The first part of the construction of the set is concerned with somewhere to keep the chemicals, where no one will be harmed by them. An orange box, with the help of a friend, can easily be made into a cabinet with a couple of shelves.

Apparatus can be made and found around the house. A basin can be used as a pneumatic trough; jam jars for collecting gases in; a tin can be cut into shape for a beehive shelf. An old pudding basin with a piece of thick dowel makes an efficient mortar and pestle. By using his imagination a boy may find a number of household utensils of use to him. For instance a big round tin, when cut to the right shape is very useful as a tripod. The sharp edges have to be turned down but a couple of minutes' work can produce a very satisfactory article.

As already mentioned, chemicals are found all over the house. Iodine, boracic acid and ammonia are found in a first-aid box. Washing soda, bleach, bleach powder and starch are all used for washing. Vinegar, salt, saltpetre (used for pickling meat), epsom salts are eaten or taken, tartaric acid, bicarbonate of soda, citric acid and alum are used in baking.

Once the bits and pieces of the set have been collected together the chemical experiments may be performed. Simple experiments like adding vinegar to bleach and testing the gas are done. Books of experiments can be found in some book shops; but experiments must be done as written in the book and chemicals must never be added together if the result is not known beforehand.