DIY Chevron Wood box || How To

I’m back today to give a full “How To” on the Chevron Wood Box that I built last week….read about it {here}.  I seriously loving these boxes (love the style, love they are custom and I love how they complete my large Built-in shelves).  For anyone searching for storage bins, I TOTALLY recommend building your own!  Full disclosure…I have no formal training, I know zero technical terms and zero wood working protocols.  I basically I know where the on button is on the saw and how NOT to cut my hand off.  So here is my novice “How To” on a really cool project!


My Custom Chevron Storage Box Supplies and Price Breakdown 

MDF – (I used 3/4″ thick – I would recommend thinner if you can find it) – $10

Chevron Wood – (in plywood section, has a wood grain to it) – $6 for large sheet

Gold Handle – $4 (Ikea)

Total Cost less than $15 per box
My Custom Chevron Storage Box How To:
First I cut all 4 pieces of MDF using a miter saw.  For the box I cut 2-19″ pieces for the front and back and 2 – 9″ pieces for the sides.
Then I secured on with Gorilla Glue starting with sides and then adding the top.

Once dry I used my 18 gauge pneumatic nail gun (used 1 inch finishing nails) nailing on all sides.   I made sure the nails were set in below the wood and then filled in the holes with lightweight spackle.

The wood used for the Chevron design gets cut into smaller pieces (my pieces are cut in 2″ x 8″ pieces – make sure to cut the wood with the grain) then I used 2 colors of wood stain to get the varied color patterns.  No rhyme or reason here, just make sure they are not all looking the same. Paint on and wipe off.

Next take a square and mark your chevron pattern…see below.  Make sure that you are getting a clean 45 degree angle.  I also like to mark the vertical lines to make sure my pattern doesn’t drift in one direction.

Then cut your wood on a 45 degree angle…you will need to cut a 45 in both directions.

Then just start playing with the design, I work left to right. Use the Gorilla Glue to secure on the chevron design.

At a certain point I find that my pieces get a little “custom” and I have to get creative to make the puzzle work!

Once you have completed your design and the glue has dried you can use a jig saw to cut around the edge of the box to “clean it up”.

Then throw on a few coats of polyurethane gloss and add hardware!

My Custom Chevron Storage Box Time Breakdown:
Total time spent was less than 4 hours over 4 days

Day 1: cut wood 45 minutes, 30 minutes glue and staple box;  1 hour 15 minutes
Day 2: stain wood pieces for chevron design; 45 minutes
Day 3: cut and “build” chevron pattern; 1 hour 
Day 4: apply gloss 15 minutes (x’s 2) = 30 min + 15 minutes to add handles;  45 minutes

and one more shot because i just love it so much!

So that’s about it for this project…I hope you enjoyed and stay tuned because we have lots of Laundry Room and Master Bedroom Projects slated for this week!

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