How to Make a Simple Wooden Box with Mortised Hinges

This video details how to make a simple wooden box and is perfect for one of your first time woodworking projects. These little projects are great for learning how to make a jewelry box or a simple keepsake box. Sometimes you just need a simple walnut box or a maple box for a place to dump your pockets at the end of the day.
Tools Used during this build:
Starbond CA Glue: amzn.to/2VgVSkL
Amana Tool Mini Chamfer Bit: amzn.to/2yhlX5r
Woodpeckers Edge Rule: amzn.to/2LA7VUZ
Bessey Clamps: amzn.to/32P6tmT
Self Centering Bit: amzn.to/2JL3vZe
Amana Prestige Table Saw Blade: amzn.to/2Sx7GKW
Mamba Miter Saw Blade: amzn.to/2YgppI5
Painters Tape: amzn.to/2YhSBOU
Shellac: amzn.to/2YfpJqc
Foam Brush: amzn.to/2M2IR8C
Delta Cruzer Miter Saw: amzn.to/2y68H3f
Micro jig Grr-ripper: amzn.to/2MM2svE
Micro jig Pushblocks: amzn.to/2MKUmTV
Delta Table Saw: amzn.to/2T5AKN5
Canon T6i DSLR: amzn.to/2EgiiHx
Canon EF 28-135mm f/3 Zoom Lens: amzn.to/2H1HaWw
Blue Snowball Ice USB Mic: amzn.to/2Yaulhj
Follow: / c
Instagram: / penaltyboxwoodshop
Website: www.penaltyboxwoodshop.com/
List of all my tools: www.penaltyboxwoodshop.com/tools

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

What wood combination would you choose for your box?

[@puntermaster]

I just used 1x6 Maple from Home Depot with dovetails on a variant of this. I like your style though as it has less weight than mine. Baltic Birch for the bottom panel

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you! The Baltic for the bottom is a smart way to save some nicer wood!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

@bnelson313 Awesome! That will look great!

[@sandrabulluck1896]

I’m not sure? I’m just starting out! But I love walnut and cedar. So maybe those might look good together??

[@sandrabulluck1896]

Oh, and I meant Black Walnut!

[@williammorris671]

I like the idea that you used two miter gages instead of a sled. It's a simple box but a very great video and the box turned out nice.

[@gpdoyon]

Your method for cutting angles on the table saw using a scrap piece of wood alone was worth it's weight in African Blackwood!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

😂 Thanks man!

[@donnymcarter]

Beautiful box with beautiful wood! Awesome video with great tips! Thanks Jesse!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Donny Carter Thanks Donnie! These are definitely my favorite kinds of projects!

[@ronbaker1280]

I like using the router for mortised hinges. Great video!

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Beautiful look to it.

[@woodsniffer]

That’s awesome directions thanks for posting

[@theprodigalcarpenter2702]

Beautiful work and great instructions. Thank you for sharing!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+The Prodigal Carpenter Thank you, I really appreciate the kind comment!

[@Raven-rl7gj]

Beautiful!

[@MoscaWoodworking]

that maple is stunning. good combination of woods man

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Mosca Woodworking Thank you so much! Some of my favorite figured maple that I’ve seen

[@caryr.7089]

That’s a beautiful box man. The maple. I never thought wood grain wood give me the fizz like it does!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Hahaha thank you! I loved that maple

[@richragan4810]

Again I learn stuff, simple stuff I hadn't thought of. CA glue to hold hinges! Beautiful simple ideas. Really like the way you cut the miters so simple and so accurate Jess. Beautiful little box. Thanks again!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks Rich! It’s hard to hold those hinges in place so I thought of that solution. Thanks as always for your support!

[@ralphdiniz1506]

Beautiful box

[@bentswoodworking]

That’s a great looking box!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Bent's Woodworking Thanks Jason! Preciate it buddy!

[@JohnColgan.]

Beautifully done. The shellac popped the grain a treat. Front face of the box looked like a mountain scene with hills & trees ...maple of course!!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks John! My son still has this box in his room and loved it

[@VegardKlaus]

Thanks for this. Nice explanation to an issue I’ve wondered how to solve the best way!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Awesome! Thanks for taking the time to leave a kind comment!

