Making a wooden box is a great project and as you can see from the examples below, the possibilities are endless. However, don't think a box is "Just a Box". If you are choosing to design and make a box, you are taking on a potentially very challenging project. Congratulations! It's great to challenge yourself.
Below are a few tips for getting good results:
- Make sure you know HOW your pieces will fit together. The simplest type of joinery for a box is a Butt Joint.
- Make sure all pieces fit together AND are WELL sanded before assembly. You must show your teacher the fit before assembly.
- In almost all cases, the box sides should all have the same height. Check this by stacking them together. Make sure the wood grain all goes in the same direction (usually side-to-side) unless you have some reason not to. If they are not exactly the same height, depending on the wood type, you can sand them down on the belt sander to the EXACT SAME HEIGHT.
- In almost all cases, the opposite box sides will have the SAME WIDTH AND HEIGHT. Again, you may be able to sand them down together on the belt sander to get the proper width and height.
- When it is time for assembly, you will put glue on the end grains and then typically use a bar clamp to LIGHTLY attach the pieces. Then, adjust with your hands to the exact fit. Once it looks good, tighten the bar clamp some more.