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build, scrounge, or buy larger boxes

I want to make, buy, or scrounge a box around 8"x11"x4 to make a fiddle-gurdy. Is it possible to get the wood that cigar boxes are made from in sheets? Or maybe boxes already made, Darren Dukes recommended wine boxes. I am not sure where to get such boxes. Would a liquer store give away wine boxes? Maybe Costco.... I am at a halt because of the cost of making my hickory boxes. I want something cheaper.

Any help on sources to get boxes cheap or free would be most welcome!

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on June 3, 2009 at 3:49am

Hobby Lobby, and other craft type stores sell ready made boxes in assorted styles/sizes. The internet is also full of sites, just google. On the other hand, most boxes are just thin plywood, and can be constructed by hand. My favorite is the scrounging method or ebay for boxes. Some of the Romeo Y Julietta boxes come in sizes close to that.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carnright on June 3, 2009 at 4:02am

Not to compete with you but what do you search for on ebay? What is a Romeo Y Julietta box?

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Permalink Reply by Doc Oakroot on June 3, 2009 at 4:06am

I found a couple of very large cigar boxes in a dollar store of all places. I kept one and gave one to Shane - who said he thought it was a box used to store cigars at the factory before they were packaged for distribution. Not sure what that kind of box is called, but Shane would probably know and you could search for that.

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Permalink Reply by Jkevn on June 3, 2009 at 4:08am

Romeo Y Julietta boxes are cigar boxes. They are usually more square and deeper than what one would use for guitar making. I'm sure the wood to make boxes is available at Home Depot and the like. 3/16 or thinner plywood, or even luan type panels are in 4x8 or 2x4 sheets. "wood cigar box" or "Craft box" on ebay will keep you busy for a while.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carnright on June 3, 2009 at 4:12am

Man! I was stunned at the amount of cigar boxes for sale on ebay! I will check out home depot ASAP. Thanks for the info on Romeo Y Julietta box.

Jkevn said:

Romeo Y Julietta boxes are cigar boxes. They are usually more square and deeper than what one would use for guitar making. I'm sure the wood to make boxes is available at Home Depot and the like. 3/16 or thinner plywood, or even luan type panels are in 4x8 or 2x4 sheets. "wood cigar box" or "Craft box" on ebay will keep you busy for a while.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on June 3, 2009 at 7:13am

Most craft and some lumber stores carry hardwood plywood in sheets around 1/8" or even thinner. I used a piece of "Baltic Birch" ply for the soundboard of my banjo; worked great.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carnright on June 3, 2009 at 8:31am

Craft stores sell 1/8" plywood? Cool! Like Michael's or Hobby Lobby? In what section?

Mark Werner said:

Most craft and some lumber stores carry hardwood plywood in sheets around 1/8" or even thinner. I used a piece of "Baltic Birch" ply for the soundboard of my banjo; worked great.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on June 3, 2009 at 9:19am

Are you using Dennis Havlena's plans as a starting place?

I'm making an upright bass this summer, and scored a mahogany silverware chest at the resale store for $2. Maybe something un-cigarbox like that might work.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carnright on June 3, 2009 at 9:55am

Exactly! http://dennishavlena.com/fiddlegu.htm
Wow! a mahogany silverware chest? I'll have to start looking around.

Diane said:

Are you using Dennis Havlena's plans as a starting place?

I'm making an upright bass this summer, and scored a mahogany silverware chest at the resale store for $2. Maybe something un-cigarbox like that might work.

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Permalink Reply by Diane in Chicago on June 3, 2009 at 10:09am

I play fiddle very badly, but wonder if playing fiddle-gurdy would cause me to blow a gasket. It's like rubbing your head and patting your stomach, only harder -- or so it looks. I"ll be watching yours, I might have to have a go at it, too. Starting with the box . . .

Michael Carnright said:

Exactly! http://dennishavlena.com/fiddlegu.htm
Wow! a mahogany silverware chest? I'll have to start looking around.

Diane said:
Are you using Dennis Havlena's plans as a starting place?

I'm making an upright bass this summer, and scored a mahogany silverware chest at the resale store for $2. Maybe something un-cigarbox like that might work.

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Permalink Reply by Roger Martin on June 3, 2009 at 4:54pm

I just finished a guitar using a large box I found at Hobby Lobby also.They had 3 sizes and I bought the largest they had for $9.00.A pic of it is on my homepage.It already had a handle ,corner pieces and hinges on it when i bought it.

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Permalink Reply by Michael Carnright on June 4, 2009 at 1:17am

I plan on putting in frets, so that might make the activity easier, and who it to say that a little electric motor could not be attached to provide the motive power? ;-)

Diane said:

I play fiddle very badly, but wonder if playing fiddle-gurdy would cause me to blow a gasket. It's like rubbing your head and patting your stomach, only harder -- or so it looks. I"ll be watching yours, I might have to have a go at it, too. Starting with the box . . .

Michael Carnright said:
Exactly! http://dennishavlena.com/fiddlegu.htm
Wow! a mahogany silverware chest? I'll have to start looking around.

Diane said:
Are you using Dennis Havlena's plans as a starting place?

I'm making an upright bass this summer, and scored a mahogany silverware chest at the resale store for $2. Maybe something un-cigarbox like that might work.