Car Toolbox Questions

[Matthew Hinton]

Hello.

For my first kreg jig project, I'm building a toolbox to carry around in the car trunk.  Attached are a badly done drawing in paint, along with two graph paper scale drawings of a toolbox design.  I'm planning on using 1x8 yellow pine to build the wood toolbox part.  The gray part would be the 20-24" long pipe that would function as both a removable toolbox handle and a cheater pipe.  Two questions at this point

1) On that 1x8 southern yellow pine, is this too wide for a pocket screw ?

2) What would be the screw spacing ? "The one post said "...we recommend a screw about 2" from each end, and then screws spaced every 6" to 8" along the rest of the board length. You can put screws just in one side of each joint."

so:
facing bottom two screws on each side end ( 2 times 2 = 4)
facing bottom four screw on each long peice (4 times 2 = 8)
vertical axis two screws in each corner (2 times 4 = 8)

For a total of 20 screws ?

[Jay Boutwell]

Matthew, I have reviewed your plans and I see nothing wrong with the pl,ans.  The yellow pine will more that string for your intended use.  The screw spacing is good but can use more screws placed at about 4 inches apart would be a good plan.  Screws are cheap and insure more strength.  For the strongest joint use glue and it should hold more weight in tools that you can get in there.  This type of tote also makes nice boxes for going to and from a job in the house or other location and always makes a nice tote for gardening.  I like the design and have made similar in the past Christmas presents for a young boy or even a grown man or woman.  Be sure to post photos of it when done.  Take some as you build it in stages as they make nice records of the build.  Good luck with the project

[James P. Cottingham]

In addition to what Jay said, make sure you use course screws. Pine is a soft wood and the course screws will hold better.

[Matthew Hinton]

Gentlemen,

I've made a note about the screw type and spacing.  Can't believe I left glue off.  I'll use Titebond II (or similar) as it has some water resistance.

Thanks for the feedback.