My cousin had a baby last year and asked me to build a toybox so they might get part of their living room back. I'm getting ready to sell my house so I don't have the time to leave a mess from a project for weeks, so I went the quick and cheap route. Pine and pocket screws. It's probably the only furniture piece I've used screws on.
I went to lowes and bought 20"x48"x3/4" boards to save time and that pretty much determined the dimensions I end up using. The interior bottom is just a piece of 1/8" luan board, but I think I have enough bracing under it for strong support. The box is glued and screwed. Pockets are on the inside and filled with plugs. The trim pieces (including the legs) were glued and tacked in place with a brad nailer. Though I used type 3 glue and should be plenty strong, in hindsight I should have at least used some dowels on the legs for added support to the box. When I did the rail around the lid I used dowels. I softened all the edges including the trim with a sander. I have sat on it and the legs didn't break, so that's a good sign. (and I'm not a light fellow)
For finishing, I prepped with an oil conditioner then used oil-based minwax expresso (color was her suggestion). I hate staining pine, I can't just rub it all on and be done with it. Some spots I had to leave set longer with thick coat so it would look more even, despite using the conditioner. Top coat is minwax one-coat poly semi-gloss. It's thick cloudy stuff, looks like glue. Only took a day before my own kid dropped his apple juice all over. Good to know the finish is juice proof and wiped up easily!
I didn't stain the inside of the box, its still raw. I might line it with a felt or something, haven't decided. It has handles and two hinges for the lid. Being pine, it's actually quite light for the size of the box. I need to find something that allows the lid to stay up and close softly so it doesn't slam down on tiny fingers.
I went to lowes and bought 20"x48"x3/4" boards to save time and that pretty much determined the dimensions I end up using. The interior bottom is just a piece of 1/8" luan board, but I think I have enough bracing under it for strong support. The box is glued and screwed. Pockets are on the inside and filled with plugs. The trim pieces (including the legs) were glued and tacked in place with a brad nailer. Though I used type 3 glue and should be plenty strong, in hindsight I should have at least used some dowels on the legs for added support to the box. When I did the rail around the lid I used dowels. I softened all the edges including the trim with a sander. I have sat on it and the legs didn't break, so that's a good sign. (and I'm not a light fellow)
For finishing, I prepped with an oil conditioner then used oil-based minwax expresso (color was her suggestion). I hate staining pine, I can't just rub it all on and be done with it. Some spots I had to leave set longer with thick coat so it would look more even, despite using the conditioner. Top coat is minwax one-coat poly semi-gloss. It's thick cloudy stuff, looks like glue. Only took a day before my own kid dropped his apple juice all over. Good to know the finish is juice proof and wiped up easily!
I didn't stain the inside of the box, its still raw. I might line it with a felt or something, haven't decided. It has handles and two hinges for the lid. Being pine, it's actually quite light for the size of the box. I need to find something that allows the lid to stay up and close softly so it doesn't slam down on tiny fingers.