Making wooden boxes is very suitable for beginners in woodworking. You can learn a lot of basic techniques that can be used in other jobs through it. You can make the box simple and elegant, functional or stylish and full of decoration. Regardless of how you choose to design your box, it’s easiest to start with a hinged or sliding box so you can get some practice before moving on to more advanced techniques.
step
method 1
Make a wooden box with a hinged lid
1 Select the wood. You can repurpose leftover lumber from previous projects, such as broken planks, or you can buy and cut new lumber. Consider the purpose of the box. For jewelry boxes, for example, consider cedar, red ash, or oak veneers. X Research Sources It is easier to make small boxes out of thin wood. For larger boxes, use larger lumber or planks. This also saves a lot of cutting work.
2 Prepare tools. Put all the essential tools in the workspace. If you’re going to be using a power tool, make sure there’s an available electrical outlet there. You’ll need at least a ruler, hammer, nails, wood glue or putty, and, of course, planks. Always handle with care and wear safety goggles when using power tools.
3 Measure and mark the board. First, you have to determine the dimensions of the box. Specifically, you need to determine how long, wide and tall your box will be. Then, use a ruler and pencil to measure and mark on the board. If the box has a special purpose or is used to hold a specific item, measure the item to make sure it will fit in the box. X Research Sources
4 If the board size still differs, cut it. Based on your measurements, cut the boards with a handsaw or circular saw. Remember, you need 4 side panels, 1 base panel, and 1 cover panel. Power tools can make the job easier, but they are not essential. Using a screwdriver, a carpenter’s ruler, a hand saw, and a hammer, you can easily make a box.
5 Assemble the side panels with butt joints. To make the box more durable, apply glue to the joints and assemble the side panels together at the correct angle. At this point, it should look like a square with no base or lid. Then, drive or screw in the finish nails, wood screws, or dowels with a hammer or power drill. X Research Sources You may need to use clips to hold glued side panels together while nailing or screwing in. X Research Sources If a dowel is to be used, a hole is drilled in one side panel and goes all the way into the other side panel. Join the two side panels together with dowels so that they form an “L” shape. When you’re done securing, cut off the excess dowel so it’s flush with the side panels.
6 Attach the base plate to the side plate. Depending on the design, make sure that the side panels are neatly fixed to the base plate, or fit tightly around the base plate. Glue the bottom and side panels together. Drive or screw in finish nails, wood screws or dowels. Allow the box to dry out before sealing it or putting it into use.
7 Fit the hinged lid onto the box. Put the lid on the box so it’s flush with the side panels, then measure and mark where you want the hinges to go. With the hinge joints on the back of the box facing outwards, use a hammer and electric drill to secure the hinges to the side panels and then to the cover. When installing the hinge, make sure it is perpendicular to the top and side edges of the box. Otherwise, the cover cannot be opened and closed smoothly. When measuring and installing the hinges, it is convenient to use clamps to hold the side panels and cover panels together. X Research Sources
8 Fill all nail holes. Fill in the nail holes with putty and a putty knife. After the putty has dried, sand the area smooth again with sandpaper. Filling and sanding the nail holes will give your work a more professional look. You can skip this step entirely if you don’t want to add more touches.
method 2
Make a wooden box with a sliding lid
1 Select the wood. You can repurpose leftover lumber from previous projects, such as broken planks, or you can buy and cut new lumber. Consider the purpose of the box. For jewelry boxes, for example, consider cedar, red ash, or oak veneers. X Research Sources It is easier to make small boxes out of thin wood. For larger boxes, use larger lumber or planks. This also saves a lot of cutting work.
2 Prepare tools. Put all the essential tools in the workspace. If you’re going to be using a power tool, make sure there’s an available electrical outlet there. You’ll need at least a ruler, hammer, nails, wood glue or putty, and, of course, planks. Always handle with care and wear safety goggles when using power tools.
3 Measure and mark the board. First, you have to determine the dimensions of the box. Specifically, you need to determine how long, wide and tall your box will be. Remember, you have to account for the groove, the cover needs to be narrower to slide into the groove. Then, use a ruler and pencil to measure and mark on the board. If the box has a special purpose or is used to hold a specific item, measure the item to make sure it will fit in the box. X Research Sources
4 If the board size still differs, cut it. Based on your measurements, cut the boards with a handsaw or circular saw. Remember, you need 4 side panels, 1 base panel, and 1 cover panel. Power tools can make the job easier, but they are not essential. Using a screwdriver, a carpenter’s ruler, a hand saw, and a hammer, you can easily make a box.
5 Cut grooves in the side panels. Cut a straight, horizontal groove in the board with a table saw or router with a guide bar, this groove should be on the inside top of the box when assembled. It should be about 3mm deep, parallel to the top edge, allowing the top cover to slide in. Be sure to cut the same grooves on all three side panels of the box.
6 Cut the front side panels of the box. First, take a piece of the side panel that has the groove cut out, and measure the distance from where the top cover will be to the bottom of the groove. Draw a horizontal line at the same height from the top of the front plank of the box and cut the plank along it. At this point, the cover should slide into the groove from the front plank just by holding the side panels together with clips.
7 Assemble the side panels with butt joints. Make sure the grooves are facing inwards. To make the box more durable, apply glue to the joints and assemble the side panels together at the correct angle. At this point, it should look like a square with no base or lid. Then, drive or screw in the finish nails, wood screws, or dowels. X Research Sources You may need to use clips to hold glued side panels together while nailing or screwing in. X Research Sources If a dowel is to be used, a hole is drilled in one side panel and goes all the way into the other side panel. Join the two side panels together with dowels so that they form an “L” shape. When you’re done securing, cut off the excess dowel so it’s flush with the side panels.
8 Secure the side panels and bottom panel. Depending on the design, make sure that the side panels are neatly fixed to the base plate, or fit tightly around the base plate. Glue the bottom and side panels together. Drive or screw in finish nails, wood screws or dowels. Allow the box to dry out before sealing it or putting it into use.
9 Cut out the inlays for the top cover. If you want the top of the box to be flush with the sides, use a saw to cut inlays on the sides of the top other than the front. Slide the top cover into the groove to cover the box. If the groove in the side panel is 3mm deep and 3mm from the top, then you should start cutting 3mm down from the top of the side of the top cover.
10 Fill all nail holes. Fill in the nail holes with putty and a putty knife. After the putty has dried, sand the area smooth again with sandpaper. Filling and sanding the nail holes will give your work a more professional look. You can skip this step entirely if you don’t want to add more touches.
you need to prepare
carpentry ruler
hammer
handsaw
nail punch (optional)
circular saw (not required)
electric drill (optional)
wood of your choice
glue
Fasteners such as mortise rods, wood screws or finish nails
Hinge
