Small Wooden Box
Small wooden box - ideal for beginners - fun to make!
The corner joinery presents an achievable challenge for students keen to practice their hand skills.
Material list
4 @ 90mm x 120mm x 15
2 @ 120mm x 120mm x 3ply
Dowel 2 @ 6mm x 20mm
Mark Out Your Material
Write your name on the front.
Mark 15 mm margin in from left and right sides
Mark a centre line horizontally
Transfer all marks to all edges and the back.
Hatch the waste material on all sides
Use Saw to Remove Waste
Hold your material in a bench vice
Saw the short line first, then the long one.
Make Small Adjustments
Use a file to make small adjustments to your joinery.
All sides should be the same height, or level
Sand Inside Faces
Sand the inside faces of your box.
Leave your name on the outside face.
Glue Corners and Clamp
Use a brush and a dish of glue.
Carefully cover each corner surface that will touch another corner surface with glue.
Clamp the sides into a square and sit flat to dry.
Glue on Base
Sand your base edge as flat as you can
Glue your base on and gently clamp.
Your name should be on the base facing out
Drill Holes in Top Edge
Mark half way along two opposite top edges (60mm)
Also mark the centre of the material thickness (7mm)
Secure your box to the drill press.
Drill down 30mm, mark this depth using tape on your 6.5mm drill bit.
(I am using 6mm dowel and a 6.5mm drill bit)
Glue on Lid
Again use the sanding boards to make sure the top edges are all flat.
Cover top edge with glue and clamp lid in place.
This will give you a sealed box, with your name on the bottom.
Smooth All Sides
Separate Box Lid
Use the band saw to remove top 15 - 20 mm
Sand the newly sawn edges smooth
Insert Dowel
Sand the top of your dowel round so it looks neat.
Glue the dowel into the hole.
The dowel will act as a lid locator and make sure the lid fits neatly in place.
Finishing
To finish this box I tried a natural stain I have read about.
- Coat of black tea
- Coat of white vinegar that has had some mild steel sitting in it for a week or so.
This mixture creates a dark stain on the pine
When that had all dried I gave the project a coat of water based varnish.
Note: The holes in the lid needed to be drilled out with a 7 mm bit for the dowel to fit.