[@Nolimit1331]

Very elegant box. Great video and I am definitely going to try this. Keep posting!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you!!!

[@chrissis111]

Beautiful box. Fantastic workmanship. Thanks for sharing

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you, sir! And thanks for the kind comment!

[@itsthebullockfamily]

Looks fantastic!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you, friend! I was really happy with it for sure.

[@vilod]

Thanks for the simple box build. Very helpful.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

👍👍👍👍

[@sandrakicklighter2735]

Goodness, you do have a lot of power tools.

[@jordanframe2981]

Gorgeous box, and such a great, clear presentation. Love the miter approach on the table saw

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you!

[@nperson]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop How did you get the dimensions the same on the table saw without a stop block?

[@azbowhunter1219]

Love your work!!!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you!

[@sandrabulluck1896]

Oh, and first time here! I subscribed! Love how this box turned out and it didn’t look too hard to make! Many blessings to you and your family! Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks Sandra! I appreciate the support and merry Christmas to you and yours as well!

[@grbroussard]

Looks awesome!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! Boxes are one of my favorite things to make!

[@kumabeast7745]

Thanks. I've been hunting for a clear explanation. This is the best I have found.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you and I’m glad it was helpful!

[@LazyLabAcres]

Super clean video Jesse, well done!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you, Joe! I appreciate that brother.

[@edwardrowekamp2485]

Got some great ideas from your construction techniques. Don't have all the tools you have but I can make it work. Thanks for a great video

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you I really appreciate that! It can definitely be done with a basic set of tools. 👍

[@KnottHeadCustomSawingFabWorx]

Gotta love the tape trick when it works out good! Sometimes our shop is too messy to find the tape! lol...

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+KnottHead Custom Sawing & FabWorx hahahah I know that feeling!!! Yea it works great!

[@briankinnaman6532]

Man, this looks amazing! I want to make a small jewelry/doll toy box for my 5yo daughter and this seems perfect. As always, great work and thanks for sharing your skill and creativity!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks Brian! Hope it was a helpful video!

[@derekdodson5623]

Cool box. Thanks!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

👊👍

[@WalkersWoodworks]

Awesome tips man. I would have to go with walnut and something spalted.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks. man! Walnut tends to find its way in almost all of my projects!

[@artrobert0875]

Great work and great video.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you!!!!

[@timphillips142]

I like making Box's thanks.

[@daikimoto6725]

It's great! Simple the best! Thank you so much for your so good instruction! I think so important, to make a easy one exactly. It's bases for everything. I'm a musician and always say, play easy one and express feeling.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chm1701]

Nice 👍 I don’t have any power tools to do something similar, but I can still put this into practice from a hand tool perspective. Really nice results and I like the chunkier look of your box too.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

I love that perspective and I appreciate that, chris!

[@crzxm]

I'm trying to make a box with hand tools too.

[@lauracolorstoo]

Great video!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! 👊👊👊

[@raniasalmeen]

Very enjoyable.. I love it

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you!

[@tombeck2792]

For shellac, I would recommend a bristle brush made for shellac, and 1st coat thinned 50/50 with denatured alcohol. 2nd coat 75/25 and 3rd coat full shellac.

[@mahmoodandam.professionalp611]

very nice

[@cabman86]

I found a 1/2" thick sheet of tempered glass in the trash one day. I used spray adhesive to glue the sandpaper down. It works so well!

[@samvaldivia3933]

Great vid JP. Mortises don't scare me!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Sam Valdivia Nothing scares Sammy Eggplant! Hahaha Thanks Sam, I appreciate it brother.

