DIY Wooden Toolbox

With the 1" x 10" x 8' board:

Measure, mark and cut one 18-inch piece for the bottom of the toolbox.

Measure, mark and cut two 12-inch pieces for the ends of the toolbox.

With the 1" x 5" x 8' board:

Measure, mark and cut two 19-1/2-inch pieces for the sides of the toolbox.

With the 1" x 72" dowel:

Measure, mark and cut one 22-inch piece for the toolbox handle.

Sand any rough edges.

Neaten the end pieces by cutting off the corners at an angle.

• Make a mark 3 inches in from both sides of the top edge.
• Make a mark 3 inches down from both sides of the top edge.
• Connect the two marks at each corner.
• Use a hand saw to cut off the corners along lines.
• Repeat for the second end piece.

To make the holes for the handle, use a power drill fitted with a 1-inch spade bit.

• Make a reference mark centred on an end board, 2 inches down from the top edge.
• Drill straight down on the mark, just until the point of the drill bit emerges on the other side.
• Remove the drill and check that the dowel fits into the holes.

Sand any rough edges.

Mark a reference line 3/8 of an inch from the bottom edges of the pieces that will be nailed. This will help ensure that the 1-1/4-inch smooth finishing nails are aligned when penetrating the centre of the adjoining board.

Put a thin bead of wood glue on one end of the bottom piece. Align one end piece flush and square with the edge of the bottom piece.

Finish hammering three evenly spaced nails through the end piece to secure it to the bottom piece. Wipe away any excess glue.

Repeat for the second end piece.

Turn the toolbox on its side and apply a bead of wood glue along the bottom edge. Repeat a few inches up the edge of the end pieces.

Align one side piece flush with the bottom and end pieces.

Finish hammering five evenly spaced nails through the side piece to secure it to the bottom and end pieces. Use two more nails on each end of the end pieces. Wipe away any excess glue.

Flip the box on its other side and repeat to attach the second side piece.

Insert the dowel through the holes made for the handle.

Centre the handle so that it extends evenly beyond both end pieces. Hammer one nail from the top of each end piece to fasten the handle into position.

If desired, stain the toolbox with the wood stain of your choice.

In this DIY we have used a Golden Oak wood stain.

Once the stain has been applied, leave to dry.

You are done!