Intro
Over the past week, Olisaneme and I constructed a crate. Building the box was a fun time and tough me about putting physical things together. Although I had woodworking experience, I had not stained or used the router before.
Procedure
We started the project by constructing the rectangles from the cut wood before any other process. We decided to measure out the screw holes in the method shown below.
Once we drilled the holes on the flat end, we utilized the corner clamp to drill holes into the other pieces of wood and screw them together utilizing #10 Phillips flathead wood screws.
How we used the corner clamp
After the frames were made, we utilized the 1/8-inch round bit to route all four edges. The reason we made the frames before routing was to ensure a smooth continuation between the connecting parts. Once it was routed, we used the P120 Grit electric sander to smooth the surface.
After assembling the routed and sanded frames, I applied Varathane classic penetrating wood stain to the crate. This was done with a foam brush, then wiping the stain away after 30 seconds. Doing it after the crate was fully assembled was hard as there were some hard-to-reach places; however, I believe we got a more uniform color through the crate because of it. After staining, we left the crate dry.
Once it was stained, we did light sanding with P220 grit to ensure a uniform surface and a smooth finish.
Conclusion
I think building the crate was fun and straightforward. I enjoyed trying to plan the steps of assembly and post-processing before we began to have a plan for the project, which made me have to think about potential issues ahead of time. I am proud of the final crate and believe the look fits the use it will get over the semester.
Clean Workspace
Cost analysis
| Material | Amount | Price | Source |
| Common Wood slats | Area: 12 x 3.5 x 0.656 in x 6 short slats + 16 x 3.5 x 0.656 in x 9 long slats= 308 square inches of 0.656 in wood | $8.31 | Home depot |
| Common wood supports | 2 in. x 4 in. x 2 ft Piece of lumber | $1.54 | Home depot |
| Wood screws | 50 Philips Flat Head Wood Screws No. 10, 1.5in | $10.32 | Home depot |
| Wood Stain | Varathane Classic Penetrating Wood Stain English Chestnut | $7.98 | Home depot |
| Labor time | 12 hours at a $23.98 carpentry salary
(TX average) |
$287.76 | Indeed.com |
| Total | $315.91 |
