Poplar Storage Box

[steven c newman]

Decided to build a few small boxes, to stack on a shelf, to hold extras in the shop,,,like hole saws, screwdrivers, Tap & Die sets....
Also, since some of my fancier planes have their own storage box, wanted to try and make a few that go along with them..so..
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Just under 12" long, by just over 5" tall..
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By about 6" front to back. Panels for the top of the lid, and bottom of the box are 5mm Luann Plywood. Leftovers from a desk project.
Corner joints are 1/4" finger/box joints, sawn by hand, and chisel out the waste..Plywood sits in 1/4" grooves, done with a Stanley 45...which also allowed me to split off the lid
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Handles and other hardware were attached..
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Wood is 1/2" x 5-1/2" Poplar...sold as "Project Boards" at Lowes. Brass "feet" came from Menard's.
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Rest of the hardware came from Hobby Lobby...
Finish is a Stain called "Gunstock", then 2 coats of clear gloss poly...

May add a board on the inside, to store a few items..
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My Dad used old coffee cans to store stuff in...Also, will need to add a label holder, so I can tell what is in each box...
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Just a Poplar box, nothing fancy...:rolleyes:

[Charles Grauer]

Could you explain how to split off the lid using a Stanley. I have a 45 that was my wife’s great grandfather’s. Just never taken, figured out how to use it, the time to figure it out. Do you plow a groove on the inside and then cut the out side after assembly to leave the small lip on the inside bottom and outside top? Charles

[steven c newman]

There is an inside groove milled before the glue up..
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Box is then assembled, and glued up. Once the glue is dried...an outside groove is milled..
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Outside groove is below the inside groove, with a slight overlap. Then run a knife around the top of the outside groove, to split the lid off....then trim for a decent fit
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On mine, the lip was a bit too thick, I adjusted the 45 ( added a cam rest) and trimmed all the way around...checked for fit, had one small stretch that I somehow missed...trimmed that
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seems to fit nicely enough. I used the same cutter (#12?) I used for the 1/4" wide grooves for the top and bottom plywood panels..
The cam rest is there to prevent my tipping the plane to that side. Also used both depth stops...main for the inside grooves, then the one for the outside groove was on the sliding stock/skate, as the main was out in mid-air.

[Charles Grauer]

Thank you. Nice explanation and the pictures are wonderful. Thanks! I just need to get it out and see if I have all those accessories. Charles

[Stan Calow]

Thanks for sharing. That stain is a very interesting color. I would never think poplar could look that good.