Make a best dad tool treat box for Father’s Day

01 Sep 2022

Create a personalised giftbox for Dad for Father’s Day with pine board and dad’s favourite Resene colours. Or you could get creative and upcycle old cardboard boxes.

This treat box can also be used other occasions with a fresh paint job to suit the occasion.

Paint

You will need:

• A 1.8m length of 135mm x 10mm untreated pine board
• A short length of 22mm diameter dowel (Fleur used an old wooden broom handle)
• Saw
• Sandpaper
• Resene Quick Dry
• Resene testpots in your choice of colours (Fleur used Resene Tarawera, Resene Wishlist and Resene Poppy)
• Paintbrush
• Small craft paintbrush
• Painters tape
• Computer print-out of the words “Best Dad” or you could freehand paint this
• Ballpoint pen
• Wood glue
• Resene Aquaclear satin
• Electric drill and screws

Step 1: Start by cutting the wood.  Cut the two side lengths to 30cm lengths, cut the two upright pieces to 28cm lengths and cut the base to 27.8cm.  Cut the tops of the two upright pieces at an angle – Fleur’s were cut at 22.5 degrees on a mitre saw.  Sand any rough edges smooth. 

Step 2: Prime all the pieces with one coat of Resene Quick Dry.

Step 3: Once the Resene Quick Dry is dry, paint one side of all the boards with two coats of Resene Tarawera, allowing for the first coat to dry before applying the second coat.

Step 4: Once the paint is dry, flip the boards over and paint the other side and the edges with two coats of Resene Wishlist. 

Step 5: Take the two upright end pieces and with the Resene Wishlist side facing up, use painter’s tape to mask off stripes.  Paint over the stripes with two coats of Resene Tarawera and remove the tape as soon as you have finished the second coat. 

Step 6: Next, use a computer and printer to print out some words for the side of the box – Fleur used ‘Best Dad’.  Take one of the sides of the box and tape the words on to the Resene Wishlist side.  Use a ballpoint pen to trace around the words.

Step 7: Press firmly so that an indentation is left on the wood. 

Step 8: Remove the paper and use a small paintbrush to paint in the words with Resene Poppy. 

Step 9: Assemble the box and hold it in place with strong wood glue.  Make sure all the Resene Tarawera painted sides are facing in and the Resene Wishlist sides are facing out.  Cut a length of dowel (Fleur used a 22mm diameter wooden broom handle) to length, prime and paint it with two coats of Resene Tarawera.  Glue this in place for the handle.  Once the glue is dry, apply two coats of Resene Aquaclear in a satin finish over the inside, outside and the handle of the box.

Step 10: Once the Resene Aquaclear is dry, drill pilot holes and add screws to either end of the handle, at the end of the base and at both ends of the sides to securely hold the box together.  Fill the toolbox with some of Dad’s favourite things. Once he’s enjoyed all the treats he can use the treat box as a handy tool holder.

Published: 01 Sep 2022