My first attempt at a lantern box...

[Martinjmpr]

Curious about what you guys think. This is not meant to be "nice", I had just never built a box before and wanted to try out with some inexpensive hardware and cheap 15/32 unsanded plywood I had laying around the garage.

Designed to fit my Sears which is currently the only fully functioning lantern I have:





I haven't seen any other boxes that do this, but it occurred to me that it might be a good idea to put a "brace" or v-shaped notch where the globe rest sits, to keep the back of the fount from rubbing on the back of the box. Should also keep the lantern more firmly in place.

Shelf on top is for mantles, matches, etc.



Is there a way to do the hinges without that ugly gap when it's open? I guess I could put the hinges on the inside of the door instead of the outside?



The sears sits snugly in the box. Tried to use matching (brass) hardware and forest green paint since that's my favorite color. If I do one with nicer wood I'll probably stain it - I like the look of stained wood - and then polyurethane inside and out.



Side view.

So what are your thoughts? I felt a side-opening box would be a nice way to 'display' my lanterns.

[falcon65]

Some self adhesive foam weather striping on the v-notch would keep it from beating up the lantern when moving it, one of those clear plastic fishing lure box with all the compartments for keeping spare mantels, gaskets, and matches - lighter, in would be a nice addition to the top shelf. Other than that though it looks like it should work pretty good for ya.

[ksmack01]

Looks nice. Looks like a perfect fit too. it may be time to trade in my cheesy plastic one.

[KCStudly]

Not bad at all. Has that old timey rustic feel to it.

So, if I have this right, there are three different basic styles of cabinets: Frame-less, which is what you have done has no frame around the box, hinges are hidden on the inside, and the door panels cover the box edges; Face Frame or Inset, where the doors sit inset into a perimeter frame that covers the front edges of the box; and Raised Panel, where the doors overlap (sit proud from) the face frames, but do not cover them. (I'm going from memory here, and despite recent suggestions to the contrary, I am not an expert finish carpenter, so this might not be the exact terminology, but you get the idea.)

If your door is wide enough, you could add a little strip of solid wood to the hinge and latch side, like a face frame, cut the door slightly on each side to inset it, and then screw the hinges and latch to those.

Aside from the risk of bending a hinge plate, or the hasp, I kind of like it the way you made it. It's got that old time purposeful look to it. Old is new again.

[Zollinger]

I like it! If I remember right Doug has made some in the past that were Birch? And beautiful.

[campmaster-k]

Perfect.

[Junkboy999]

Nice

Looks like my home made red case.

[campmaster-k]

That dog in the picture is saying " Oh no you didn't just take my picture for the internet!".

[campmaster-k]

I am going in. I am going to make a box. Results to follow.

[rebapuck]

Look at offset hinges.

[campmaster-k]

Look at offset hinges.

I was thinking euro hinges, self closing.

[Mukilteo]

All my wood working tools are at my son's, 300 miles away.

[Sandyman]

Try using a piano hinge.

Sandy

[Martinjmpr]

nice martin. I didn't though rember seeing a sears at walk the winds? did you have it there? slow

No, I only owned one lantern then, my non-working 242B. Two days after coming back from Wyoming, Liz picked up a fantastic black-band 200A at the same antique shop and then the weekend of the Trailer Trash Bash in Canon City I picked up the Sears at an antique shop in Canon.

The reason I built the box for the Sears is because it is the only fully functioning lantern I have right now.

[Martinjmpr]

That dog in the picture is saying " Oh no you didn't just take my picture for the internet!".

Oh, Shaila is a camera hog, she was probably miffed that I wasn't paying attention to her because I was paying attention to my box.