Best timber to make camping storage boxes?

[Peter H]

I have a need to make up some storage boxes for camoing gear....to hold everything from cooking gear to lanterns etc etc.

I'm thinking that exterior pine panels might be the way to go. Any suggestions about the thickness required? and is it possible to screw the side of a panel directly into the end of another, or would that not be stable enough?

cheers

Peter

[echnidna]

Traditional scout patrol boxes used to be made of T&G pine flooring with a 35mm square batten in each corner for bolting the flooring to.
But there are good sturdy plastic boxes available these days which makes the effort of a timber box a bit tedious. Have a look at supercheap autos.

[bitingmidge]

Yep, the best timber is plastic!

Light, waterproof, DUSTPROOF!! Also check out Bunnings, BigW, KMart etc.
If you REALLY need to build them, use a exterior grade ply, the thickness will depend on how big and how heavy they will be when complete.

Cheers,

P

[Sturdee]

Traditional scout patrol boxes



I remember those boxes - used to take four scouts to move them when full with gear. :eek: So unless you have scouts with you go for plastic much lighter. :D


Peter.

[Justin]

I'll vouch for the plastic boxes as well - cheap, light, stackable and you dont have to worry if they get wet or have wet things in them. You can even use one for washing up.

I got mine on sale at Bunnings, but you can also find them for a good price at any market or el-cheapo variety store.

Cheers,


Justin.

[vsquizz]

Camping boxes I have are a big plastic trunks in a funny green colour and some plywood boxes that were used to store....what we called Rock'n Roll, little 1/2" things, try surplus stores. Anyway the plyood is 10 mm, does the job but a bit heavy. Anything that doesn't squeak is the go. Beware of some of the cheap plastic containers, they can be too brittle and they melt when you put the camp oven in them:o . (Only heard about that one, never happened to me:rolleyes: )

Plastic containers with lids and that are quite supple are the go. I like a container that can be used as a seat if necassary and doesn't melt when close to the fire:o !. (Never happened to me either)

I used to have a plywood trunk that had some drop down legs. You just slid it out the back of the fourby, legs dropped down and the kitchen was setup:D

Cheers

[echnidna]

If you want storage boxes for canoeing don't use timber boxes. If you hit rough water with timber boxes in a canoe the sharp corners and edges on a timber box can fracture the canoe hull, this is a lot of fun if it happens when you are halfway down the snowy.

The usual thing to use are 20litre or 40 litre plastic drums with large screw on lids. They float if you capsize and still keep everthing dry. As all the edges are rounded they are unlikely to cause hull fractures.

[vsquizz]

If you want storage boxes for canoeing don't use timber boxes. If you hit rough water with timber boxes in a canoe the sharp corners and edges on a timber box can fracture the canoe hull, this is a lot of fun if it happens when you are halfway down the snowy.

The usual thing to use are 20litre or 40 litre plastic drums with large screw on lids. They float if you capsize and still keep everthing dry. As all the edges are rounded they are unlikely to cause hull fractures.
So that never happened to you either Bob?:)


I'm thinking that exterior pine panels might be the way to go. Any suggestions about the thickness required? and is it possible to screw the side of a panel directly into the end of another, or would that not be stable enough?

Peter, screwing through pine into the ends of the other boards will not provide a strong joint. The thinner the board the weaker it will be. It would need to be like 19 mm with a rebate to get some decent strength.

I will post of picture of what you can do with plywood shortly. Cheers

[echnidna]

No that never happened to me, I do other stupid things like get bogged down near the creek when the grass is slippery and have to walk a km just to get the tractor to pull the ute out. OR get the posthole digger caught under a tree root and have to walk a km just to get a crowbar to unscrew the digger out of the rotten hole. Oughta be a law against tree roots growing where you want to dig a hole.

[vsquizz]

We can start the "It never happened to me stupid things I have eerrr heard about forum" but actually I think its been done. Anyway, where were we...are yes canoodling

The best thing is the old plastic water barrels often found in boats with the flares in them and available from Marine Chandlery and camping shops. I have a slightly smaller green one that was an Olive barrel believe it or not. Plastic, bout 5" lid, takes a sleeping bag and a change of clothes with determination. Well and truly water proof and floats long as there is not too many hip flasks in it:D .

But if you really want something out of wood try the basic design of these boxes. They are made from marine ply and very sturdy, had for years, keep my power tools in them at the moment.

Cheers

PS the red saw in the photos is my BunnyZukiPrune fine japanese dovetailing saw:o