box building for cheap dummies

July 24, 2010 9:20 AM

I sort of have a box addiction. I collect cardboard boxes for shipping boardgames, or that's what I tell myself, but sometimes I just collect them. I am not a meth user, but probably have a hoarding gene. So I want to make some simple wooden boxes using simple tools to rebox a few favorite games. I have a jig saw, hand saw, drill, circular saw and a few other cheap tools, like a plastic mitre box. The boxes don't have to be examples of fine wordworking, just functional and not too crude. I'm looking for resources on how to do this without dropping hundreds of dollars on antique planes or tools.
posted by mecran01 to Home & Garden (11 answers total)

Response by poster: I discovered that there are actual religions that have formed around particular antique hand planes. I'm trying to avoid the fine woodworking cult if possible.
posted by mecran01 at 9:22 AM on July 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

Response by poster: Wishing I had changed the title of this post to "crude woodworking"
posted by mecran01 at 9:41 AM on July 24, 2010

Response by poster: simple timber joints
posted by mecran01 at 9:42 AM on July 24, 2010

Wouldn't it be more expensive to ship boardgames in wooden crates? And it sounds like it would be way too easy to fall into the rabbit hole of hoarding woodworking supplies (or finished wooden boxes). I don't entirely understand why you think this is a solution to your problem.

I have a hard time with boxes, and containers of all stripes, really. I don't feel a compulsion to pick up cardboard boxes off the street, but I do have to stay out of the Container Store and places like that.

I know I'm not a compulsive personality in a pathological sense, so I'm not sure how helpful my advice is, but the way I deal with the urge to acquire more boxes is to make a rule about it to myself. I am not allowed to browse in stores that specialize in organizing products, not allowed to hang out in those sections of IKEA and Target. If I want a box, I have to be able to justify to myself why I need this particular box right now. I guess I'd call it extremely strict forced self-control.
posted by Sara C. at 9:50 AM on July 24, 2010 [2 favorites]

Here are the results of a search at Taunton for "box".
posted by mlis at 10:24 AM on July 24, 2010

Response by poster: The boxes are just for my own use, not for shipping. Sorry, unrelated tangent.

Your advice about box acquisition is noted, thanks.

I may just spring for a cheap bandsaw.
posted by mecran01 at 10:37 AM on July 24, 2010

Response by poster: Additional information: I bought this fantastic boardgame that I want to keep for years, but the box it came with is the weak. I also want to make custom dividers for the interior of the boxes.
posted by mecran01 at 10:38 AM on July 24, 2010

A local Asian import store has a vast selection of simple wood boxes, many with smaller interior compartments, and for exceptionally cheap ($1 or 2 each). You might try sourcing finding some ideas there or maybe fiddling with them to see how they were put together.
posted by msbutah at 11:05 AM on July 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: @msbutah: Is this in Salt Lake? l live in Orem, so not terribly far away.
posted by mecran01 at 2:37 PM on July 24, 2010

Best answer: You have the tools - now you have to experiment. experiment with plywood first, then try other types of wood. wood isnt that expensive.
Get it in your head that you need to make ten experiment boxes before you can start making "your box". Each experiment will help improve the design.

A few suggestions I would make.
1. get a very fine drill bit. if you are working with fine wood, you will need to drill pilot holes before using any nails or screws.
2. finishing nails are what you want.
3. also, wood glue.
posted by Flood at 5:43 PM on July 24, 2010

corner clamps

Four of those will make your life pretty easy when gluing up and so forth.
posted by BleachBypass at 1:39 PM on July 26, 2010 [1 favorite]