One of the best tips I've learned in over 50 years of woodworking: nails always bend to the left or right of the nail gun. Always... never forward or backwards. Aligning the gun to your work with that in mind is the best (only) way to keep from having them stick out of your projects. Unfortunately, I didn't learn that tip until 45 years into the process...
I still have the set (4 fulls and 4 halfs), I built 35 years ago when I was setting up a photo studio in LA. I built them to Matthews' specs with a circular saw, a straight edge, some glue and finishing nails. They've followed me throughout a dozen or so moves, across various cities and even cross country. In addition to the many photography uses, I've used them to prop things up for finishing, stood on them for a better reach, create makeshift tables and platforms, and they even came in handy when I painted my house. Yeah, they're a little beat up and the stain has worn away in spots ... but they still work great. Besides, they're not old ... just vintage! 😂
I just saved a huge bee hive from a tree that was cut down. I was able to get 95% of the cone and 75% of the bees. I have them in a 60 gallon tote from homedepot then can get un and out of. How long do you think they can stay in the there b4 putting them in to a hive ? Other pertaining info Location NY Day/night Temps. 50s/20°F And yes I insulated the tote with pink styrofoam
@@chuckbailey6835 ventilation will be the biggest problem. Get them into a cool, dark place. Get a hive ASAP (call a local beekeeper for help). Really bad time of year to try to rehive a colony but it is what it is.
As an apprentice I made a four similar boxes that perfectly fit 24 Carona bottles each. Over the years they became the base of a tv unit (perfect match to the height of my subwoofer), book storage, kitchen storage, even jack stands for the car, but only once carried home brew beer bottled in repurposed Carona bottles. 20years later they're still in the shed holding random tools and other junk.
Very cool with the way you can nest those. Since 3 of them have a smaller dimension, I'd make a small indexing lip on the top of the largest box, so that any one of the smaller boxes can reference it and 'lock' in on top for stacking. That might give you some more stability if you're climbing on them, etc.
I made two sets of apple boxes about 15 years ago for the church. It's fun to see how they've migrated around and are used all over the place... From raising a lamp up for a play (propping a prop?) to a quick set of blocks for the kids to play with. You don't realize how much you needed these until you have a set or two. Excellent video!
The dots over the finger cut is probably the best youtube I've seen since @Foureyes.Furniture was naminf dead flys in the epoxy resin. thank you for the good laugh!!!
I always enjoy your videos. A bit calming, a bit funny. I love the fact that you include the parts of you running around the shop looking for the hammer that was right next to you. That has NEVER happened to me. I also enjoy the things that didn't go right and you had to PIVOT to get them to work.
Cool project. Suggestion for the last version, add tabs and slots for the middle brace, so it automatically ends up flush with the sides, and locks into the lids. Will make assembly easier, and save you from having to use your scoreboard so often. lol
Assemble the outer frame, then attach the top. Flip it over, then install the middle brace, and it'll be flush. Close it up with the bottom. A slot could still help with alignment, though, even though it's not critical.
you could cnc pilot and drill out holes in a common pattern that would let you dowel them together to temporarily lock them in place. use wood dowels for low impact, or some short steel dowels if you’re concerned about the shear loading.
I work in film/TV production and buying these gets expensive after a while. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to make my own when I started my woodworking hobby, but I'm pretty sure there are some home-made apple boxes in my future. Thanks Wesley!
I could have used these the last few days. They look to be birch ply, which in my area runs about $165 for a 5x5 sheet. Pretty expensive for apple boxes. I love the idea of nesting them for storage. Great job! You’re got a new subscriber😊
Right. . . I'm going for the BIGGEST pun in the room - Wesley's videos are always a real Treat - there I said it! ...am I right or am I ri...ri..ri..right?!
we call them "1 2 3 " boxes . 1ft x 2ft x 3ft step box . you could turn them any way you needed them . i have "lost" a few in the past but the one i still have is about 30+ years old . a lifesaver around the house as well as the shop . good vid , thanks for posting .
Who knew, LA, Chicago, NY. Nice. Your original box reminded me of the old time wooden Coke and Pepsi bottle cases. I have a couple 1’x1’x2’ strong foam blocks that I gift wrapped in canvass (w hot glue) and use all the time. I added a handle strap and a 3/4” plywood base to give them a heavy side. I can toss a block to the side and it usually lands in NY position due to the heavier base. Very useful. I have more blue foam and planned on covering with 1/4” plywood & canvass or leather corners. Maybe I’ll try some different sizes……..
