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This box is two separate open boxes joined by a hinge — a shallow lid tray on top of a deeper base box — rather than one box with a lid cut off of it, which keeps the grain and edge banding continuous around each piece instead of showing a saw kerf where a lid was parted off.
Every piece is 1/2" plywood, joined with a micro pocket-hole jig sized for stock this thin — a standard-size jig is made for 3/4" material and will blow through the face of a piece this size. Plywood edges are covered with ironed-on edge banding rather than left raw, which is what keeps a small, close-up piece like this from reading as "a box made of plywood."
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1/2" plywood, partial sheetOne sheet yields several boxes; buy a full sheet even for one. | 1 sheet |
| Pocket hole screws, 3/4" (micro) | 16 each |
| Jewelry box hinges and latch | 1 set |
| Small mirror (optional) | 1 each |
| Wood filler | 1 each |
| Edge banding | 1 roll |
| Brad nails, 1" | 1 box |
| Paint or stain | 4 oz |
| Satin ribbon, 1/2" (optional pull-tab) | 1 yard |
Overall cost: $$. Lumber prices vary by region, species, and season, so we give a band rather than a figure we would only be pretending to know.
| Part | Qty | T × W × L |
|---|---|---|
| Top/bottom panels1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 5" × 8 3/8" |
| Bottom box front/back1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 9 3/8" |
| Bottom box sides1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 3 1/2" × 5" |
| Top box sides1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 2" × 5" |
| Top box front/back1/2" plywood | 2 | 1/2" × 2" × 9 3/8" |
Buy 3 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
1 board
1 board
Assumes 8 ft stock, a 1/8" saw kerf, and buying each part at its own width. Change the board size or kerf on the full board plan →
Cut every plywood piece for both the top (lid) box and the bottom box per the cut list.
Drill two pocket holes along each side of the top and bottom panels using a micro jig sized for 1/2" stock — a standard jig is set up for thicker material and will blow through a panel this thin.
Attach the four side pieces to the bottom panel with pocket screws to build the bottom box, reinforcing with brad nails if needed. Build the top (lid) box the same way.
Iron edge banding onto every exposed plywood edge, trim the overhang with a utility knife, and sand it flush.
Fill any tear-out or exposed pocket holes with wood filler, sand smooth, then paint or stain both boxes.
Attach the hinges and latch to join the lid box to the base. Optionally glue in a small mirror and a ribbon pull-tab.
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