How Wooden Crates Are Made
Choosing Your Wood The first step is deciding what kind of wood you want to make your crates out of.
Cedar and pine are popular choices, with pine probably being a bit easier to work with.
To make one crate you will first need: • (12) 1x4 boards that are three feet long • (12) 1x4 boards that are two feet long These boards will be the ends and sides of your crate.
Next, you will need: • (4) 2x4 boards that are two feet long.
These will be the corner braces of the crate.
Getting Started Put a couple of the 2x4's down on a flat surface.
Next put (6) of the three foot 1x4's on the 2x4's.
Make sure you have the ends flush with the outer edges of the 2x4's.
Now you will screw the 1x4's and the 2x4's together.
I recommend using 1 1/2 inch wood screws for this.
Repeat the above steps on the other side of the crate.
Connecting the Sides Now it's time to connect the two sides.
Do this by screwing the two foot long 1x4's to the edges of the 2x4's.
To complete the bottom you will need (6) three foot long 1x4's and (4) two foot long 1x4's.
Place the three foot long boards on the open section of the crate, and make sure the edges of each board are flush with the outside.
Next, place (1) of the two foot long boards on the end, and then screw it to each of the boards and finally to the ends of the 2x4's.
I recommend 1" screws for this step.
Repeat the same steps on the other end, and finish by adding the two leftover boards to the middle to provide stability and support.
Finishing Up Next, you will have to measure the inside edges of the crate before cutting 2x4's to go inside.
Screw the side boards and bottom end to the 2x4's.
For a lid, you can repeat the process you used to make the bottom, or hinge the lid if you prefer.
Staining Your Crates Your crates will be much more attractive if you stain them.
The process is quick and simple, and is detailed below.
First choose a work area and get a drop cloth for protection.
Use a paintbrush to apply the stain, and be sure to stroke in the direction of the wood grain.
Keep a wet edge at all times, and apply as much stain as the wood will take.
Once you've stained the entire crate, wait about half an hour.
When the time is up, run a dry paintbrush over the crate to remove any excess stain.
Penetrating stains will not dry hard, but any stain that is not absorbed may become sticky, and could be pulled off by anything that comes in contact with the crate.
Get Creative This is the recipe for a basic wooden crate.
Depending on your final use, you may want to dress yours up a bit more.
You could use paint instead of stain, adhere decorative items to the outside of the crate, or have an artist paint images on them.
Cedar and pine are popular choices, with pine probably being a bit easier to work with.
To make one crate you will first need: • (12) 1x4 boards that are three feet long • (12) 1x4 boards that are two feet long These boards will be the ends and sides of your crate.
Next, you will need: • (4) 2x4 boards that are two feet long.
These will be the corner braces of the crate.
Getting Started Put a couple of the 2x4's down on a flat surface.
Next put (6) of the three foot 1x4's on the 2x4's.
Make sure you have the ends flush with the outer edges of the 2x4's.
Now you will screw the 1x4's and the 2x4's together.
I recommend using 1 1/2 inch wood screws for this.
Repeat the above steps on the other side of the crate.
Connecting the Sides Now it's time to connect the two sides.
Do this by screwing the two foot long 1x4's to the edges of the 2x4's.
To complete the bottom you will need (6) three foot long 1x4's and (4) two foot long 1x4's.
Place the three foot long boards on the open section of the crate, and make sure the edges of each board are flush with the outside.
Next, place (1) of the two foot long boards on the end, and then screw it to each of the boards and finally to the ends of the 2x4's.
I recommend 1" screws for this step.
Repeat the same steps on the other end, and finish by adding the two leftover boards to the middle to provide stability and support.
Finishing Up Next, you will have to measure the inside edges of the crate before cutting 2x4's to go inside.
Screw the side boards and bottom end to the 2x4's.
For a lid, you can repeat the process you used to make the bottom, or hinge the lid if you prefer.
Staining Your Crates Your crates will be much more attractive if you stain them.
The process is quick and simple, and is detailed below.
First choose a work area and get a drop cloth for protection.
Use a paintbrush to apply the stain, and be sure to stroke in the direction of the wood grain.
Keep a wet edge at all times, and apply as much stain as the wood will take.
Once you've stained the entire crate, wait about half an hour.
When the time is up, run a dry paintbrush over the crate to remove any excess stain.
Penetrating stains will not dry hard, but any stain that is not absorbed may become sticky, and could be pulled off by anything that comes in contact with the crate.
Get Creative This is the recipe for a basic wooden crate.
Depending on your final use, you may want to dress yours up a bit more.
You could use paint instead of stain, adhere decorative items to the outside of the crate, or have an artist paint images on them.
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