How To Make Firewood Storage Boxes
With the right plans, materials, and equipment, you can construct this simple Firewood Storage Box, as shown here.
Materials:
- 3/4" Thick x 24" Wide x 96" Finished Plywood: Two Pieces for the Front, Back, Two Sides, and Bottom Panels
- 1" x 1" x 96" Hardwood: Two pieces for the Four Corners, Interior Four Braces, Bottom Skids, and Finishing Edges
- 1" Wood Screws: 1/8 lb.
- 1 1/4" Wood Screws: 1/8 lb.
- 1 1/4" Kreg Screws: 1/8 lb.
- Sandpaper
- Wood Filler and Glue
- Satin Finish Polyurethane Poly
Tools:
- Table Saw
- Belt Sander or 120 grit sandpaper and a block (320 grit for finish sanding)
- Tape Measure
- Pencil
- Miter Saw
- 3/4" Dado Blade and Saw
- Power Drill with DeWalt 9/64 Tapered Bit with Plug Cutter
- Router with Round-over Bit
- Kreg Pocket Hole System
- Screw Gun
- Two Clamps: Bar Clamps and a Gripping Clamp
- Hammer
Step 1: Cut the Firewood Box Pieces - Determine the desired size of your box or use the dimensions provided here
- Select the 2' x 8' Plywood Panel: Crosscut and sand the Front, Back, and Side Panels per the dimensions above
- Select the 1" x 1" x 96" Hardwood Stock: Cut and sand four pieces @ 24" for the Corner Posts
- Select the Front, Back, and two, Side Panels; Determine the "Interior Side;" Using a 3/4" Dado blade make a 1/2" deep cut along the "bottom, interior" edges to receive the Bottom Panel
- Select the four Corner Posts; Determine the "Interior Corner;" Using a Table Saw, notch the "bottom, interior corner" 3/4" x 1/4" deep
Step 2: Make the Box - Select the Pieces cut in Step 1
- Select the Front, Back, and two Side Panels; Using a Pocket-hole System, drill pocket holes along the interior edges of the panels
- Select the two, Side Panels and four, Corner Posts; Using two Pipe Clamps, clamp two posts to each side and using glue and Kreg Screws, screw the Side Panels to the Corner Posts (Note: the Dado cuts should all be aligned)
- Select the two, Side Panel Assemblies, Front, and Back Panels; Using glue and a Pocket-hole System, attach the Panels to make the Box (Align the interior, dado edges at the bottom)
- Select the Box Assembly; With the Bottom Dado Edges facing up; Check for square by measuring across the corners; Measure the space for the Bottom Panel; Cut the Bottom Panel to size and attach it with glue and screws
- Select the Hardwood Stock; Cut three strips @ 3/4" wide x 1/2" thick x 25" for the three, Bottom Runners; Attach the Runners with glue and screws, as shown above
Step 3: Complete the Box - Select the Box with Bottom in place
- Select the 1 x 1 Hardwood Stock; Cut two pieces @ 23 1/4"; Cut these two in half, diagonally, making four triangular pieces @ 23 1/4" long for the Interior Corner Supports
- Select the four Corner Supports; Attach the four Supports with glue and screws
- Select the 1 x 1 Hardwood Stock; Cut two pieces @ 3/4" wide x 1/2" thick x 25 1/2" (45 degree ends as shown above); Cut two pieces @ 3/4" wide x 1/2" thick x 16 1/2" (45 degree ends as shown above)for the Finishing Pieces of the Top Edges
- Select the 1 x 1 Hardwood Stock; Cut two pieces @ 3/4" wide x 1/2" thick x 18" for the Bottom Spacers; Attach to the Bottom Panel with glue and screws
Step 4: Finish the Firebox - Select the Completed Box
- Fill all holes and cracks with filler; Conduct a final sanding of all surfaces
- Apply poly
Copyright 2013 - Wayne Murray
If you are a member of a non-profit organization and have any requests or suggestions regarding projects for your group, you can send Rod an email at: rodneyg@cheqnet.net