Our most useful addition was similar. Six milk crates(The solidly heavy plastic types), with plywood tops cut so they can still stack and take a good amount of weight. They are forever having to be retrieved from under other projects or cleared of tools so they can be used for other things. Need to make two more. Already 'aquired' the boxes. :)
Great Job Wes!! I too have been a victim of the coffee pot cobra so don't feel too bad. Thanks for being open and honest about anxiety, it's good to know there is another person out there. Hockey Legond Kelly Hrudey also deals with anxiety. He is open about it and is an advocate for men's health.
We call those Manmaker's in the biz or Appleboxes. We use them for everything from making Stallone look tall to supporting rigging or simply as a well deserved place to sit. Love the upgrades to an old standard.
I made a little plywood box to raise the mini Christmas tree we put up in the front window. It not only turned out to be one of the nicest little things I made for such a basic purpose but I also use it all year round for all sorts of things similar to these. Funny how that works.
The scoreboard is great, and a fun way to break the tension after a mistake. The only thing I would change is to paint the zero's. Yeah, who am I kidding.
You're finger cut reminds me of the jokers smile 😆 "Why so serious?" Seriously, this was a fun build, I was watching as you built the full sized one and though "he could probably fit all the others in there if they were a little more narrow than the full sized one" Then you did and it was so satisfying!
I am definitely going to have to use my little CNC to make handle cut outs on my next project. (No idea why it never occurred to me before to) As I always hate cutting out the handles, as no matter how much I try to use forstner bits and guides on a router, it never seems to line up or be centered...
Great idea! I will be making these. Unfortunately I do not have the CNC capabilities. Many of us mere mortals who are just starting out will have to do this with tools we can afford. Not slamming CNCs…if I had the money and space I might consider one. But, well, I don’t so I appreciate the idea of the boxes, thx.
Great looking boxes. Only thing about finish is, depending on which type of finish, it could get a little slick if people are standing on them. I use unfinished boxes for standing as they seem to have more traction.
I'm sure there's something clever in there by having standard dimension holes in a set to use as bases that threaded metal pipe or the like can be fished through for racking / stands / interlocking / etc
What did you call us in the beginning? Curious? Yeah, I guess you're right. I love the idea of these. Who isn't always looking for a stool they don't have? Wesley, that's who!
Thanks for the build! @13:12 - TIL the Edgar Allan Poe reference, that poor box fella didn't deserve to be buried alive! I also thought of Bane's line "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask..." th-cam.com/video/-cshZ6439yI/w-d-xo.html
My only issue with the insertable apple boxes is you can't park a car on them. Also i recommend waterproofing them before assembly. helps them last longer when left in the rain.
Great video, Wesley! They really are a Treat to watch. I can't tell you how many times I laugh watching any of your videos! Also, what is the brand of plywood you used for these? Or maybe the distributor you used? I am in Houston and I'm hoping it may be available here too since Dallas isn't for away. Seems like a nice alternative to BB. Thanks! - Joe
@@WesleyTreat Oh, really? It didn't look like it had enough plies to be BB, so I thought it was something else. Sometimes there really is no substitute! Thanks!
These look usefull, and I want to build some. But being a machinist I am wondering if making the boxes 1' x 2' x 3' like a 12 x machinist's 1-2-3 block would work, or If I should stick to standard apple box dimensions.
I use a full-size as a step-stool beside my bed so my feet don't dangle when I'm sitting on the edge. Better than building a step-stool for tots to reach grown-up height bathroom fixtures, too, IMHO. I've never understood the middle brace. It seems like extra work for no real benefit. You could probably drive a truck onto a set of 1/2" ply apple boxes without that center brace.
Film crew uses the apple boxes all the time on set. paint them green, then they can disappear out of your shot, making objects float in your videos....lol
Clear finish on apple boxes is under rated. Makes them last much longer and keeps a lot of junk off them. Just don't use them on carpet if clear coated!
Rounding over the edges of the apple boxes too much actually makes them dangerous to use. If you are standing on one and the edges are rounded over it makes it more likely to flip suddenly when you shift your weight. Slight Chamfers are less prone to the sudden flip. We also make the New Yorker which is much bigger apple box. Thanks for the entertaining video.
Question. I'm a big dude with two bad legs. Having a platform like that would be awesome to reach those slightly out of reach light bulbs. How much weight do you suppose they can handle? Right now I use a five gallon bucket. It's just a matter of time before I have to hit the accident reset.
But changing the size makes them not apple boxes! They whole point of the “standard sizes” is so that you can makes equal height stacks using them in different orientations…
One of the best tips I've learned in over 50 years of woodworking: nails always bend to the left or right of the nail gun. Always... never forward or backwards. Aligning the gun to your work with that in mind is the best (only) way to keep from having them stick out of your projects. Unfortunately, I didn't learn that tip until 45 years into the process...
