What can I use this for?

[Bob D.]

I'm on my way home this afternoon and I go by a local restaurant supply company that I pass all the time. Most times I go by there I see some kind of wood sitting out by the curb like it is to be thrown away, but not really at the curb so I figure that its not trash.

I go by today and there is a guy loading these wooden boxes in his PU truck. I pull in and ask him what the story is and he says they are trash, just go ask inside if you want some. So I go inside and ask about the boxes, they guy says help your self we will probably have another 40 or 50 next week. I load up 5 which is all I can fit in my PU cause I already have some stuff in the back.

The boxes are roughly 33"W x 27"D x 26"H and made from what looks like 1/4" plywood. Turns out it is 7mm 5ply and what looks like birch but I am not sure. Anyway, the ply is nice stuff, veneer core with no voids and the faces are decent, its like A-B grade on the faces, no plugs or knots or anything on the face (A side), and only slight imperfections on the back (B) face.

These were shipping boxes for ovens. I don't know where they originated from but it was not in the USA going by the shipping label. Strange thing was there was no originating country on the boxes, just a destination of NY, USA and who they were being shipped to, a national mini market chain (can you say "Oh Thank Heaven..." ? ).

So, after I cut the metal angle off the corners I am left with the following for each box:

(2) 25" x 30" Top/Bottom pieces
(2) 24" x 25" Short Side pieces
(2) 24" x 30" Long Side pieces

I have 5 boxes so far, if I get another dozen or 20 boxes I will have a nice pile of these plywood pieces.

If I don't cut them all up what could I use the boxes for? I have the lids which are reuseable using the existing metal fasteners. With the reinforced metal angle in the corners they are fairly sturdy. I will try to remember to get a photo tomorrow.

[Lorax]

You should be able to make some real nice shipping boxes out of that plywood.:p Happy to help!:p

[Bob D.]

You are always good for a laugh Lorax, thanks.

[Lorax]

I'm not sure if that's a compliment or not.:D

[Bob D.]

Ya never know :)

[Gofor]

Let's see, if I had that wood: I need to make cases for my chisels, my planes, my hand saws, my router bits, etc. Or, if your attic or storage shed is like mine, I could always use standard size boxes to put all that "stuff" in that "Might" be of some use another day.
By the way, its probably Luan plywood which holds up good if finished with a waterproof finish. If it gets wet, it will probably delaminate as most of the glue used in the orient and Philippines isn't exterior grade.

[HVAC HAWK]

years ago and some times now i still recycle things , the wife has other words for this [pack rat , scrounge , Dumpster diver , etc ] but when my kids were younger i made a 10x10x7ft high play house out of crates from roof top ac units . all i had to pay for was the roof shingles.
because I'm all those things my wife calls me i very really need a hardware store. i some times [ a lot ] bring home things i do not know what I'm going to do with it but it is to good to throw away.
one mans junk is another mans treasure.:D

[Gofor]

Amen, brother!

[Lorax]

You could use them for drawer bottoms or cabinet backs or you could make 2 of these sandpaper storage bins

http://www.hartvilletool.com/shared/images/products/medium/54831.JPEG

or a bunch of these magazine holders.

http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/MagazineHolderRust?$lg$

[Bob D.]

Drawer bottoms is one thing I had thought of. Cabinet backs is one I hadn't though. Some cases for tools is also good.

I don't think its Luan, I have seen and used plenty of Luan and this is much lighter in color (almost white) and the grain is tighter.

[TOD]

Somewhere a homeless person is looking for a box.

[michael stephen]

yeah right..

[PhilG.]

BTW,
Keep an eye out for the various music stores that deal in pianos and organs. Piano crates are very nice plywood crates. Most of the Japanese imports still use mahoghany and sometimes the European brands are very high quality woods also. Even the bolts that hold the piano to the crate frame are well worth recycling.

Just my $0.02.

[SCBOB]

How about Magazine storage boxes?
Bob

[Bob D.]

"How about Magazine storage boxes?"

Ya know that's not a bad idea. I remember seeing a short article in one of the woodworking mags about making storage boxes for magazines, I think they used 3/8" solid wood and not plywood, but I don't see why I could not make it work with the ply. I might have to give that a try. Thanks

[Lorax]

"How about Magazine storage boxes?"

Ya know that's not a bad idea. I remember seeing a short article in one of the woodworking mags about making storage boxes for magazines, I think they used 3/8" solid wood and not plywood, but I don't see why I could not make it work with the ply. I might have to give that a try. Thanks

Yeah, like I didn't try to tell you that last week. :rolleyes: Some people. shheesshhh!! :)

http://images.cb2.com/is/image/CB2/MagazineHolderRust?$lg$

[Bob D.]

Hey Lorax, somehow I missed that in your post. Sorry!

I just came beck to this thread today because I thought of another use, kids puzzles. I have a pattern for kids puzzle pieces that is 12x12", the pieces are larger than the normal puzzles, about 1.5" square, so they would be good for younger kids but not little tykes.

Anyway, sorry about missing that suggestion in your earlier post Lorax.