The Cubic Foot Box - Another Storage Solution

This instructable describes a simple way to build a storage box that has a large number of uses. Like some of my other projects I focus on scrounged materials. I have used these boxes as storage boxes, tool kits, harvest boxes and have converted many into simple drawers. I call it the cubic foot box because that is its approximate capacity. It is not 1 by 1 by 1, but rather ½ by 2 by 1. Dimensions may be adjusted to fit your needs, and the wood you have on hand. The carpentry techniques used here a pretty crude, but the construction is quick and seems adequate ( all boxes have held up in use for years, none have failed, so far ).

Step 1 Materials and Tools

Bottom ¼ inch thick 12 x 24 inch or so plywood, hardboard, or similar material. Material may be thicker, but it is usually more expensive and makes the box weigh more. Since the bottom is supported all around its perimeter, it is quite strong even in quite thin material.

Ends 2 per box ( ½ inch thick 12 x 7 inch or so wood or plywood ). This wood must be thick enough so that a sheet rock screw can be dirvin into it sideways ( parallel to a face ).

Sides 2 per box ( 3/8 inch thick 24 x 7 inch or so wood or plywood ). I was lucky enough to get a lot of discarded per-finished flooring about 3/8 thick. It is basically a super hard hardboard with a special finish on one side. Regular hardboard probably will not work, as the required rabbit would probably fail. Also it does not take dings on its edges or soft side well.

Sheetrock screws about 1 ½ inch long.

Table saw and screwdriver (power is nice). Box clamps or picture frame clamps can make assembly easier.

Comments

[shazni]

do you have to drill first? can you directly screw into ply wood?

[russ_hensel]

Pilot holes in the sides, but not the ends. It may split, you may want pilot holds, not too big or the screws will not hold.

[Chumlee]

like the look of the boxes