Project #002: Potato Box (Part 1)

by Pappy September 26th, 2007, Posted in: Woodworking


Potato box plans (click for full size)Hot on the heels of completing my first project, I’m anxious to get going with the next one. This time around I’m going to go with the advice of the online community and work on a box. A wheeled potato box, to be exact. As I described previously, Ya Ya wants a dry storage box she can roll under the bottom shelf in her walk-in pantry for putting vegetables in. We go through a lot of staples like potatoes and onions so it should get plenty of use.

Let’s take a look at the basic design for this project. Click on the thumbnail for a full-sized copy of the plans.

Workpieces:

  • A) 2 each, Front / Back pieces. 24 inch by 12 inch by 5/8 inch laminated pine. The short sides have 1 inch wide by 5/8 inch deep box joints. Note that the last joint (the one adjoining the bottom edge) is 2 inches wide. On the interior face the piece has a 5/8 inch wide by 5/16 inch deep dado centered 1 inch up from the bottom edge that runs from 5/16 inch away from one end to 5/16 inch away from the other end. The interior side also has a 5/8 inch wide by 5/16 inch deep dado centered 12 inches from either end that runs from the top down until it intersects the lateral dado. This dado will be used for a removable divider piece.
  • B) 2 each, Side pieces. Note the image of the plans has a typo in the dimensions for the side pieces. It says 24 by 12 inches, but should read 12 inches by 12 inches by 5/8 inch laminated pine. The sides have 1 inch wide by 5/8 inch deep box joints. Note that the last joint (the one adjoining the bottom edge) is 2 inches wide. On the interior face the piece has a 5/8 inch wide by 5/16 inch deep dado centered 1 inch up from the bottom edge that runs the full width of the piece.
  • C) Bottom piece. 23 and 3/8 inches by 11 and 3/8 inches by 5/8 inches laminated pine. Will be held in place by the dados along the bottom edge of the front, back and side pieces. Casters to be inset 1 inch from the corners to prevent the wheels from rubbing against the 1 inch skirt that hangs below the front, back, and side pieces.
  • D) Lid piece. 24 inches by 12 and 1/2 inches by 5/8 inch laminated pine. The additional 1/2 inch length given the side of the lid will allow for a small lip to hang over the front of the box.
  • E) Divider piece. 10 inches by 11 and 3/8 inches by 5/8 inch laminated pine.

Hardware:

  • 4 each, caster. 2 inches from floor to butt-plate.
  • 2 general purpose hinges
  • 1 drawer-style handle for the lid
  • That’s it. The joints and glue should be the only thing holding it all together this time, so no nails or woodscrews.

I started measuring and cutting last night, and already made at least one lame mistake, but we’ll save something for the next post.

Project #002: Preparation

by Pappy September 25th, 2007, Posted in: Woodworking


I started working out the plans for my next project last night, a wheeled potato storage box to fit under the bottom shelf of our walk-in pantry. My beautiful better half (affectionately known as “Ya Ya” by the grand-daughters) has wanted one for a long time and with the purchase of our new home came a great opportunity to build one to fit.

Because of all the joinery in this project compared to the last, I’d like to do a lot better job at putting the plans together - both for the sake of the project and for preserving them here on Pappy’s Place for posterity. To that end I started playing with various free CAD / drafting programs last night. Once I settle on which one I’m using I’ll start posting more details here and get everyone involved from the ground floor.