Boxes, Boxes, Boxes, make your own specimen boxes for your Fossils.

[ZiggieCie]

If you have ever tried to find them on line, it is not easy, and I think expensive if you need more than a few. Then shipping and handling. Thump.

I am CHEEP, I know it. Here is how I solved the box problem, in pictures.

Tools I use: Paper cutter, (you can use scissors, ouch) paper cutter is much easier.

Stapler, I use the plier’s type but any sturdy type will work.

A slightly heavier type of scissors.

Pencil, ruler, stuff like that.

And those useless, shirt, sweater, holiday (did I do that pc enough?) boxes that most people use once and save FOREVER...

First the disclaimer; If you cut yourself or anyone else when you put Butter on your toast, this might not be for you. A word of caution, the cutter steel on the paper cutter is VERY SHARP!!!! When you rub your finger past it, you will see that it can shave the skin right off. Also keep your fingers behind the safety bar when cutting, EVERY TIME. That would not be good, and very bloody!!!

One more thing before the fun stuff; I use the edge of the paper cutter as the edge that I fold the cardboard over; as you slide your fingers back and forth to get the fold, do not go past the end of the cardboard for the above reasons.

Let’s start; You need to cut the side tabs lose.

Continued:

[ZiggieCie]

The outside sections of the boxes we make have sides that are, 1 and 3/4 inches wide, on all four sides. So as the narrow ends of the boxes I cut down, are more than the 1 ¾ inches, I cut this first end to 1 ¾.

Photos

The first box I will demo will be a 4 X 2 ½ inches with sides that are one inch high. I find this height adequate for many Fossils I collect, just different sizes, which are easy to figure out. Just add 1 ¾ inch to all four sides of the box size, you want.

The cardboard I am using is wide enough for two box blanks across the narrow end.

The first one that will be 4 X 2 ½ inches. We will cut the cardboard at 6 inches all of the way across. I keep the ends folded over for this cut. And will have a blank for two boxes.

Fold the ends over and cut the piece in half for two sections, APX 6 X 7 ½. The cardboard I am using cuts in half to two 7 ½ inch pieces. We are on our way.

Folding:

We now have the blank we want, it is 6 X 7 ½ in. Line up any edge along the top of the paper cutter table and slide an edge to the edge of the cutter.

Folding:

Now slide your blank to the edge of the cutter blade. The back edge should be at 6. Now slide the edge to 5 ¼, this will give you a ¾-inch overhang at the blade. Now start bending it over, push down and slide your fingers back to get a fair crease for now, now you have the bent flap for the inside of the box side, more will come.

Now slide your back edge, one inch to 4 ¼. This will give you a one-inch additional overhang. Fold this down again.

Edited December 23, 2015 by ZiggieCie

[ZiggieCie]

More folding photos.

Turn blank 180 deg. And use the same numbers to fold the other end.

Now the long sides. We set the edge at the 7 ½-inch mark. Slid right ¾ inch to 6 ¾”, fold over. Slide one more inch fold again. Turn and do the last side.

Now we will cut for the corners.

The photo explains it best. You need a small wedge cut for folding the corners. The wedge removes excess material in the corners. I make the cut a bit wider to the side than the end piece. You will understand this better as you fold some.

[ZiggieCie]

Now to crease the folds. Pick any side, fold over the ¾-inch section, and run the rounded handle of your scissors or any similar hard object. You want to smooth out the folds and make them tight.

Next fold over the 1 inch section and crease it but it does not have to be as tight, as the ¾-inch fold, as it will only be a 90 deg. Bend.

[Fossildude19]

Ziggie,

Very Cool.

Thanks for the instructable.

Regards,

[ZiggieCie]

Let’s make some boxes:

Bring up the sides and start to fold over the side tabs and slip one tab inside of the other. Bring your sides up to 90 deg. And start to bring the end tabs over them. Continue folding the ¾-inch tab over the end, snug it up, check it out and put in two staples in the end. I make them in a bit from the sides and about the center of the side.

[ZiggieCie]

Next, I will put in two staples on each long end, then fold the last two tabs together and overlap them. Fold over the end flap, a couple more staples, voila, BOX.

[RJB]

I would say that you are frugal and part time Genius, not cheep.

RB

[Malcolmt]

Wow.....

[ZiggieCie]

Here’s a few hours work, with a cost of some staples.

Here is a bundle of shirt boxes 6 for 99 cents after Christmas. This is 12 pieces, that makes a lot of boxes.

Archival paper.

I would presume that these boxes made out of Shirt box cardboard, would last for 50 years in normal home storage conditions, as I have never seen old boxes like these deteriorate. If you are concerned about very long-term storage you could just buy Archival quality card stock from any paper supply store, Office max, Staples, etc.

Here are a couple of sizes for boxes.

Different size boxes, which are easy to figure out. Just add 1 ¾ inch to all four sides of the box size, you want.

