Author: Cori_Nicholls, Contributing Editor

After many, many requests, I have decided to post my sketches and materials list for my large pastel box. This pastel box was roughly modeled on The Pastel Briefcase. The box, itself, holds a large number of pastels and keeps the colours separate. The lid can double as a drawingboard and the handle makes it portable enough to take to a workshop. When I first built this box, with my father, we unfortunately did not take photos as we went (we were a bit more concerned with keeping our fingers firmly attached to our hands as we were cutting wood :D ). I have tired to supplement with photos of the different sections, as well as the original sketches I made when designing the box.

Materials List: 2 - 8 ft lengths of 1 X 4 (you will have leftover wood - but at least you'll have enough to build the box and won't have to run back to the store for more wood. I think I have just enough left over from mine to build a larger pochade box out of one of these days....) 4 small corner braces 2 masonite drawing boards (or you could buy sheet masonite and cut to size) Mine were 18 X 24 drawer handle upholstery foam - 1/4 inch for the bottom layer and 1/2 inch for the top; large enough pieces to line the bottom of the box and underside of the lid. 1 inch finishing nails 1/2 inch screws half turn buttons (I couldn't find half turn buttons, so we cut down full ones with a dremel tool - but I hear the half buttons are available) thin strips of wood (you could use Balsa wood. Mine are actually the wood strips that are in the bottom of roll blinds - my parents have a secondhandstore and they had some unsaleable blinds so we harvested the wood) Stain Varnish

Tools List: This project does require that you have some woodworking tools. You might be able to convince the nice boys at Home Depot to do this cutting, though, if you don't happen to have the larger tools kicking areound the garage. Table saw Circular mitre saw Hammer Screw gun paint brush Glue Where to Buy Stuff: The majority of the materials can be picked up at your local do it yourself shop. I spent a good half hour scouring my local Home Depot. The turn buttons were with the picture framing supplies. The boards were in the lumber section (look for boards with few knots in them). the rest of the hardware can be found in the hardware section usually. Foam can be purchased at an upholstery shop or at a well stocked fabric store. It isn't that expensive at all. If you have questions about other materials - please use the thread associated with this article to post them. That way I can answer the questions all in one place.

This first step is going to seenm a bit convoluted, but it is necessary. When you buy a 1 X4, typically it is under those sizes. You will need to cut about 1 inch from the entire length of the boards. This will bring it down to about 2.5 inches wide. You could just get a 1 X2, but then it might be too narrow to actually make it usable with your pastels. Next step...Using your table saw, cut two grooves down the entire length of the board. One of these grooves will be along the very top edge. The other will be about a quarter inch or so up from the bottom. The grooves do not need to be very deep - about a quarter inch will do. The first groove is for the lid of the box to rest on. The bottom groove is for the masonite bottom to rest securely in and will provide a more secure bottom for your pastel box once it is assembled. The photo at the left shows what the profile should look like when you are done. Careful with those fingers when you cut!

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