hospital and see where they get their doctor
sinks. The ones with the foot pedal to turn the water on.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

wrote in message
oups.com...
: I'm looking for suggestions.
:
: My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in
a sink
: somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in.
Here
: is what I'm looking for:
:
: 1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
: California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe
making
: a concrete counter top with basin.
: 2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes
and shuts
: off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the
button
: down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't
work for
: the kids)
: 3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on
etc.
: The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking
for.
: HEAVY Duty.
:
: Any ideas would be appreciated.
:

In article .com,
says...
1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
[...]
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

I'd try to find an old-fashioned concrete utility sink, the sort that
comes with a base sturdy enough to put up with a hand-cranked wringer
washer clamped onto the sink.


--
is Joshua Putnam
http://www.phred.org/~josh/
Updated Infrared Photography Gallery:
http://www.phred.org/~josh/photo/ir.html

On 29 Jun, 13:25, wrote:
In article .com,
says...

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
[...]
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

-- I'd try to find an old-fashioned concrete utility sink, the sort
that
-- comes with a base sturdy enough to put up with a hand-cranked
wringer
-- washer clamped onto the sink.

A hand-cranked wringer? The kids are going to wash their hands, not
each other!

(You should see the movie playing in my head right now.)

On Fri, 29 Jun 2007 11:03:04 -0700, DerbyDad03
wrote:


-- comes with a base sturdy enough to put up with a hand-cranked
wringer
-- washer clamped onto the sink.

A hand-cranked wringer? The kids are going to wash their hands, not
each other!

Don't women get complimented for their long thin fingers? How do you
think they get that way?

OP: Only do this to the girls.

(You should see the movie playing in my head right now.)

"Now, lets see how thin we can roll Margie!"

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"DerbyDad03" wrote in message
ups.com...
:
: A hand-cranked wringer? The kids are going to wash their hands,
not
: each other!
:
: (You should see the movie playing in my head right now.)
:

"EXT" wrote in message
anews.com...
Your biggest problem will be drainage. Where to dump the water from the
drain. If you dump it on the ground you are going to create a big mud
puddle. Think of where the water can run to without spreading across the
ground.


The "outdoor" sink is standard at camp grounds and such.

The solution is to create a good sized "dry well" to receive the water.
The cheap way of doing this is to just size a BIG hole where the sink will
end up and fill it with 3/4" stones. The sink drain will barely extend to
below the surface so that the kids dont' get splashed. The foot valve is a
good idea. The gravel surface will keep the area around the sink from
becoming a mud pit.




"Pat" wrote in message
ps.com...
On Jun 28, 12:51 pm, wrote:
I'm looking for suggestions.

My wife runs a pre-school from our house. I am going to put in a sink
somewhere in the yard so the kids can wash up before going in. Here
is what I'm looking for:

1. A sink that can withstand mild weather. (I live in Southern
California so no freezing to worry about.) I was thinking maybe making
a concrete counter top with basin.
2. A faucet that shuts itself off. (Runs for about 5 minutes and shuts
off. The ones in public restrooms where you have to hold the button
down with one hand and wash the other then reverse wouldn't work for
the kids)
3. I need to build it into a sink base, so it can be leaned on etc.
The "hook to your garden hose" sinks are not what I'm looking for.
HEAVY Duty.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

If I was going it, I'd use a regular stainless steel sink and install
a footvalve. I would operate as long as the kid was there and then
shut off when the kid left (as long as he didn't put a rock on it or
something). Then you could either wall mount it or build whatever you
want.

You could even install the foot valve and then run the water through
some sort of a gargoil as a cool feature for the kids.

Google for foot valve sink or something like that.

Here are some of the results:

http://www.hubert.com/store/p-detail...&src=froogl e
http://www.stepflow.com/
http://www.faucetfootvalve.com

In theory you should be collecting the drainage and putting it into
the sewer system. If you choose to do so (and you will if you get a
permit), that might impact where you put the gargoil ... I mean sink.

I figure an empty barrel (with the bottom cut out) would be
better. A pit full of stones holds less water than an empty space
under the sink.

Of course, burried a foot or so under, so it's not too obvious.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"John Gilmer" wrote in message
...
:
: "EXT" wrote in message
: anews.com...
: Your biggest problem will be drainage. Where to dump the
water from the
: drain. If you dump it on the ground you are going to create a
big mud
: puddle. Think of where the water can run to without spreading
across the
: ground.
:
:
: The "outdoor" sink is standard at camp grounds and such.
:
: The solution is to create a good sized "dry well" to receive
the water.
: The cheap way of doing this is to just size a BIG hole where
the sink will
: end up and fill it with 3/4" stones. The sink drain will
barely extend to
: below the surface so that the kids dont' get splashed. The
foot valve is a
: good idea. The gravel surface will keep the area around the
sink from
: becoming a mud pit.
:
:
: