DIY- Open M box (Facsimile) by Doug Jones originally posted as "noobie palette question"
I have noticed some new interest in building prochades and thought this should be brought into the light again because of its title "noobie palette question" it is hidden as a DIY Prochade. This was a great post in 2005 by Doug Jones and many members since 2005 will probably never find these fine instruction for a prochade (because of the title).
About 5 years ago I made a 9 x12 prochade using this thread by Doug and it was relatively easy. One exception, my spring variation was positioned vertically instead of horizontal. I preferred a wider panel width on occasion. I am making a 11 x 14, now, using adjustable torque/tension hinges that will eliminate wing nuts, not a big problem but with aging hands and cold it might make an already great box a little better for me. Need to gather some parts. I will post it in Plein Air when it is completed and I receive new battery for my camera.
Doug's instructions and illustrations follow:
"Hang on guys... don't rush out and buy a bunch of power tools you don't need. (unless you just want some cool power tools) I made my box with nothing more than a hand saw, a portable drill, and a little Black and Decker jigsaw from Wal-Mart. So far it is looking really GOOD! After a coat of Polyurathane (sp?) varnish I will put the hinges on and take a picture. The whole thing has cost me under 50 bucks so far. Not bad when the other box I would be buying cost around $180.
Note: You can probably get your big box store to cut plywood to size for the top and bottom.
OK...Here is how it is looking at this point. The dimensions are 11"x14" and it will hold a 12 inch panel (or smaller). So far I am really happy with how it has turned out. The only thing left is the support arm. I am kind of stumped about that. I like the support that Lemonhead
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...hlight=pochade rigged up. I guess I need to look harder for the parts to make something similar. I would like a good knob to tighten with... or at least some wing nuts. If anyone has some suggestions on what to use or where to find the parts it would be welcomed.
I could put something together about how I made this thing if anyone is interested. Just let me know. Also, I was wondering if I did do a "How I did it" post, should I continue on here... or start a new thread with the instructions?"
"I went with the classic wing nut . I took two 7.5" Stanley lid supports and got something together that seems to work just fine. I used one with the attached swivel end and took the swivel part off the second one.
The key to this box is the wood I found at Home Depot. Next to the "dowels" (round wood of various thicknesses) are "squares" (square wood of various thicknesses). They come in 36" lengths. I used a 3/4" piece for the bottom and some 5/8" for the top. All you have to do is cut it into lengths and glue/screw it together. I found some 3MM (1/8") Baltic Birch plywood at Woodcrafters and cut it up with a little jigsaw. One piece made all four pieces that I needed. Now I just need to get out and give this thing a test drive."
"You asked for it. Here are the inner workings of the box. I got most of the ideas for this from a box on WC built by Lemonhead
http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...hlight=pochade .
PICTURE 1 - I hammered the T-nut into a hole in a 9 MM (3/8") piece of Baltic Birch plywood. I knew I needed something sturdier to support the box than what the box is made of.
PICTURE 2 - I glued and screwed the plywood to the back of the palette box. I put the T-nut on the INSIDE of the wood so it couldn't be pulled out.
PICTURE 3 - The workings of the spring clamp. The wood is the same wood the top frame (palette side) is made of... 5/8" hardwood square dowel. The long pieces are the same length as the box pieces. I cut a small block for the right end that I glued (Elmer's Carpenter wood glue) and clamped together. The spring is a 4 inch spring I found at Home Depot... and I lucked out and found some little eye screws laying around in my miscellaneous junk. The left end is not attached to anything. I sanded it a bit so it would be a little smaller and slide better. The hook on each end is a #110 screw hook square bend... Home Depot. One is screwed into the left block and the other is screwed into the small block.
PICTURE 4 - The mechanism in place in the box. I unscrewed the hook on the right and cut it off and gave it a bend so it would grip the panels better.
I thought about cutting a notch in the left side of my palette side so the spring hook could stretch out beyond the side of the box and hold a little larger panel but finally decided against it. The largest panel I can hold is a 12 inch.
Basically the part I had to pay attention to was getting the boxes put together square. With my crude, rickety miter box, things were off a bit. I found that putting on the plywood panels on the top and bottom helped square things up. I made sure the rectangles were as square as I could get them. Being a commercial artist (old school) I can wield a T-square!
For the slot for the spring clamp, I drilled two holes and then cut between them with a utility knife.... which took a lot of "sawing" but eventually did the trick.
I think this is pretty much everything. I spent a LOT of time thinking all this over and over in my mind, working out problems before I began. I hope now that it is complete I can sleep through the night again"
Here is a list of parts by William:
Lowe's:
- $4.92 Birch plywood 1/4" 2'x2'
- $1.04 T-nut 1/4 20 x 5/16 Hillman #880539 ( This is the smooth flush mount and there is also one with prongs that is hammed in, I prefer the smooth using adhesive.)
- $4.98 Hinge, I used a 1 1/2" x 12" piano hinge.
- $3.48 Spring 2-Resota 5/16x 3 x.028 ( I didn't find the 4" spring today, but I bet it is available somewhere. Maybe Ace. )
- 2-L screws Alambre #10 x 1 x 13/16 ( readily available at Lowes or Home Depot , didn't get price) ( small bags must be scanned to get price.)
- Eye screws ( Many in different quantity pkg. to choose from) ( small bags must be scanned to get price.)
- 5.58 per box Brass screws Madera flat phillips 4x3/4 2.9x19.0 (can be found in smaller quantities for less. ( small bags must be scanned to get price.)
- 9-Long brass screws, Madera round slotted 6x1 1/4 ( small bags must be scanned to get price.)
- $1.30 wire brads Hillman 3/4 x 17 ( not necessary if you have good clamps, I used permanently to hold top and bottom to sides while glue dried.
Home Depot:- $2.35 ea. Square wood dowels 5/8" x 36"
- I forgot to look for for 2 brass wing nuts, 3 flat washers, lock washers and 1 3/4 " brass bolt, washer and lock washer needed for lid support.
I found the lid support 5 years ago, but today I couldn't find it at either Lowe's or Home Depot. Maybe another time or perhaps another hardware store. I did find it at Amazon
http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-Hardwa...d_sim_sbs_hi_1 Ace may have them locally because Ace is one of the venders here on Amazon.:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B000JHADZG/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new
Original thread:
"noobie palette question" http://www.wetcanvas.com/forums/show...=257208&page=2
Libby
There seems to always be new ideas to try out!
Re: DIY- Open M box (Facsimile) by Doug Jones
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