Campaign-Style Storage Box

Cut four 8"x8" side panels and one 8"x7" bottom panel from 1/2" board. The bottom is an inch narrower than the sides — that inch is what lets it sit inside the box rather than under it, flush with the bottom edges.

Drill pocket holes into two opposite side panels only — the other two stay clean-faced. This keeps every visible pocket hole on the same two interior faces instead of scattered across all four corners.

Glue and pocket-screw the four sides together into a square, then set the bottom panel inside, flush with the bottom edges, and screw up through it into the sides.

Check square before the glue sets — a small box out of square is obvious at a glance in a way a large piece of furniture isn't.

Fill the pocket holes and any gaps with wood filler, sand through the grits, then stain and seal with polyurethane.

Drill a recess for the flush ring pull on the drill press, squaring off the corners with a chisel if your pull isn't round, then screw it in place with the brass screws.

Use brass screws specifically — a steel screw head next to polished brass hardware is the detail that gives away a rushed build.