[@dennisdownes9319]

Very nice! DD

[@ATONAL6173]

Awesome, friend! I just tried to build one after finally getting some awesome black cherry from my mother in law split out, dried, and machined flat. I studied Jay Bates and the fifty other KZbinrs and web plans and dove in, turned out kinda weird and wonky I said, "Hmmm... Pretty Little Boxes are harder than they look", because of first timer forgetting a couple things, but also having to interpret some of the details from other instructions. And then I am served up yours and I spot a couple of my mistakes and see my workflow more clearly now because you filled in some details for me. Thanks for taking the time to be clear about everything, some of us need that!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Oh man, I love seeing comments like this! Glad the build was successful and the video was helpful!

[@shanesmith9936]

Great video sir made me subscribe

[@scubanplz]

Great video! I am making a box from zebra wood and purple heart

[@heyimamaker]

Awesome work! You sound so much like Jay Bates :)

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! Hahaha Well, he taught me a lot about woodworking through his KZbin videos so I’ll definitely take that as a comment!

[@heyimamaker]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop Good :)

[@randsipe224]

Love shelac.

[@myhoneyshandmade1077]

nice one.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+My Honey's Handmade Thank you! 👊👊

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+My Honey's Handmade Thanks! 👊👊

[@cratepalletbidifu]

Good!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks!!!!

[@Jonathanrobertsjr]

Love this video, I’ve been working on a project and I need your help.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! What do you need?

[@Jonathanrobertsjr]

Is there anyway I can email you, what you to see the vision I’m creating for the jewelry box

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

@@Jonathanrobertsjr [e-mail]

[@Jonathanrobertsjr]

Email sent

[@JenEricRalston]

Great detailed video. Thank you! Loved the tip with the sandpaper & CA glue. I haven’t seen that before. What would you use to cut the top off if you didn’t have a bandsaw? Could get tricky needing four cuts. Would it be safe to do on a 12” sliding mitre saw? Thanks!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! Before I had my bandsaw I used my table saw to make those cute. Raise the blade just more than the thickness of the wood and make four passes

[@JenEricRalston]

Penalty Box Woodshop Thank you!

[@OldGuyWoodworks]

I would use any wood that I could line with Spanish Cedar. Nice video. By the way, I started using the Ti6.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Old Guy Woodworks I need to get some of that Spanish cedar for projects like this. I really think your gonna love the T6i!

[@OldGuyWoodworks]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop Oops! T6i. Auto focus is messing with me though. I like your editing and voice over. Sounds great.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

@@OldGuyWoodworks Thank you, I edited this video with Adobe Premiere and it was my first time using that software. I had used imovie up until now. If you download the Cannon app it will really make taking action photos a lot easier and allows you to transfer video and pics directly to your phone.

[@BYYoseph]

The chamfer also helps to hide if the top is a tad misaligned from perfect from the top. I'm currently making a pistol display case but will have two rustic hasps on the front otherwise I would also be using the chamfered edge.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

That’s exactly right! I made a pistol display case as well and have a KZbin video on it. Loved that project!

[@redcharlotte]

Thank you for this video! What were the little bump like things you used on the bottom of the box? Can you share a link? thank you!

[@stupidfastgt5801]

Is chamfer bit same as round over?

[@lynxlady5355]

Loved the project! Is there a way to make this box without a table saw?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Well, what tools do you have?

[@brandonmunday3130]

Very nice! Approximately, how long did this take to build? From start to finish.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks, just a few days working on it on and off with dry time and everything.

[@krisbabic89]

Missing you buddy! Podcast and videos. I know life gets crazy for sure though. Something has to take a backseat so family comes first. Hope all is well with you and your family!

[@Adam-cn9tn]

Is it okay how deep you cut out for the hinges I thought it had to be flush? Could be a stupid question 😂

[@tylerclem823]

Which is better plywood or MDF?

[@terristroh3965]

Nice maple! What brand of bandsaw is that?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

+Terri Stroh Thanks!!! It’s a Laguna and I really love it.

[@randsipe224]

You really aught to try band clamps for gluing up your boxes instead of fighting with individual clamps that apply uneven pressure. I was skeptical but now I’m sold. Far better than 8 clamps.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Will have to try those out! Thanks!

