Cheap moving boxes can be amade from wood. Follow this simple instructional to produce an attractive multi-purpose wooden box.
Step 1. Choose your wood
You can pick from a variety of options from repurposed wooden bits, to high quality cedar and ash. Consider what your box will contain and how big you will want it to avoid future trimming and repurposing.
Step 2. Gather your tools
You will want to begin after you have gathered all the necessary tools for sizing, cutting and connecting your pieces of wood. You will need for the very least a pencil, ruler or tape measure, nails or screws, saw, wood glue or putty and the necessary wood.
Remember to wear the necessary carpentry gloves and eyewear to reduce the occurrences of injury.
Step 3. Measure and Mark
You will then need to measure and mark the wooden pieces you have into the sides of your box. The top of the box will also need to be a slightly narrower as it will slide into grooves on the sides that hold it snug in place. The grooves along the side panels and back of the box, in which the top board will slide, will also need to be taken into consideration.
If you are making a box to house a specific item this would be a good time to make sure the item fits into your design, before you cut the wood into precise sized pieces.
Step 4. Cutting
You can use a hand or circular saw to cut your wooden boards into the correct sized pieces according to the measurements you marked. You will need 4 sides, one base and one slightly slimmer top piece that will fit into the grooves cut into three of the side panels. Power tools can add a bit of speed to the process but precision results can be found with either type of tool.
Step 5. Cut the Grooves
You will need a table saw or router to cut a thin straight groove along the inner-top side of three side panels, the two sides and one end. The groove will need to be as thick as the lid and run about an ⅛ of an inch deep so that it will hold it snugly in place.
Step 6. Check the size for the front of the box.
Measure the end that will be the front of the box, over which the top must slide into the grooves you have cut in the three other pieces. It must be the same size as the it’s opposite end piece just below the groove you have put in the upper edge.
Step 7. Assembly
Use the butt joint to join the edges. The four sides must be connected is at ninety degree angles and reinforced with glue and nails. Now you should have the beginnings of a box only missing the bottom and top ends. Take some time to eyeball your work for symmetry before you add the final connecting screws, nails or dowels.
You can add the bottom of the box at this time as well.
Step 8. Add the Top
Make sure the top of the box can slide easily into place. Use sandpaper to make a smooth edge that will slide easily into the grooves you have cut.
Step 9. Finish
Your box is complete with its lid. Now all you have to do is achieve the desired aesthetics. Paint, stain and varnish can all be applied to achieve jazzy, classic and stylish designs. If you are making cheap moving boxes, this step can even be left out.
