"Man Crate"

Love this idea! Thank you for posting this! I looked at the site and some youtube videos on how to open it. Love the opening instructions that come with it that just say "try harder" - what a hoot!

I definitely want to make some for my husband and son for Christmas. To make them easier to open I think I'd just put the glue at the corners instead of all the way around the top. Maybe even add a tiny notch at the top on one end too, for the crowbar... I know the difficulty in opening it is supposed to be part of the fun, but it could be a little easier if you're not mailing the thing.. Besides, opening any gift with a crowbar would be fun!

From looking at the pictures it looks like 1/4" plywood for all the sides, with strips added around the edges on both inside and outside. I'm guessing it was put together with some brad nails and glue (lots of glue from the look of that top - haha).

I'll share my drawings here once I get them complete. Of course the size needed would depend on what you'll fill it with... I'd kind of like one of these for myself -- maybe I'll also make a ladies' version too, and call that a "ma'am crate" (heehee)

I'd recommend skipping the glue. Just nail it, and that will be fine. That's how actual shipping crates are built. The truly insane use screws, but this presuposes a drill or brace with screwdriver bit on the receiving end. A crowbar isn't going to get it.

If you still want him to have a fight on his hands, use a cut steel nail. They have a square profile instead of round, and a killer grip. But you have to track them down at a specialty woodworking supplier, and there are tricks to installing them.

I think I will skip the glue on the top and use nails instead - If I used these

http://www.lowes.com/pd_58185-37672-532407_0__?productId=3036018&Ntt=wi…

Then they could use this

http://www.lowes.com/pd_117699-16878-62897_0__?productId=4777013&Ntt=pr…

to pry it open, and to get the nails out! This one resembles the crowbar that comes with the "man crate". I'm leaning toward making the crates out of cedar fence pickets, those are inexpensive and would look cool. :)

There's a project page on the ryobi site that has instructions for a crate.
https://www.ryobitools.com/nation/how-tos/crate

They don't detail attaching the top, but I think brad nails would be perfect.

Man crate plan

I just posted this plan:

http://ana-white.com/2013/11/plans/plywood-gift-crate-man-crate

Crafty Batty, thank you for posting this topic, and inspiring me to build them! I hope you like the plan! :)

Joanne

Use finishing nails that are only about 1/2 inch longer than the wood they are going through. Use one at each corner and one in the center of weach side.

It doesn't have to hold anything for long.

And instead of a "crowbar" hand the guy a 14" flat steel prybar.

This one from Lowes (actually called a pry bar) looks like the one that comes with the original (theirs even have "Man Crate" on them). I think this one would do the trick! I'm going to purchase a couple like this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_117699-16878-62897_0__?productId=4777013&Ntt=pr…

I just saw the plan I've been crazy busy and hadn't had time to get back on here but I'm super excited now. I just have to finish shopping and then I'm building it and stuffing it. Just to make it more entertaining cause I'm mean like that I'm also wrapping his presents before putting him in there. So not only does he have to open the crate he has to open the presents. And insert evil laughter.

Echoing evil laughter -- you should also wrap the crowbar separately (bwah-ha-ha-ha!) ;) We're giving one of these to a co worker who's retiring next week - he'll have to use a crowbar at his retirement party (roast)! :)

JoanneS, nice plan u posted.
In the plan u refer to the project calculator. Can u send me the Exel file so i can use is? U can send it to [email protected].

Greetings

I think I will wrap the crowbar separate and then make him look for it. Give him a set of clues on where its hidden and he has to hunt it down. :)

Morning ladies, like you i love the idea of man crate. And have just decided to make one for my best friends b'day next week. It will have glue, I will laugh at him trying to open it, it will have man crate stenciled roughly on the side, the crowbar will be handed to him and when he gets it open the contents will be in a mess due to the effort of him getting in to it (no breakables inside unless he pops a beer top off. :) )
Im not sure exactly what will be in it yet but it will be 'man stuff'.

However there will be absolutely no wrapping paper involved inside or out and no X marks the spot involved unless it involves trekking through the wilderness for 5 days and nights to find it with just the shirt on your back.

I would love to see how yours turned out, im sure a big success. :D

Apologies for picture, not got hang of pintrest yet. But here is my mancrate.
http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/be/e4/63/bee4637a42652699cfed8c0…
Stenciling finishes off well, with sash cord for handles. Knocked up from old wet pallets. No plans, simple to make up as I went.
I like the marks on old recycled wood with rusty nail holes. :)
Made from old wet pallets. - http://pinterest.com/pin/398498266999979743/

Thanks Joanne,
Will film my mate opening it at the weekend. :D