Make Do Apple Boxes

7/15/2009 - Make Do Apple Boxes

This is a simple idea to make inexpensive but nice looking apple boxes from old farm implement chutes. The first example was made from the input chute of a fanning mill or winnowing machine that was purchased at a flea market for a few dollars.(see 1st pic)

Simply remove the top portion of the chute, add a square board to the bottom and you have a passable apple box.

The bottom piece was stained to match the rest and the entire piece was cleaned and paste waxed.

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The next idea is similar but a little more complicated. I picked up another fanning mill chute for a few dollars that had nice old dry blue paint but the shape of it was not symetrical and it was very shallow (see pics).

I decided to take the chute apart and use the wood to make an apple box and to try to keep the old blue paint intact and also the weathered gray side of the chute. Fortunately the chute came apart easily with a few taps from a rubber mallet.

The pieces were then all cut to 5" wide by 15" long and then were cut on both long edges at a 35 degree saw angle and 60 degree push angle to make the sloped sides.

The pieces were then assemble using finish nails and no glue so that the paint would not be discolored.

A square bottom piece was then added.

Donna then painted the bottom piece matching the dry blue paint very closely as well as the weathered inside of the box.

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dh