Kitchen Kit/Chuck Box
- Thread starter jim65wagon
- Start date
Plannerman
Wandering Explorer
I use linseed oil on all of my wood garden tools, as well. It holds up very well and has a beautil warm, deep finish.
HOOLIGAN
The 4x4 Podcast
Nice set up. I saw this one pic and thought "this guy HAS to be from Kansas City". :wavey:
A bunch of stuff has cropped up the last couple weeks so the finishing of this project is going slow.
I'm still looking into the finish. No food will be stored in this but, still, I'd like something that won't be problematic. In the mean time . . .
I got the utensil drawer and another drawer built. As well as fitted the shelves for the "standard" spice-bottle sized items in one of the doors. Latches have been fitted. Some slim profile handles have been fabbed up and fitted to make it easier to lift the chuck box out of the base. And some wooden "guide ramps" have been glued to the inside corners of the base. These help guide the chuck box as it is lowered back into the base for storage so that the hinges don't catch on the base leg panels. It's a small thing, not a big deal . . . but it'll make it just that much easier to pack away. And for the cost of nothing but time (made out of ripped scrap wood) I figured why not.
The utensil drawer (left) and a general use drawer (right). The
notches in the utensil drawer are to allow clearance of the left
door when closed (door fits between utensil drawer and top of
chuck box). And the general use drawer is sized so it fits between
the adjustable shelves when they are two spaces apart.
(spacing is modular)
And the drawer to chuck box tolerances are about 1/16" so that
there is minimal deflection when pulled out for access. No drawer
guides are needed.
Test fitting the drawer into the chuck box. It can be pulled about 3/4 of
the way out and be self-supporting, making accessing contents easy.
The drawers as slid into place in the chuck box.
Oh, and I've started developing a plan set for the project for those interested. It's going to be a little ambitious and hopefully thorough and easy to build for good appearance. I'm trying to arrange the panel cut layout so that the visible pieces are all grain-matched on the exterior surfaces of the chuck box. I'm also trying to sequence and arrange the cut layout for maximum accuracy. The plan set is designed to print on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. And the chuck box should be buildable with some reasonably basic power tools: skill saw, straight edge, router, drill, hammer
Here is a sample of one of the pages.
Right now everything is real rough. I'm just trying to get all the drawings done, later I'll fine tune the text and layout.
.
I'm still looking into the finish. No food will be stored in this but, still, I'd like something that won't be problematic. In the mean time . . .
I got the utensil drawer and another drawer built. As well as fitted the shelves for the "standard" spice-bottle sized items in one of the doors. Latches have been fitted. Some slim profile handles have been fabbed up and fitted to make it easier to lift the chuck box out of the base. And some wooden "guide ramps" have been glued to the inside corners of the base. These help guide the chuck box as it is lowered back into the base for storage so that the hinges don't catch on the base leg panels. It's a small thing, not a big deal . . . but it'll make it just that much easier to pack away. And for the cost of nothing but time (made out of ripped scrap wood) I figured why not.
The utensil drawer (left) and a general use drawer (right). The
notches in the utensil drawer are to allow clearance of the left
door when closed (door fits between utensil drawer and top of
chuck box). And the general use drawer is sized so it fits between
the adjustable shelves when they are two spaces apart.
(spacing is modular)
And the drawer to chuck box tolerances are about 1/16" so that
there is minimal deflection when pulled out for access. No drawer
guides are needed.
Test fitting the drawer into the chuck box. It can be pulled about 3/4 of
the way out and be self-supporting, making accessing contents easy.
The drawers as slid into place in the chuck box.
Oh, and I've started developing a plan set for the project for those interested. It's going to be a little ambitious and hopefully thorough and easy to build for good appearance. I'm trying to arrange the panel cut layout so that the visible pieces are all grain-matched on the exterior surfaces of the chuck box. I'm also trying to sequence and arrange the cut layout for maximum accuracy. The plan set is designed to print on 8 1/2" x 11" paper. And the chuck box should be buildable with some reasonably basic power tools: skill saw, straight edge, router, drill, hammer
Here is a sample of one of the pages.
Right now everything is real rough. I'm just trying to get all the drawings done, later I'll fine tune the text and layout.
.
Last edited:
PKDreamers
Adventurer
Hi,
We would enjoy having a go at building one of your designed chuck boxes it looks great.
Look forward to seeing the plans of it.
We would enjoy having a go at building one of your designed chuck boxes it looks great.
Look forward to seeing the plans of it.
JJBiggs
Supporting Sponsor | SEES
Howdy all...if anyone is interested in one of my box's, I am selling the one I made for myself. Getting ready to build a trailer.
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77217
http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/77217
nwoods
Expedition Leader
Interesting.....
