How to Make Small Wooden Boxes
You can use small wooden boxes in countless ways. From storing keepsakes to storing jewelry, or just to use for moving stuff from one location to another, wooden boxes have been used by most cultures for thousands of years. After having built your first small wooden box, you will have all of the basics needed to start building boxes of all sizes, from small wooden boxes to cabinets and cases can that can cover whole walls.
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Things You'll Need
- Router w/ 1/8 3 Wing Slotting Cutter
- Framing Square
- Pencil
- 150 Grit Sandpaper
- 230 Grit Sandpaper
- Wood Glue
- Two Large C-Clamps
- Two 1/2 by 4 by 8 3/8 White Oak
- Two 1/2 by 4 by 4 White Oak
- One 1/8 by 4 3/8 by 7 3/8 Fiberboard
- One 1/2 by 6 by 9 White Oak
- Two Small Hinges
Instructions
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1
Set the router for a 1/4 inch cut depth. Make a line along the lower face of each piece of oak 4 by 4. This line should be exactly 1/2 inch inset from the edge. Use this mark to cut a small groove in the four 4-inch-wide pieces of oak. The groove should begin 1/2 inch from one end, and run to 1/2 inch from the other. These notches will be the inset for the box bottom to fit into. If you plan to stain the wood, do so now.
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2
Stand all four notched pieces on edge, so that the notch is on the bottom. Line up one short piece inside the end of one long piece, so that the grooves meet in the corner. Apply a thin line of wood glue to the end of the short piece and butt in against the face of the long one, flush with the end. Apply a C-clamp to hold the pieces together until the glue has set. Use the framing square inside the corner to set the edges at a true 90 degree angle. Repeat the process for the other two pieces so that you have two halves of a rectangular frame. Allow the glue to set for at least four hours.
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3
Slide the piece of fiberboard into the groove on one of the frame halves. If it is too tight, use the 150 grit sandpaper around the bottom face to marrow it, as needed. Use the 230 grit to smooth out groves left by the coarse sandpaper. Fit the other frame half together with the first one to insure they fit properly.
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4
Apply wood glue to the two exposed short ends. Press the pieces together, being careful to keep the bottom plate in place. Secure across the long sides with C-clamps. Allow the glue to set for at least four hours.
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5
Lay the 6 by 9 piece of oak so that the face, or the smoother looking side, is at the bottom. Center the box upside-down, on top of it. Make a mark along one of the long sides of the box. Remove the box, and place a hinge 1 1/2 inches from each end of the line you made. Mark the screw holes and then erase the line you made. Install the screws for that wing of the hinge.
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6
Turn the box upright, and choose which side will be the front. On the back edge, open the hinges and place the remaining wings on the 1/2 inch edge of the oak. The lid should be centered on the box, which is approximately 1/2 inch over-extending beyond the box on each end. Insert the screws that hold the hinges, and test them by opening and closing the lid a few times.
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7
To save time and trouble, use a polyurethane spray. Be sure to follow the directions given on the label. If the bottom panel of the box moves back and forth freely in the slot, allow the polyurethane to penetrate the bottom edges of the groove, and it will bond the pieces together. You may need a small brush to do this.
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Tips & Warnings
You might want to customize the box with a music mechanism to make a music box. The music mechanisms are available at crafts stores, and mount easily. Stickers or decals can be placed on the box before applying polyurethane, and will be sealed under it. You can also add a very nice looking clasp to the front to keep the box closed properly.
