Simple Laser Cut Wood Boxes

by Alvatroz

12K1086

Intro: Simple Laser Cut Wood Boxes

This Instructable will help you make some really simple wood boxes.
This small box contains a drawer, so no kind of hinge is needed.
They are really easy to make, and are a good way to make a gift a little more special.

STEP 1: List of Materials

The piece of wood is the most important part of this project.
I got a piece of 2,5mm ( 1/10 " inch ) plywood that already comes with Okume veneer in one face.

You will also need:

  • Laser Cutter
  • Router with 45° Bit - Not 100% necessary
  • Wood Glue
  • Cotton Swabs
  • Clamps
  • Paint/Laquer

STEP 2: Laser Cut

Cut the DXF with the Laser.
The file contains the plans for a 150 x 150 x 100 mm, and a 150 x 150 x 75 mm box ( and their respective drawer ). It shouldn´t be hard to modify to other sizes, They could be bigger, but I wouldn´t recommend making that unless you start using thicker plywood.

STEP 3: Clamp It!

This kind of plywood is really thin, and sometimes it can be naturally bended.
After cutting the material, I used some clamps and got everything together for a few days, to make it as flat as possible.
Next time I will try to get some metal sheets to use as guides.

STEP 4: Assembly

Get all the parts on a table and glue them.
Yo can use the cotton swabs to wipe excess glue.

STEP 5: Clamp It Again!

Using some scrap wood I made a block that fits right into the box.
This "Block" is not 100% necesary, but lets you clamp the outer box without warping it.

STEP 6: Machining

This step is not 100% needed, but it is really usefull helping the interior drawer move freely. ( I also like how the laser cutting pattern appears on the outside ).
If you don´t have a Router, you can sand the edges manually with sandpaper and/or files, at least in the interior tray to help it move.

STEP 7: Lacquer / Paint

After just sanding the edges ( not the venner, is too thin ) aplly lacquer.
For some boxes I also painted the interior of the smaller tray black, to give it a more professional Look.

Enjoy!

6 Comments

Yeoman 8 years ago

Don't be a misery, remember different strokes for different folks, maybe they like wood processing.

Alvatroz 8 years ago

Got any pictures? I would love to see it.

Alvatroz 8 years ago

From the images background maybe you can see I do actually woodwork, with hand and power tools. And I actually like it very much, but for this kind of content its better to be a little bit more democratic, anyone can send to a laser cutter some files and get the wood back, but people doesn´t always have a lot of tools in their homes to process and properly work wood.

seamster 8 years ago

Very nicely done. I love the little finger joints all the way around the box, and the chamfer adds a nice touch to highlight them.

Thanks for sharing your first instructable! :)