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This box skips hinges entirely — the inner lid simply sits inside the opening, trimmed about 1/8" smaller than the box's inner dimensions so it lifts out cleanly without catching on the sides. That small clearance is worth getting right: too tight and the lid binds, too loose and it rattles.
The whole box comes from one board, whether that's a craft-store board or a cedar picket — if your stock doesn't measure the standard 5-1/2" x 1/2", the side length is just your board's width minus twice its thickness, and the inner lid is cut 1/8" smaller than that. Finish before attaching the inner lid, and choose wood filler if you're painting or color-matched wood putty if you're staining, since the two fillers behave very differently under a clear finish.
| Item | Qty |
|---|---|
| 1/2" x 5-1/2" craft board, 2 ft (or a 1/2" x 5-1/2" x 6 ft cedar picket) | 1 each |
| 1/2" x 2-1/2" craft board, 3 ftNot needed if using a cedar picket for everything. | 1 each |
| Finish nails, 1" | 20 each |
| Wood glue | 1 oz |
| Super glueOnly needed if using a wood pull instead of a store-bought knob. | 1 each |
| Sandpaper | 1 each |
| Wood fillerUse if painting. | 1 each |
| Wood putty, color-matchedUse if staining or finishing clear. | 1 each |
| Paint or stain | 1 each |
| Knob or pullOptional — skip if making a wood pull from scrap instead. | 1 each |
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 and bottom1/2" craft board or cedar picket | 2 | 1/2" × 5 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Front and back1/2" craft board or cedar picket | 2 | 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 5 1/2" |
| Sides1/2" craft board or cedar picket | 2 | 1/2" × 2 1/2" × 4 1/2" |
| Inner lid1/2" craft board or cedar picketTrim to fit — about 1/8" smaller than the box's inner dimensions on each side. | 1 | 1/2" × 4 3/8" × 4 3/8" |
| Pull1/2" craft board or cedar picketOr substitute a store-bought knob. | 1 | 1/2" × 1/2" × 1" |
Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.
1 board
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 →
Attach the sides between the front and back with 1" finish nails and glue, keeping the tops, bottoms, and outside edges flush.
Attach the bottom to the box, keeping the outside edges flush, using finish nails and glue.
Cut the inner lid and trim it to fit — it should sit inside the box easily without catching on the sides. Hold off on attaching it until after finishing.
Sand and finish as desired. If painting, use wood filler on the nail holes first. If staining or finishing clear, finish the box first, then fill any nail holes afterward with color-matched wood putty.
Attach the knob or wood pull to the top of the box (super glue works well for a wood pull). Set the finished inner lid inside the box — it rests in place rather than being fastened down, so it lifts out freely.
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