Any ideas or plans for patio/deck storage boxes?

[Josh Reet]

Now that I have two mobile children in my life, there is a lot of "backyard clutter" that gets spread around the yard. So, to keep the wife happier, I was thinking about getting some sort of patio storage box that I could toss toys into. But the more I looked into it, the worse my options seemed to be. The BORGs sell plastic ones. But they are kind of expensive and not particularly well reviewed.

So I'm thinking of knocking something together myself. It doesn't have to be fancy, function and price are more important. But it wouldn't hurt with the wife to have something that looked decent. Doesn't have to be perfectly waterproof, we're not putting chair cushions in it, but I'd like to keep things somewhat dry. And it does have to be sturdy enough to be used as a bench. Our house is really small and we do our entertaining/BBQs in the backyard come summertime.

My ideas have ranged from a basic lumber and plywood box painted with some good exterior paint to something a bit nicer out of cedar. Perhaps similar to this (though probably without a cushion).

http://www.backyardcity.com/Images/CCI/2054.jpg

Any thoughts?

[Linda Tetreault]

The Kreg site has a few plans.

[Josh Reet]

Look at that:

http://kregjig.ning.com/video/how-to-build-a-deck-storage

Thanks Linda!

[Josh Reet]

In case anyone cares, there is more info on the above plan here:

http://www.lowescreativeideas.com/idea-library/projects/shop_class_deck_box_0610.aspx

['Jacques Malan']

Having fiddled around with big boxes once or twice and ending up with one that needs four people to move it when it is empty I would seriously suggest putting these boxes on wheels.

Or you can just ignore me, everybody else does.

[Josh Reet]

Having fiddled around with big boxes once or twice and ending up with one that needs four people to move it when it is empty I would seriously suggest putting these boxes on wheels.

Or you can just ignore me, everybody else does.

It's a valid point, but I think the wheels would limit it's ability to be used as a place to sit.

[John Baranowski]

Having fiddled around with big boxes once or twice and ending up with one that needs four people to move it when it is empty I would seriously suggest putting these boxes on wheels.

Or you can just ignore me, everybody else does.
Here you go. Problem solved.

http://www.harborfreight.com/movers-dolly-93888.html

[Wally Alexander]

Try this one

http://www.minwax.com/projects/pdfs/intermediate-project-outdoor-storage-chest.pdf

Wally

[Josh Reet]

Try this one

http://www.minwax.com/projects/pdfs/intermediate-project-outdoor-storage-chest.pdf

Wally

Thanks Wally, that's another good option.

[Jim Finn]

I looked into making a similar box for storage and found the plastic ones at Home Depot are as cheap as making one and work well for me.

[Carl Babel]

Just received in my inbox:
http://americanwoodworker.com/blogs/projects/archive/2011/04/07/aw-extra-cypress-chest.aspx

Serendipity: Noun: The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way: "a fortunate stroke of serendipity"