VH

Vince Heuring

08/01/2005 9:17 AM

Need to make some sturdy boxes


SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).

How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
will need some kind of internal reinforcement.

TIA, Vince.

--
Vince Heuring To email, remove the Vince.


This topic has 16 replies

VH

Vince Heuring

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 9:54 AM

In article <[email protected]>, Lew
Hodgett <[email protected]> wrote:

> Vince Heuring wrote:
> > SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> > They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
> >
> > How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> > will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>
> Weight will be an obvious consideration.
>
> How large are these boxes?

14x14x12 before upholstery and feet. So they will slide under the
glass-topped coffee table when not in use.

> Is there a weight limitation?

No, not really.

> Plywood will probably be the material of choice.
>
> Lew

Yup. See the first line of my original post. I'm hoping to get rid of
a bunch of plywood and other scrap in this project.

--
Vince Heuring To email, remove the Vince.

mm

"mp"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 8:34 AM

> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.

I'd suggest you make them sturdy with some kind of internal reinforcement.

Seriously, if you'd like more specifics on how to build them, please offer
more specifics on your size/weight requirements. It could be as simple as
3/4" plywood glued/screwed to a half-lapped 2x4 subframe.

Rt

"Russ"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

10/01/2005 12:56 AM

How about a tree stump check the woodpile
neal.don <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:SnjEd.83004$k25.20950@attbi_s53...
> and cool whip is on sale now you buy 8 cool whip's and have a full set of
> salad bowls
> "Roger Shoaf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> >
> > "Vince Heuring" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:080120050917169991%[email protected]...
> >>
> >> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> >> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
> >>
> >> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> >> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
> >>
> >> TIA, Vince.
> >>
> >> --
> >> Vince Heuring To email, remove the Vince.
> >
> > I think rabbit joints for the corners and for the center I would make a
> > cross support. Two pieces of ply with a slot in each one half way from
> > the
> > edge. Insert this into dados in each side and top and bottom. This
will
> > prevent racking.
> >
> > You might also want to use tin corners to make it bullet proof.
> >
> > --
> >
> > Roger Shoaf
> >
> > About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube,
> > then
> > they come up with this striped stuff.
> >
> >
>
>

RS

"Roger Shoaf"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 10:45 PM


"Vince Heuring" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:080120050917169991%[email protected]...
>
> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>
> TIA, Vince.
>
> --
> Vince Heuring To email, remove the Vince.

I think rabbit joints for the corners and for the center I would make a
cross support. Two pieces of ply with a slot in each one half way from the
edge. Insert this into dados in each side and top and bottom. This will
prevent racking.

You might also want to use tin corners to make it bullet proof.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

JJ

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 1:51 PM

Sat, Jan 8, 2005, 9:17am (EST-2) [email protected]
(Vince=A0Heuring) claims:
<snip> They need to be sturdy, and thus will need some kind of internal
reinforcement.

Reinforcement? You've totally lost me there. Why the
reinforcement, you gonna sit elephants on them?



JOAT
EVERY THING THAT HAPPENS STAYS HAPPENED.
- Death

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 4:25 PM

Vince Heuring wrote:
> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.

Weight will be an obvious consideration.

How large are these boxes?

Is there a weight limitation?

Plywood will probably be the material of choice.

Lew

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 10:39 AM

"Vince Heuring" wrote in message
>
> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.

Not necessarily.

Got a router, or a table saw with a dado blade? Glued and screwed/finish
nailed "rabbet joints" work well for plywood boxes, and even if you leave
one end of the box open, the joinery is plenty strong for seating. Not to
say that you can't use some cleats in the internal corners if you feel you
need them..

If finished appearance is a must, finger joints are strong and eye-catching
for any type of box, but you will need to use a good grade of plywood to
keep the splintering down. Same goes with dovetail joints.

Then there's always biscuits and butt joints, providing you're set up to do
them. If you don't have a biscuit jointer, maybe now's you're chance to get
one.

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

10/01/2005 12:47 AM

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:17:16 -0700, Vince Heuring
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
>They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
>How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
>will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>
>TIA, Vince.

Three-quarter inch ply should work fine. Rabbet or box jointery
should work well.

Gg

"George"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 2:03 PM


"Vince Heuring" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:080120050917169991%[email protected]...
>
> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>

No need for internal reinforcement if there's a designated top and bottom.
Box joint sides - use a router jig with a spiral bit and backer board for
negligible tearout - fully glued and flush trimmed top and bottom. If no
designated top or bottom, I'd rabbet in the ends.

Made some 1' x 1' x 1' boxes for robotics out of that thinner than 1/4
five-ply underlayment, using 1/4" bit, and in the load direction, they could
hold a ~300 lb TA I caught using one as a stool....