I use the Holiday patterned boxes or the plain white ones, whichever I feel in the mood for. A little color in your fossil collection is not bad. For the traditional look just use the white ones and keep the patterned ones in storage, they won't go anywhere.

Merry Christmas everyone

Edited December 23, 2015 by ZiggieCie

[josh_2727]

Sweet! This should definitely come in handy some day!

[Herb]

Great idea.

[jpc]

The cool thing about this is that you can easily make custom sized boxes for custom sized fossils. Nice work, Z.

[ZiggieCie]

Thx everyone for the kind comments.

Yes for different custom sizes take the size you need, ex, 5 X 10 inches. just add 1 3/4 twice = 3 1/2 to the width and length = 8 1/2 X 13 3/4 blank size. For larger sizes I would cut out an extra bottom, add a little glue and reinforce the bottom.

Any questions, please ask.

[Auspex]

This is an instance where thinking inside the box it good; well done!

[Bullsnake]

Excellent, Ziggie!

I've actually been kicking this idea around, and your tutorial has motivated me, and taken the guesswork out. I was going to deconstruct boxes for patterns.

Thank you!

[Plantguy]

Hey Ziggie, appreciate the detailed thread. I used to make them and then a case of laziness set in and now I take all of the small boxes that were headed to our recycling bin and simply cut off the ends or bottoms and make trays that way--no stapling at all. They could deglue at some pointI guess but I've not had to deal with that problem yet. I've got some ancient old heavy metal scissors and nowadays I just make 4 quick cuts about 1/2" above the bottom/end of the box and your done. Some boxes you'll get 2 trays each. You can draw lines to make your cuts perfect but I just eyeball it and if I'm off I just trim until the sides are even.

Granola bars and the ziplock boxes are my go to boxes, but anything in the cupboard when used up becomes fair game. We go thru a bunch of upright tissue boxes over time and those become 2 really nice squares each. It's amazing how many different things are in your house come in cardboard packaging. Lots of things that you have in your medicine cabinet come in fairly small boxes like aspirin and toothpaste--they are great. I use old small shipping boxes in a similar fashion too by just cutting off the bottom and you have a nice tray to put the other smaller boxes in.

Here's some of the larger granola types waiting to be sorted/filled from the past week with a 'cat' for scale. If you dont mind some advertising on the outside which almost becomes unnoticeable when you put them next to each other in a tray this is real easy stuff. I try to avoid anything that had food stuffs if the product is loose but those that have packets within are just waiting to be repurposed/recycled.

Regards, Chris

[Troodon]

Very cool and I especially like that you can customize a container to fit your needs. Excellent post.

[Fossil Claw]

Next, I will put in two staples on each long end, then fold the last two tabs together and overlap them. Fold over the end flap, a couple more staples, voila, BOX.

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Very nice. I think in this case my laziness might beat out my frugalness. Thanks for the tip.

And how can anyone read this thread and not comment on the beautiful trilo!

Edited December 24, 2015 by Fossil Claw

[Fossil Claw]

I wonder if hot glue would work better than staples for a more ascetically pleasing look?

[Fossil Claw]

If you are both frugal and lazy you can get 100 Pack, (2.5 x 1.5 x 1" ) of Kraft Brown Cardboard Jewelry Boxes if you are an Amazon prime member for $24.90 delivered. The boxes have cotton in them also. If you use them as open specimen boxes that gives you 200 boxes at $0.125 each or $0.25 if you use them as closed boxes for 100.

I am cheap and lazy when it comes to boxes so I just picked up an order. Of course I lose the flexibility of getting custom Ziggie sizes.

[ZiggieCie]

If you are both frugal and lazy you can get 100 Pack, (2.5 x 1.5 x 1" ) of Kraft Brown Cardboard Jewelry Boxes if you are an Amazon prime member for $24.90 delivered. The boxes have cotton in them also. If you use them as open specimen boxes that gives you 200 boxes at $0.125 each or $0.25 if you use them as closed boxes for 100.

I am cheap and lazy when it comes to boxes so I just picked up an order. Of course I lose the flexibility of getting custom Ziggie sizes.

That is a great idea, but I'm still cheap. I use the thin white foam packing that comes with a lot of electronics, cut it to size and put in the boxes.

[Pagurus]

I tend to reuse whatever's around the house, but now I'm inspired to make a custom-sized Ziggiebox. Thanks!

[ZiggieCie]

Just a little bump for the people that have been busy with the Holidays.

Now is a great time to pick up extra shirt boxes with the big discounts now, 50 to80% off.

[Blastoid]

Heh, I used to fold my own boxes, but it's deadly tedious, and I'd rather dive into a pool filled with razor blades than do it again.

I have a friend who still makes his own, even though he has a very good pension.

Now I buy 'em by the case, it's just another cost of doing business.

Shannon's Minerals in AZ are the best, the 1.5" are perfect for the wee stuff I pick up.