Reclaimed Soda Crate Caddy

This is a small carry caddy styled after an old wooden soda crate: a boxy tote with a raised center divider that doubles as a handle. It's a one-afternoon scrap project — the whole thing comes out of a 1x8 and a bit of 1x6 — and it's a great use for reclaimed or pallet wood, where a little age and character actually improves the look.

The only shaped part is the handle board. Drill two 1" holes with a hole saw where the ends of the hand-hole go, then jigsaw out the waste between them to make a comfortable grip. Clip the top corners at 45° and round the top edge with the jigsaw for that classic crate silhouette. Everything else is straight cuts and butt joints.

Assembly is fast: attach the side pieces to the central handle board, then the remaining sides, then tack the bottom on. Glue plus 2" finish nails is all it needs — a brad nailer makes it go very quickly. The source entry didn't list tools, so this build infers them from the steps (a hole saw and jigsaw for the handle, a nailer for assembly). Leave the reclaimed wood as-is for patina, or clean it up and finish. It makes a charming gift filled with something.