Half inch with good ply, 3/4 with voids will do anything, I should think.

AD

Andy Dingley

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 5:21 PM

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:17:16 -0700, Vince Heuring
<[email protected]> wrote:

>How about some construction ideas?

Dead easy - you have the whole of the insides to work with and the
outside isn't visible. Big glue blocks inside, with screws into them
from the outside.

I'd fit a base too, although this would just be a narrow ring with the
centre sawn out.
--
Smert' spamionam

nn

"neal.don"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

09/01/2005 11:46 PM

and cool whip is on sale now you buy 8 cool whip's and have a full set of
salad bowls
"Roger Shoaf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Vince Heuring" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:080120050917169991%[email protected]...
>>
>> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
>> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>>
>> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
>> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>>
>> TIA, Vince.
>>
>> --
>> Vince Heuring To email, remove the Vince.
>
> I think rabbit joints for the corners and for the center I would make a
> cross support. Two pieces of ply with a slot in each one half way from
> the
> edge. Insert this into dados in each side and top and bottom. This will
> prevent racking.
>
> You might also want to use tin corners to make it bullet proof.
>
> --
>
> Roger Shoaf
>
> About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube,
> then
> they come up with this striped stuff.
>
>

EP

"Edwin Pawlowski"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 4:41 PM


"Vince Heuring" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
> They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).

No need to ask. She's been watching some of the TV shows like Trading
Spaces. I understand.


>
> How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
> will need some kind of internal reinforcement.

I'd use 3/4" plywood glued and screwed. I'd ass some internal bracing with
either corner gussets cut from a 2 x 4 or just put some 1 x 2 pine in
critical areas. They will be able to take a lot of weight even with no
bracing.

c

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 4:13 PM

This is not rocket science, but If you had a plate joiner, you'd be
able to make great cubes out of 3/4" crappy plywood so long as you can
cut it square. Use 3/4 and throw in some cleats and it won't rack
even if Dom Deluise sits on it. Gonna take a few drywall screws too.

One other issue would be legs, and what you could do is simply buy
some 2X2 oak at home depot and use the oak for the vertical cleats,
extend them down as far as you need in leg length.

And the last thing would be to maybe throw some 1X2's along the edges
so that the bottom edge is 1½" thick. SWMBO will be thrilled that the
softer fir will accept a staple quite nicely, whereas plywood won't.

Mike


On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:17:16 -0700, Vince Heuring
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>SWMBO wants me to make some plywood boxes that she will then upholster.
>They will be used for people to sit on (don't ask).
>
>How about some construction ideas? They need to be sturdy, and thus
>will need some kind of internal reinforcement.
>
>TIA, Vince.

Ms

Mike

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 3:40 PM

On Sat, 08 Jan 2005 09:54:34 -0700, Vince Heuring
<[email protected]> wrote:

>14x14x12 before upholstery and feet. So they will slide under the
>glass-topped coffee table when not in use.

There is no need to make this any more difficult than it needs to be.
If they are no larger than 14" I'd just use 3/4 plywood. If this is
just a six sided box, that is not open, the sides will give you all
the strength you need and also keep the box square. Just cut the
sizes and glue and staple all 6 sides together. Screw them or nail
them if you don't have a staple gun. If they are going to be covered
there's no need to worry about how they look. If you want to round
the edges so the material covers more easily it might be worth the
effort.
The 3/4 chip board floor on a new home spans nearly 24" so 3/4 plywood
can certainly handle 14" with no problem.
I guarantee they will be strong enough. Any other reinforcement
(assuming the box is nailed on all 6 sides and is made of 3/4
material) IMHO is just overkill. If you need to use 1/2" or 3/8'
material then reinforcement might be needed.


Mike O.

LH

Lew Hodgett

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 5:22 PM

Vince Heuring wrote:

> 14x14x12 before upholstery and feet. So they will slide under the
> glass-topped coffee table when not in use.

> Yup. See the first line of my original post. I'm hoping to get rid of
> a bunch of plywood and other scrap in this project.
>

Based on the above, I'd probably use 3/8" (At least 3 ply)or 1/2"
plywood(At least 4 ply).

Use box joints for the vertical corners and a rabbit for the top and bottom.

This will insure that all corners are 90 degrees and everything is
square if you glue up the entire box in one shot.

Once the glue has set, break all sharp corners with a sander and 40-60
grit paper, then as Norm would say, they are ready for the finishing room.

HTH

Lew

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to Vince Heuring on 08/01/2005 9:17 AM

08/01/2005 11:04 AM


"Edwin Pawlowski" wrote in message

> I'd ass
^^^
LOL ... Seeing as how the "d" and "s" keys are next to each other, OE
obviously did not want you to use "ads" or "asd"?

... hate it when that happens. ;>)

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 11/06/04








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