Dit voorbeeld gebruikt het koudebakplan uit Cornell Cooperative Extension's school- en communitytuingids. De twee bouwpagina's met zaagpatroon en deksel zijn gecontroleerd.
By Redactie MoestuinApp · updated
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AI illustration
Met AI gemaakte inspiratie voor het eindresultaat. De illustratie toont metalen ventilatiesteunen. Het beschreven Cornell-voorbeeld gebruikt houten steunen met gaten. Gebruik voor het bouwen de stappen, onderdelen en bronplannen in deze gids; deze afbeelding is geen technische bouwtekening.
A verifiable Cornell example
This follows Cornell Cooperative Extension's school/community cold-frame plan, unheated: low-front/high-back plywood box with translucent film lid. Face the low side towards light. Choose level, draining ground and retain watering and ventilation access.
Cold frames shelter acclimatising plants and cool crops but fix no safe planting date. Check weather and needs. Closed frames heat quickly in sun. Prepare thermometers and ventilation before moving plants: essential use equipment, not later additions.
Cut panels and fit the lid for the thickness
The source cuts front, back and sloping sides from a½inch exterior plywood sheet. Front height is 12 inches, back 18; front legs 20 and rear 26 inches. Parts lists give confirmed millimetres. Label low/high sides immediately to avoid reversing slopes.
In the source figure, the lid has outside dimensions of 72×37½ inches. Short frame members fit between the long ones, so cutting length follows the actual rail width. Measure and dry-fit. This is an explicit fitting dimension, not a missing step. Calculate film-clamping battens from the measured perimeter; the short original stock allowance does not cover all four edges.
Build the cabinet, lid and controls
Attach front and back to suitable corner legs, then sloping sides. Check diagonals and smooth sharp edges. Square lids, add centre rails and corner plates. Finish wood before film. Tension UV-resistant greenhouse film evenly and clamp edges without tearing at screws.
Fit the three rear hinges and ventilation supports according to the checked source figure. Test that the frame stays open at the selected ventilation position and closes without twisting. Add wind protection suited to the actual lid construction. Keep fingers clear of hinges and closing gaps. This version has no electric soil heating; the source's additional hotbed materials are not needed.
Use the container with daily checks
On sunny days, check temperature and ventilate promptly. Transparent lids do not protect from overheating. Check soil/pot moisture too and water directly. Start with few plants to observe sun, wind and cold-night responses. Record observations; dates alone do not describe your frame.
Check film, hinges and ventilation supports before putting in another batch of plants. Repair tears and replace insecure supports. After a crop, remove loose plant debris and clean the frame without damaging finish or film. Secure the lid against wind when empty. This keeps it a useful growing aid rather than a forgotten storage box.
Prepare your project
4–7 hours · gemiddeld
Practical estimate for this specific example, excluding materials shopping and drying time; experience and fitting affect duration.
Tools
Zaag geschikt voor multiplex
Boormachine met⅜in boor en houtboren voor voorboren
Meetlint
Winkelhaak
Potlood
Klemmen
Schuurpapier
Nietpistool passend bij foliebevestiging
Schroevendraaier
Parts of the example
Cornell Cooperative Extension, figures on pages 14–15 visually checked. Plywood parts and corner legs use exact source dimensions. Lid 72×37½in; fit short frame members and film battens to actual material thickness. No heating in this version.
Part
Number
Dimensions / version
Plywood front panel
1
72×12 in =1828,8×304,8 mm; dikte½in
Plywood back panel
1
72×18 in =1828,8×457,2 mm; dikte½in
Sloping plywood side panels
2
36 in (914,4 mm) lang; hoogte loopt van 12 in (304,8 mm) naar 18 in (457,2 mm)
Front corner legs, nominal 2×3
2
20 in =508 mm
Rear corner legs, nominal 2×3
2
26 in =660,4 mm
Lid outer dimensions according to the figure
1
72×37½in =1828,8×952,5 mm
Long lid rails, nominal 1×3
2
Buitenmaat 72 in; verbinding volgens bronfiguur
Short lid rails and central rail
3
Passend tussen lange regels:37½in min tweemaal werkelijke regelbreedte; afgeleid van bronfiguur, eerst droogpassen
Ventilation props, nominal 1×3
2
12 in =304,8 mm;⅜in gaten elke 2 in volgens bronfiguur
Greenhouse film
1
7×8 ft =2133,6×2438,4 mm;6 mil dik
Hinges
3
1½×3 in =38,1×76,2 mm volgens bronlijst
Common mistakes
Cutting short lid rails without subtracting the actual long-rail width.
Ordering too little film-clamping batten by copying only the original short stock list.
Positioning plants before testing ventilation and wind stability.
Working safely
Protect fingers from the hinged lid.
Use suitable wind protection and reliable ventilation props.
Check solar warmth daily; this example has no electric heating.
How to do it
On the plywood, mark an 18 in high strip: divide 72 in into two 36 in sections and mark the diagonal cut making two sides 12–18 in high. Below, mark a 72×18 in back and 72×12 in front.
Cut the panels and corner legs to 20 in at the front and 26 in at the back. Finish the edges.
Fit front and back to corner legs, then sides according to the source figure. Check equal diagonals.
Make the lid to the source's external size of 72×37½in. Cut short members to the clear space between long rails; add the centre rail. Dry-fit on the frame and attach corner plates.
Finish the wood. Stretch UV-resistant greenhouse film over the lid and secure with staples and battens without damaging it.
Fit three hinges at the back with suitable screws and adjust two ventilation supports with ⅜in holes every 2 in, following the source diagram.
Place on a level, well-drained surface with the low front facing the sun. Fit suitable wind protection.
Check opening and closing and monitor temperature with a thermometer before adding plants; ventilate promptly in sun.
Ready to begin
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Plan this when undertaking the project and before first use. Follow this example's specific parts list and sequence; check fit, joints and stated use conditions. Repeat checks after damage or prolonged damp storage.
Checked on 2026-10-13. This guide was originally written using the listed sources. Growing advice from other countries is not a local weather forecast.
