Crate a game for shipping.

Recently we had to ship a game from New Hampshire to Sweden. This is how we made packaged the game for the trip. We tried to balance strength with the weight of materials.

We have heard that some people use 2x4s and 1/2" plywood. We estimate that this would add considerable weight to this crate. Anyhow, a forklift would go through either crate.

STEP 3: Screw three one-by-twos to a pallet. The pallet should be slightly larger than the packaged game. Longer screws reach into the cross-members of the pallet. The holes for the screws were drilled to prevent splitting the wood.

Notice that we allowed 3/8 inches from the outside of the pallet to where these strips are attached. When the sides are added that will make the sides flush with the side of the pallet. Of course, if you use thicker (read HEAVIER) plywood, your dimensions may vary.

STEP 4: Rachet strap the game to the pallet. Notice it is strapped both ways. We had to loosen it and move the game back farther so the front rachet would not hit the front of the crate.

Then cut the corners of the one-by-twos so two nailed-together one by twos will fit into each corner. In this picture the corners are not yet cut.

STEP 5: All of the corner pieces were made by taking two one-by-twos, cutting them to 6 feet long, gluing and nailing them together. This was done some time before this photo so the glue would dry.

Toe nail the corner posts into the side one-by-twos with long nails. Cut the back piece square such that there is room at the top to affix the top of the crate. Nail the plywood side directly to these corner posts and the bottom strip.

STEP 6: Another view of the above picture. Notice the back is now free-standing.

STEP 7: Next, I built the front. Before I added the front, I added a one-by-two strip across the front that was screwed to the pallet. The same as the other three parts of the bottom (see step 3).

STEP 8: Add the cross members to the top of the sides. It is the same length as the distance between the pieces of plywood at the bottom. This makes the sides square and adds rigidity.

STEP 9: The same thing on the other side. We then added strips across the top of the front and back to increase the rigity of those sides.

STEP 10: Cut the plywood for te left side and nail it in place. The same as the front and back.

STEP 13: Another shot from above. The next time this will see daylight, it will be in Europe (we hope).

At this point, the crate is rigid enough to move around by the top of the crate.

STEP 14: Made a top from plywood scraps left over from building the sides.

There are one-by-two strips 3/8 from the edges of the top nailed to the underside. All 4 sides are nailed into this top rim.

STEP 15: Move it under the roof. It was too large for the garage. We covered it for 2 days until the trucking company picked it up.