Breakdown Box

Transportable, Breakdown Boxes

Robyyan Torr d'Elandris, OL

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Have you ever wanted to have a neat looking camp? Do you get tired of seeing thermoplastic coolers and assorted other stuff at your camping events? Do you have a limited amount of cargo space when travelling to everts? Then, this set of boxes is for you!

These boxes are designed to have the appearance of a medieval panel chest, and may be decorated as you like. However, they come apart for easy travel, and are made of relatively inexpensive and readily available materials. The instructions that follow will construct two boxes, one at a finished size of approximately 1'6"'x 2'6" x l'6" and another at approximately l' x 2' x 1' Don't be surprised when you are done if the smaller box looks much larger then you expect.

Materials needed:

1 - 4'x8' sheet of exterior plywood, b/c grade or better, 3/8" or 1/2"

Approx. 60' of 1x4 clear pine - get a little, more, or lot more if it's warped and full of knots

12 - 2" loose-pin hinges

Glue - a quart will be more than plenty. Use a good quality carpenter's glue.

Screws - 1" number 8 wood screws, enough to mount the hinges

Some method of clamping the 1x4 to the plywood while the glue dries - this can be clamps, screws put in from the back that will be left there, heavy staples, or even nails

Tools needed:

Saw to cut the plywood and 1x4

Screwdriver to mount the hinges

Measuring tape

Instructions:

1. Cut the plywood according to Figure 1. Be sure all cuts are straight and square.

2. Cut the 1x4 according to the following list. Match up the part letters with Figure 2. The following symbols are used:

[PT] is the thickness of the plywood you are using, either 3/8" or 1/2"

[T] is the actual thickness of the 1x4, usually about 3/4"

[W] is the actual width of the 1x4, usually about 3 3/4"

A: 2 pieces at 2'6" + 2[T] (for large box)

2 pieces at 2'0" + 2[T] (for small box)

B: 8 pieces at 1'6" (large box)

8 pieces at 1'0" (small box)

C: Measure and cut 2 pieces during assembly. (for large box)

The small box does not use this piece.

D: 2 pieces 2'6" - 2[W] + 2[T] (for large box)

2 pieces 2'0" - 2[W] + 2[T] (for small box)

F: 2 pieces 1'6" (for large box)

2 pieces 1'0" (for small box)

G: 2 pieces 1'6" - 2[W] (for large box)

2 pieces 1'0" - 2[W] (for small box)

3. Trim [PT] from 2 opposite edges of all the "end" pieces of plywood, see Figure 3. The trimmed edges will be the sides of the end pieces. This is necessary so that the top and bottom will fit properly - if you need to understand why, you can skip ahead for a quick glance at Figure 7 for a clue. You might mark the top at this point to avoid confusion over which is the top and which is the sides later.

4. Trim [PT] from all 4 sides of the bottom pieces, and trim the corners. See Figure 4. (If you don't trim the corners, it will be difficult to get the bottom in and out of the box.

5. Assemble one side. Attach part A to the good side of the plywood, using plenty of glue, and either screws, heavy staples, or clamps to hold it all together until the glue dries, making sure the 1x4 sticks above the plywood by [PT], and extends [T] beyond each edge. Attach the legs (parts B) in place keeping an even [T] overhang at the edge. Attach part D, making sure it is straight. See Figure 5.

6. Assemble all the other sides. Make sure to keep the overlaps constant, and part D at the same height from the bottom of the legs.

7. Attach part C to the larger sides. Make sure it is centered and straight.

8. Assemble one end. Attach part F to the good side of the plywood, making sure the 1 x4 sticks above the ply by [PT] and extends [PT] beyond each edge. Attach the legs (parts B) in place, keeping an even [PT] overhang at the edge. Attach part G in place, making sure it is straight and at the same height as the parts D See Fig. 6.

9. Assemble the other ends.

10. Mount the hinges. Stand one side and one end together, with the corners arranged as in Figure 7. Make sure they are square with each other, place the hinges on the inside, mark the holes. Use one hinge on each corner for the small box, and two on each corner for the larger. Remove the pins from the hinge, and using screws, attach each. part of the hinge where it was marked. Put the corner together by assembling the hinge and putting the pin back. Do the other corners. If you like, you can replace the original hinge pin with a piece of heavy wire bent into an "L" shape- coathanger wire works pretty well, and is much easier to insert and remove than the original pin.

11. Add supports for the box tops and bottoms. On each piece, at the lower inside edge, attach a scrap piece of plywood to support the bottom. The leftover plywood works well, or cut some 1x4 into 1x2.

On the parts of the, larger box, do the same for the top. If you are using 3/8" ply, you might add supports for the top of the small box also.

12. When the glue has completely dried - at least overnight sand, paint and finish as you like. Add rope handles to lift the top (or cut finger holes). Store and transport stacked flat, and when you get where you are going, put the pieces together, insert the pins into the hinges, drop in the bottom and the top, and you have a box.

Contact me at rtesca DASH web AT yahoo DOT com

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