Forums

BRITS! Where do you get your boxes?

Posted by Bleedindoolally on September 12, 2014 at 12:01pm in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

Hey!

So I've bought a few boxes from eBay here and there, and even nabbed one or two from a tobacconist in Brighton, but they're a dying breed, so....

In the Uk, where do you get your empty cigar boxes?  The nicest ones are prohibitively expensive here, and they're all pretty scarce and come along in single units...

They're a real pain to find at a reasonable price and I get very jealous looking in the background of videos from over the pond at workshops with stacks and stacks of empty boxes waiting to become guitars!

I'm sure this has been asked a lot of times before but I couldn't find anything, so please forgive the repeat posting!

'Chelle

You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!

Join Cigar Box Nation

Email me when people reply –
Follow

Replies

  • Michael Fred Johnson September 13, 2014 at 11:28am

    Use something else or make your own.The red and black ones are 3.6mm ply with wood strips around all the internal edges 306349978?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024306350677?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024

  • Wade September 13, 2014 at 10:09am

    I've started selling my own gold foil style pickups and they are quite a hit over in Australia. The post office charges less if I supply my own box for shipping- It is almost $10 more if I use a US postal box. I am wondering if I could use a cigar box as a shipping box for pickups- that way customers would get a little something extra. I would have done this already but I was concerned that the recipient may have to pay extra cash when it arrives. Let me know what your thoughts are.

    Wade

  • Slowpaw Steve T September 13, 2014 at 8:34am

    306350389?profile=originalThe biggest problem with USA boxes is import duty and shipping, I have suppliers who can do them for 10-15 pounds each and save shipping on twos and threes, or fours, if you're making a guitar for yourself a tenner isn't bad for a beautifully made cigar box, if you're selling just pass the cost on, they're out there if you look  :-)

  • Ron "Oily" Sprague September 13, 2014 at 6:24am
    Easiest is to use what's to hand: Whisky boxes, wine boxes, bikkie and chocolate tins. Or "cheat," and build your own boxes, copy cigar box logos and print them off the Internet, then paste em on yer homemades. Or get creative, make your own boxes, and if you are also of an artistic bent, either paint kewl tops on em, or do woodburning (check out Careless John's work here on CBN for top shelf woodburning art) on em.

    I just found this UK online supplier with a quick Googling (£4-5 sounds pretty reasonable compared to from-the-States shipping):

    http://www.humidorsonline.co.uk/empty-cigar-boxes-c-321_548.html
  • Daryl September 12, 2014 at 8:01pm
    More

    image.jpg

  • Daryl September 12, 2014 at 7:57pm
    I visited there in July and found several like the one pictured! They were "pitching them out". Not cigar boxes but they do work!

    image.jpg

  • ChickenboneJohn September 12, 2014 at 2:48pm

    Here's what you can do...the simplest of self-made boxes ...pine frame with MDF front and back with a pine neck..

    It doesn't have to be a cigar box...

  • john mackay September 12, 2014 at 2:28pm

    I intend to make my own box etc.

    like chick john said to buy 1 or 2 is too costly.

    if your making just a few for your own use like me,just make a box,

    shouldn't be that difficult to make.

    if you can't make a box then no doubt you wont be able to make a cbg .

    • robert jones > john mackay September 13, 2014 at 7:21am

      Look for the Walker's Chocolate commemorative boxes as an alternative.

      I've used two and have been very pleased with the tone of both guitars.

      The Trafalgar Square box is dimensionally close to a cigar box.

  • ChickenboneJohn September 12, 2014 at 12:18pm

    I jealously guard the source of my supplies! But seriously, building up a relationship with a good tobacconist is very useful. Importing in bulk from the USA is good - I've got about 30 boxes in customs at the moment, but it does mean a sizeable outlay, plus shipping and VAT...buying them in ones or twos from overseas is not worth it.

    I'm afraid you might have to trawl eBay..but prices get stupid for one-offs, and I won't go there. Beyond that, you just have to get creative.

This reply was deleted.