Project Information
I saw this project plan in Wood magazine and instantly knew I had to build it. When making pocket holes in stock wider than a few inches, I'd have to try and hold it flat against the bottom of the Kreg jig while clamping it, and this project takes care of that problem with the support strips on top of the storage box. Inside the box there are little subdivided compartments for storing pocket screws, bits, and whatever else you might need to keep close at hand.
Best thing about this project is that it took about two hours to build and only cost about $9 (I had plenty of plywood scrap, but had to buy the continuous hinge and clasp to keep the box closed). Now, I'm trying to think up another project that uses pocket screw joinery so I have a chance to use it!
The only thing I'd do differently if I built another one would be to use a different type of hinge. The plans in the magazine call for a continuous hinge, but since the continuous hinge isn't mortised, when the box is closed, there is about an 1/8" gap at the back due to the size of the hinge. It's not big enough to cause things in the box to fall out of their compartments, but it visually detracts from the finished project. I'd either use regular hinges and mortise them or use non-mortise hinges.
The plans also call for plywood as the support strips on top of the box, but I didn't want to run plywood through my planer, so I used some scrap oak, which I think looks nicer anyway. I also used four workpiece supports instead of the two that were in the plans. This way, if I'm working with a smaller workpiece, there's a better chance that it'll reach the supports.
Best thing about this project is that it took about two hours to build and only cost about $9 (I had plenty of plywood scrap, but had to buy the continuous hinge and clasp to keep the box closed). Now, I'm trying to think up another project that uses pocket screw joinery so I have a chance to use it!
The only thing I'd do differently if I built another one would be to use a different type of hinge. The plans in the magazine call for a continuous hinge, but since the continuous hinge isn't mortised, when the box is closed, there is about an 1/8" gap at the back due to the size of the hinge. It's not big enough to cause things in the box to fall out of their compartments, but it visually detracts from the finished project. I'd either use regular hinges and mortise them or use non-mortise hinges.
The plans also call for plywood as the support strips on top of the box, but I didn't want to run plywood through my planer, so I used some scrap oak, which I think looks nicer anyway. I also used four workpiece supports instead of the two that were in the plans. This way, if I'm working with a smaller workpiece, there's a better chance that it'll reach the supports.