Imnosaint
Gone Microcamping
So many great chuck box designs and craftsmanship. Very impressive. I'm almost embarrassed to post this, but that hasn't stopped me before.
I found cheater-retail set-up at our local Sportman's. Made by Portal, collapses into a pack 18"x6"x32" that stows easily. Erected it has three work surfaces, two of which can be pedestals for a camp stove and a cooler, and the middle surface covers a canvas wash basin. Beneath are two pantries where we stow our kit, gas and lanterns, along with dry and canned goods. A fourth smaller shelf up top is flanked by poles upon which could hang a lantern or a water bladder.
I have several old Pelican cases that I'm repurposing for camping, one of which neatly holds both pantries, two stoves, and an iron grill. It all stays sealed away from dust and heat, and sets up quickly.
I found cheater-retail set-up at our local Sportman's. Made by Portal, collapses into a pack 18"x6"x32" that stows easily. Erected it has three work surfaces, two of which can be pedestals for a camp stove and a cooler, and the middle surface covers a canvas wash basin. Beneath are two pantries where we stow our kit, gas and lanterns, along with dry and canned goods. A fourth smaller shelf up top is flanked by poles upon which could hang a lantern or a water bladder.
I have several old Pelican cases that I'm repurposing for camping, one of which neatly holds both pantries, two stoves, and an iron grill. It all stays sealed away from dust and heat, and sets up quickly.
Alrighty, I've finished the chuck box and the plans are still in development. Here is a look at it in its finished state. I also shot a video yesterday afternoon so you can see how it works. Not that it's terribly complicated.
Features Include
Destructive Testing
Incidentally, I had a scrap base cut and assembled that I didn't need so I decided to do some destructive testing. It was darn hard to break. I beat it on the ground. I jumped on it. Setting it on it's end upright I put all my weight (220 lb.) on the cantilevered legs. Nothing. Then I tried wracking it by putting one of the legs point down and pressing down with all my weight on the diagonal opposite side, repeatedly. That finally did it. Sort of. The corner joints cracked but that was it. I wasn't actually able to rip or break the base into separate pieces. And the base went back to it's regular shape after some severe distortion. It rather surprised me since the legs are simple butt joints, however, the base panel-to-leg connection is a rabbeted joint. But the whole thing is held together with regular finish nails and Titebond III glue.
So, I did manage to break the spare base but I was also impressed with just how much abuse it took from someone actually trying to break it. I feel a lot more confident about the build quality and durability of this chuckbox system.
Finish
There are 5 coats of Daly's Seafin Teak Oil on the chuck box exterior surfaces and at least two on the interior. FWIW, I liked working with this finish. Easy to apply and it helps harden up the wood fibers and looks good. However, it goes on very thin so it takes many coats (as recommended by Daly's) but a little goes a long way.
.
Features Include
- Table height work surface, 29.5" high
- Work surface area of approx. 14" x 34"
- Folds down to 15" x 20" foot print, approx. 18" high
- Stable base that doubles as a carry cradle with handles
- Skeletonizing to shave off approx. 6.5 lb of weight for a total empty weigh of approx. 28 lb.
- Fast, 15 second set up time
- Slot for modest campfire cooking grate
- Storage for two 1 lb. propane canisters
- Self-supporting utensil drawer
- Deep doors which include two spice racks and room for hooks for big serving utensils
- Large main cavity with modular adjustable shelves
- Paper towel roll storage
Destructive Testing
Incidentally, I had a scrap base cut and assembled that I didn't need so I decided to do some destructive testing. It was darn hard to break. I beat it on the ground. I jumped on it. Setting it on it's end upright I put all my weight (220 lb.) on the cantilevered legs. Nothing. Then I tried wracking it by putting one of the legs point down and pressing down with all my weight on the diagonal opposite side, repeatedly. That finally did it. Sort of. The corner joints cracked but that was it. I wasn't actually able to rip or break the base into separate pieces. And the base went back to it's regular shape after some severe distortion. It rather surprised me since the legs are simple butt joints, however, the base panel-to-leg connection is a rabbeted joint. But the whole thing is held together with regular finish nails and Titebond III glue.
So, I did manage to break the spare base but I was also impressed with just how much abuse it took from someone actually trying to break it. I feel a lot more confident about the build quality and durability of this chuckbox system.
Finish
There are 5 coats of Daly's Seafin Teak Oil on the chuck box exterior surfaces and at least two on the interior. FWIW, I liked working with this finish. Easy to apply and it helps harden up the wood fibers and looks good. However, it goes on very thin so it takes many coats (as recommended by Daly's) but a little goes a long way.
.
Driver-Navigator
Explorer
That's pretty sweet. Nice work!