For the crate assignment, I worked independently to build a 16” x 12” x 12” wooden crate designed for storage. It’s a lot of effort, but I gained valuable hands-on experience with woodworking and building a functional object from raw materials.
Process
I began by gathering the materials: 11 x 14.5″ pieces of 1×4 lumber, 7 x12″ pieces of 1×4, and 5 x 11″ pieces of 2×2. I cut each of these myself, making four extra pieces as backups in case of mistakes, which turned out to be very useful later. After cutting, I ran all the pieces through the planer to smooth the surfaces and ensure consistent thickness. I then checked the lengths and carefully sanded the edges so that all pieces were at the desired dimensions.
Figure 1. Cut Wood
Figure 2. Planed Wood
Next, I cut out the handle shapes on two of the 11″ pieces of lumber using the scroll saw. After sanding the handles smooth, I began assembling the bottom rectangle and the two upper frames. To keep the corners square, I used a corner clamp, and to avoid bumps from nail heads sticking out, I applied the countersinking method. During this process, I ran into a lot of alignment and screw-driving issues, but my extra pieces of wood allowed me to correct mistakes and continue. Through trial and error, I was able to assemble the frames with accuracy that was within a tolerable margin.
Figure 3. Bottom and Upper Frames
I then decided to paint the 11″ corner rods blue and white as I wanted to add some color while still keeping the main body in its natural wood tone. While waiting for the paint to dry, I used the table router to route the bottom rectangle and the two upper frames. For the bottom piece, I used a smaller router bit, and for the upper frames I switched to a larger one. It took me quite a while to figure out how to change the router bit on the table router, but I managed it and the finished edges turned out uniform.
Figure 4. Painted Rods
Figure 5. Table Routing
After that, it was time to things together. The assembly process went more smoothly this time, likely thanks to the practice and experience I had gained earlier. I calculated the spacing needed between the three frames and used a piece of scrap wood with some popsicle sticks to create a makeshift spacer, which ensured the gaps were even. I also corrected minor alignment issues with a handheld sander, which made the connection parts nice and clean.
Figure 6. Spacer Piece
Figure 7. Assembled Crate
Lastly, I applied tung oil to finish the whole thing. I liked that the oil was almost transparent so that the natural color and grain of the wood were well preserved. I let it dry for about 20 hours outdoors.
Figure 8. Oiled Crated
Wooden crate completed.
Figure 9. Wooden Crate
Cleaned Workspace
Cost Breakdown
- Raw Materials
14.5″ 1×4 Lumber – 11 : $15
12″ 1×4 Lumber – 7 : $8
11″ 2×2 Lumber – 5 : $6
1.5” Screws – 54 : $10
Paint : $3
Tung Oil – 70 ml : $5
- Tools (based on usage time)
Miter Saw : $5
Planer : $5
Scroll Saw : $3
Drill : $10
Table Router : $5
Sander : $5
- Labor
10 Hours – $10 per hour : $100
Total Cost: $180
Reflection
Through this project, I completed a functional wooden crate and learned several lessons about woodworking. I realized that it is a good practice to check all the dimensions before assembling, as seemingly small errors can accumulate and create a large gap later. I also found that the object should be firmly clamped before any drilling or screw driving is done. In addition, I gained a better understanding of how to handle mistakes when they unfortunately happen. Instead of panicking, it is better to stay calm, think of solutions, and fix them to the best of my ability. Overall, this was a meaningful and enjoyable experience, and I’m grateful to everyone who helped along the way.
