How to Build a Wooden Toolbox

An 18-inch toolbox is long enough to carry a small hand saw and other essential tools but remember, you can tailor these dimensions to suit your needs.

From a 1- x 10-inch 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.

From a 1- x 5-inch board:

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

From a 1-inch dowel:

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

Tip: Use a combination square or speed square to ensure your cut lines are square.

Dress up 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 the top edge on both sides.
• Connect the two marks at each corner.
• Use a hand saw to cut off the corners along those 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 centered on an end board, 2-inches down from its top edge.
• Clamp the two end pieces on top of each other, keeping the reference mark visible.
• Drill straight down at the mark, just until the point of the drill bit emerges on the other side.
• Remove the drill and flip the clamped pieces over.
• Insert the tip of the spade bit into the small exit point and continue drilling to complete the hole through both end pieces.
• Check that the dowel fits into the holes.

Sand any rough edges, if desired, and dry-fit the pieces before assembly.

Mark a reference line 3/8-inch from the bottom edges of pieces that will be nailed. This will help ensure that the 2-inch box nails are aligned to penetrate the center of the adjoining board.

Tip: Start the nails while the board is flat to make assembly easier.

• 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 glue that squeezed out.

• Repeat for the second end piece.

• Turn the toolbox on its side and apply a bead of wood glue along the bottom edge and 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 glue that squeezed out.

• 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.

• Center the handle so that it extends the same amount beyond both end pieces.

• Hammer one nail from the top of each end piece to fasten the handle into position.