You Can Make This Easy to Build Wood Crate

DIY Easy to Build Wood Vegetable Crate

I recently built a couple of farmhouse style pieces, with the rustic farmhouse bench being my favorite. It’s a great place for the kids to take off their shoes. But you need a place to put their shoes. With that in mind, I decided to make this easy to build wood vegetable crate with only a few tools and inexpensive wood. It is a very light weight crate and still very strong.

Tools and Materials

For tools you really only need a saw, a tape measure, a square, and some sandpaper. Power tools are of course faster. I used my radial arm saw, orbital sander, and air nailers. (links below)

Materials are pretty straight forward. The drawing calls for 1-3/4” wide slats which are milled from a 2x4s. In my video, I show an alternative using 1-1/4” garden stakes and lath strips. The lath and garden stakes are much easier.

Cutting

If you are going the 2×4 route, crosscut 3 pieces to 12-1/2” and strip off 10 slats 1/4” thick. Cut 2 more at 12-1/2” and then cut to 1-3/4”x 1-3/4” square. Repeat the process for 4 more 1-3/4”x 1-3/4”x 10” pieces. Next cut 5 sections 21” long and strip off 15 slats 1/4″ thick.

4 short end piece 10”

4 long end pieces 12-1/2”

10 end slats 12-1/2”

15 slats for sides and bottom 21”

Should you choose to use lath and garden stakes the process is much faster, just cut to length and add 2 additional 12-1/2” slats and 3 additional 21” slats. These make up for the 1/2″ difference in width.

Sanding

The parts only need a quick sanding with 220 grit on all sides. This is very important for the lath as it is rough sawn and has a lot of fur on the surface that needs to get sanded off.

Assembly

Assembly is quick. Glue and nail the end pieces with 2-1/2” 16 ga nails making sure the joints are flush. Next apply a glue and nail the end slats in with the first and last set in 1/4″ from the top and bottom edge. Distribute the remaining slats evenly and glue and nail them down using 18ga ¾” nails. There are links at the bottom for 16 ga and 18 ga air nailers and nails.

Next glue and nail top and bottom slats inset 1/4” from top and bottom. Repeat the installation of the two outer most slats on the bottom and side distribute the remaining slats evenly then glue and nail in place.