Hey everyone, back again with another update from my fabrication and prototyping class! So, this week’s challenge was constructing a wooden box using 1×4 and 2×2 lumbers. Our goal was to make a top-open design measuring 12″ in height, with 16″x 12″ dimensions on the sides. Our starting materials were uncut wood pieces, which we transformed into 9 sections of 1×4 lumber each 14.5″ long, 6 more at 12″, and another 4 pieces of 2×2 lumber each 11″ long. The OEDK provided us with a variety of tools to tackle this project. Pablo (who was the woodworking expert between the two of us) and I got hands-on with the drill, orbital sander, router, and clamps.
building the base of the wooden box
Our initial attempt was a bit of a struggle. We made a mistake on the bottom assembly, leading to a base that didn’t fit quite right. A quick redo, unscrewing, and re-attaching, sorted that out. After solving that hiccup, we pieced together the base and the layered sides of our box design.
Clamping the box to drill the next portions of the wooden box
Sanding was next. We began with a 180-grit sandpaper, progressing to a finer 300-grit. The result was a supremely smooth, refined wood texture. Here’s where Ravi, another classmate, stepped in with a quick router tutorial – seriously very good for refining those edges.
The wooden box almost done
For our assembly the 11″ pieces became our base foundation. Layer by layer, we built upwards until we hit the desired 11″ height. Finishing touches involved some wood oils. Externally, we applied black polish oil, giving the box a rich brown color, while the inside got a coat of teak oil, giving a more natural look.
Applying oil to the wooden box
Pablo and I were happy with our final product. A sleek box with a buttery-smooth surface. This exercise was very useful; woodworking and drilling aren’t just class tasks, they’re real-world, handy skills.
Cost Analysis:
| Item | Unit Cost/Rate | Quantity/Usage | Total Cost |
| 1×4 Lumber | $3.38 per 8 feet | 17 feet | 7.18 |
| 2×2 lumber | $4.00 per 12″ | 48″ | 16 |
| Labor | $23.49 per hour | 6 hours | 93.96 |
| Sand paper | $0.13 per sand disc | 4 discs | 0.52 |
| Teak oil | $17 per bottle | 10% of the bottle | 1.7 |
| Wax Polish Black Bison | $34.90 per tin | 10% of the tin | 3.49 |
| Wood Screws | $0.080 per screw | 48 screws | 3.87 |
| Total Cost | 126.72 |
As the tools were giving by the OEDK I assumed that the person doing the box will have their own tools.
