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DIY Small Pochade Box
This small box is intended for masonite (hardboard) (⅛” thick) panels or thin canvas panels up to 8”x10” in size. Thicker panels such as MDF or actual canvases can be used but you will have to find a way to secure them to the lid.
Here’s the box set up with an 8” x 10” panel. The little white tray shown on the left is made from an iPhone box cut down to just under 1” thick so it will fit inside the box for travel.
Parts and Materials:
Latches $7 (The box above came with these) These latches are ideal because the top latch part (in the lid) can be used to secure the larger panels. See pics below.
1/4 Inch T-Nut (Approximately $1 each at the local hardware store) Or buy in bulk here: https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Threads-Furniture-Climbing-Leveling/dp/B0872HDCG5/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=1%2F4%22+t+nut&qid=1622385395&sr=8-11
Quick release tripod mount plate $9 Be sure to
get the correct size for your tripod.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07D4CP5D8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_P40CWV0B3Y2K0WR0S6V8 9
⅛” craft plywood. $7.
Other Materials needed: Primer or sealer and Paint for the box, Small Magnets, Binder Clips.
Directions:
-Review the photos below.
-Remove hinges and latches from the box.
-Prime or seal and paint the box. I used Golden GAC-100 which is clear and sealed the wood, but you can use household primer and paint. It's best to primer first but you can just paint it.
-Install the friction hinges. I used the larger screws that came with the friction hinges which were long, so I ground them off on the inside of the box so they didn’t stick out.
-Reinstall the LEFT latch.
-The RIGHT latch can be used to hold the 8”x10” panel. It will have to be moved over about ⅜” of an inch from where it was. Set a panel up and then install the latch where it will be able to hold the panel.
-Glue magnets on the inside of the lid in the proper location so that mating magnets can be used to hold the smaller panels in place.
-Cut a reinforcing plate from ⅛” plywood or masonite, slightly larger than the tripod quick mount plate. Glue it to the bottom of the box, centered and close to the rear of the box.
Mark and drill a hole through the bottom of the box and through the reinforcing plate and install the ¼” t-nut. You can now screw the tripod quick mount plate to your box.
-Add rubber bumpers to the bottom. Now, if you remove the tripod quick mount plate, it will sit nicely on a flat surface.
-Using ⅛” plywood, make a pallet tray that’s slightly smaller than the inside of the box. Install a strip along one end-this will be used to clamp the tray to the box when painting. I made this strip 1” tall. Be sure to reinforce the strip and the feet with triangular gussets. Also make 1” tall feet for the other side of the tray. This pallet can now fit in the box for travel, and the 1” space underneath is enough to hold paint tubes, the binder clips and other stuff.
-drill some holes in the pallet to hold paint brushes. Optionally drill a 1” thumb hole so you can hold the pallet in your hand while painting.
-Prime and paint the pallet tray a neutral gray color. This is a good color to judge your colors against. If the paint is glossy, good. If not, spray it will clear gloss so you can clean the palette easily after use. On mine I used gray primer, then 2 coats not Golden GAC-100 acrylic sealer, so it has a nice hard glossy surface.
Below Left: Shown with a magnet holding a 6”x8” panel in place.
Below Right: Shown with an 8”x10” panel, held in place by the latch
Below Right:
Left: Showing the latch holding a panel. The latch was reinstalled and moved over for this.
Below Left: The ¼” T-Nut, installed, shown from the inside of the box.
Below Center: The ¼” T-Nut, bottom view. The quick mount plate is just sitting next to it in this photo.
Below Right: The tripod quick mount plate, screwed into the T-Nut
Right: this is the pallet tray made from ⅛” plywood. Note the triangular reinforcements. Use the binder clips to attach it to the side of the pochade box.
Enjoy your new palette box and make some great art!
Feel free to email me at pburress@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
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