[@fdc313]

what blade are you using on the bandsaw, please? Subscribed and turned on notifications

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thank you for the support! It’s a Wood Slicer Resaw Bandsaw Blade

[@fdc313]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop I Appreciate the info

[@montereese4811]

What blade (width and tpi) did you use to resaw the walnut?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

It’s a half inch width wood miser blade. I do not recall the tpi but I’ll check

[@hotsnottatertot5451]

I need router, don't I? Someone is just going to have to explain this to my wife!

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Hahaha Yes you need a router but don’t tell her I said that!!!! In all seriousness you don’t need a router for this. Do you have a small block plane?

[@ajhubbell3754]

Sorry, but you need two routers. One for a router table and one for hand held use. I might need a third.......

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

😂🤣😂🤣

[@frankjahrling9238]

I'm confused on the hinge depth.. You said to cut the hinges one-half of the depth of the closed hinge. A close-up of the hinge in the slot shows otherwise. Seems like the depth should be the width of the closed hinge? Nice video. Enjoyed it a lot.

[@kevinhilton8683]

Yea I don't understand this either

[@duczman76]

not bad to cut the board for the lid and bottom into 2 pieces on the band saw without using the fence.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Thanks! I love my bandsaw!

[@duczman76]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop no problem.i see that u love & definitely can handle it.if i would have cut the board it would have been wavy or 2 wedges

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

duczman 76 hahah I’ve done plenty that way as well!

[@duczman76]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop 🤔 somehow me and band saws can't really work properly 2gether

[@duczman76]

i think it's more the lack of Practice i have with band saws - 🤔maybe they weren't the best or it's a mix of both,that's most likely

[@sandrabulluck1896]

Did you sand after each coat of shellac?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

I do a very light sanding between with high grit paper or I use 000 steel wool.

[@woodsniffer]

I didn’t see humidor in your video’s?

[@randsipe224]

Walnut is expensive? But figured maple is not? I would have re sawed that to 1/2” as well. I used to use 3/4 “ stock for through dovetails. Screw that. Most people don’t know the difference between a hand cut dovetail and a box joint in 1/2” stock and they certainly are not willing to pay for the difference in workmanship. Mitered sides with a fake dovetail key is the way to go.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

👊👊👊

[@shrutidabhi9345]

U need all these machines?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Yep!

[@yaaa-dm5by]

can u do the measurements of the box ?in the comment section?

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Sure

[@cadesmoove595]

@@PenaltyBoxWoodshop I would like them also!

[@labrat7357]

I hope you made sure that they creators of the worm hole were eradicated. Just putting on a finish does not kill them if they are still present.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

Yep, they gone

[@stevenlengyel9701]

I don’t have a band saw

[@stevenlengyel9701]

And I don’t have a thickness planner

[@TheMrWoodsman]

Have you stopped making videos

[@rajeev9397]

With all modern machinery, u r teaching a layman how to make a 'simple' box...

[@randsipe224]

So why did you waste that walnut on the bottom after saying how precious it is? I use the shittiest wood I can find for that. Maybe it’s because I live in SW Florida. It’s soooo frustrating here to find decent hardwoods at a reasonable price here. Ugg!

[@kampbadam295]

sir, you seem to use a lot of power tools. What happened to real handy work

[@lobo2299]

Simple?!

[@dadawbs516]

How to make a simple wooden box with only 1000s of dollars worth of equipment.

[@PenaltyBoxWoodshop]

I didn’t say “how to make a wooden box without using tools”

[@user-vp2qq2bq9f]

Очень грубая работа.

[@m0niker]

nice box and all, but not to be rude... first woodworking project? If you're going to make a "first woodworking project" video, why make one that includes thousands of dollars of power tools? Lol. Most people looking for their first woodworking project are not looking for one that includes the use of expensive saws etc. That makes the whole thing seem wayyy more daunting. If you want to make an actual "first woodworking project" video, maybe consider these things. I looked this up bc i wanted to build a small, simple box with minimal tools, you know, as a beginner. But in the video all i see are expensive table saws etc...that definitely aren't needed, but it'd be nice to have a video for people like me. Cheers

[@yurakovalec7292]

My husband used these plans from woodglut website and he is very pleased.