Ta-da! The finished handmade crate filled with mandarin oranges.
In the spirit of celebrating Chinese New Year, let’s infuse a bit of hands-on fun into the festivities with a dash of creativity through a DIY project that mirrors the essence of the season. What better way to showcase auspicious oranges than in a handmade crate using just a jigsaw, handsaw, hammer and some nails.
DIY emphasises the importance of personal effort, intention and the creation of something meaningful.
As each plank is carefully cut and each nail is hammered into place, you’re not merely assembling a crate; think of it as a personalised DIY ritual, a hands-on method to welcome prosperity and positivity for the year ahead.
So, let’s roll up our sleeves and dive into the creative process of building a crate to beautifully display oranges to usher in good fortune and happiness.
PROJECT - Crate
Materials
Long sides and bottom - 7 pieces x 25cm
Short sides - 4 pieces x 16cm
Support brace - 4 pieces x 6cm
Tools
Ruler
Jigsaw/Handsaw
Hammer and nails
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Mask
Goggles
For this project, you’ll only need these basic tools: a ruler, jigsaw/handsaw, glue, hammer and nails.
Start by cutting your pallet wood into the sizes you require. While I am using a jigsaw, you can also use a handsaw, given the soft nature of pallet wood.
Once you have all your pieces cut, grab a 320 grit sandpaper to smooth out the surfaces and soften any sharp edges.
Measure and mark both the short sides and the support brace.
Now, let’s build the crate! First, attach the support brace onto the long sides.
Proceed to the next step by nailing the short sides onto the longer pieces that you just attached with the brace, repeating the same steps on the other side.
To complete the crate, attach the bottom pieces by hammering some nails onto the short sides.
Aida Ihsani is a self-taught DIYer and woodworker with over eight years of experience. Through her women’s woodworking workshops, she has empowered over 1,000 women from all walks of life to be confident in using power tools and start their DIY journey. For more on Aida’s workshop, visit www.aidaihsani.com or @iamaidaihsani on Instagram.
Ta-da! The finished handmade crate filled with mandarin oranges.
Now, let’s build the crate! First, attach the support brace onto the long sides.
Start by cutting your pallet wood into the sizes you require. While I am using a jigsaw, you can also use a handsaw, given the soft nature of pallet wood.
Measure and mark both the short sides and the support brace.
Once you have all your pieces cut, grab a 320 grit sandpaper to smooth out the surfaces and soften any sharp edges.
Proceed to the next step by nailing the short sides onto the longer pieces that you just attached with the brace, repeating the same steps on the other side.
For this project, you’ll only need these basic tools: a ruler, jigsaw/handsaw, glue, hammer and nails.
To complete the crate, attach the bottom pieces by hammering some nails onto the short sides.