That intro "hello, curious nerds!"
I've never felt more seen by a TH-cam video! 😂😊
It just makes me think he owns women's cosplay outfits and funko pops. This isn't something to be proud of.
Out of all the apple boxes built, I've watched. I like yours the best. Thank you.
I still have the set (4 fulls and 4 halfs), I built 35 years ago when I was setting up a photo studio in LA. I built them to Matthews' specs with a circular saw, a straight edge, some glue and finishing nails. They've followed me throughout a dozen or so moves, across various cities and even cross country. In addition to the many photography uses, I've used them to prop things up for finishing, stood on them for a better reach, create makeshift tables and platforms, and they even came in handy when I painted my house. Yeah, they're a little beat up and the stain has worn away in spots ... but they still work great. Besides, they're not old ... just vintage! 😂
I'm a beekeeper and use empty hive boxes in the same way all the time. They're really sturdy, very handy, and work well for keeping bees in, too.
I just saved a huge bee hive from a tree that was cut down. I was able to get 95% of the cone and 75% of the bees. I have them in a 60 gallon tote from homedepot then can get un and out of.
How long do you think they can stay in the there b4 putting them in to a hive ?
Other pertaining info
Location NY
Day/night Temps. 50s/20°F
And yes I insulated the tote with pink styrofoam
@@chuckbailey6835 ventilation will be the biggest problem. Get them into a cool, dark place. Get a hive ASAP (call a local beekeeper for help). Really bad time of year to try to rehive a colony but it is what it is.
As an apprentice I made a four similar boxes that perfectly fit 24 Carona bottles each. Over the years they became the base of a tv unit (perfect match to the height of my subwoofer), book storage, kitchen storage, even jack stands for the car, but only once carried home brew beer bottled in repurposed Carona bottles.
20years later they're still in the shed holding random tools and other junk.
Very cool with the way you can nest those. Since 3 of them have a smaller dimension, I'd make a small indexing lip on the top of the largest box, so that any one of the smaller boxes can reference it and 'lock' in on top for stacking. That might give you some more stability if you're climbing on them, etc.
I made two sets of apple boxes about 15 years ago for the church. It's fun to see how they've migrated around and are used all over the place... From raising a lamp up for a play (propping a prop?) to a quick set of blocks for the kids to play with. You don't realize how much you needed these until you have a set or two. Excellent video!
The dots over the finger cut is probably the best youtube I've seen since @Foureyes.Furniture was naminf dead flys in the epoxy resin. thank you for the good laugh!!!
2:54 - Tell your neighbor everyone hates him and can't wait until he moves.
I always enjoy your videos. A bit calming, a bit funny. I love the fact that you include the parts of you running around the shop looking for the hammer that was right next to you. That has NEVER happened to me. I also enjoy the things that didn't go right and you had to PIVOT to get them to work.
Cool project. Suggestion for the last version, add tabs and slots for the middle brace, so it automatically ends up flush with the sides, and locks into the lids. Will make assembly easier, and save you from having to use your scoreboard so often. lol
Assemble the outer frame, then attach the top. Flip it over, then install the middle brace, and it'll be flush. Close it up with the bottom. A slot could still help with alignment, though, even though it's not critical.
The scoreboard is all part of the fun! teehee - until Wes loses an arm!
@@negotiableaffections He would still have one to smash the button!
not my comment, my friend???@@marchebert9813
The old ones in the shop seem more useful overall because they stack safely, but also have more use as a bin if needed.
Boxes that stack securely together and can be used to store/carry are the best kind. Boxes that slip should never be stacked except for storage.
Those blocks on top got in the way a lot more than you might imagine. They're a pain.
you could cnc pilot and drill out holes in a common pattern that would let you dowel them together to temporarily lock them in place. use wood dowels for low impact, or some short steel dowels if you’re concerned about the shear loading.
I work in film/TV production and buying these gets expensive after a while. I don't know why it didn't occur to me to make my own when I started my woodworking hobby, but I'm pretty sure there are some home-made apple boxes in my future. Thanks Wesley!
Apple box guy needs a name... I'm fully invested in his adventures now!
The middle handle on the half and full is really handy for passing rachet straps through when you want a more stable stack.
Love the pushstick.
Thanks! They come as a set: www.wesleytreat.com/shop/p/ray-gun-push-sticks 🔫
I could have used these the last few days. They look to be birch ply, which in my area runs about $165 for a 5x5 sheet. Pretty expensive for apple boxes. I love the idea of nesting them for storage. Great job! You’re got a new subscriber😊
Thanks from CANADA! I just ordered the template and will let other filmmaking and crafter/maker friends know about them.
Honestly, I like the look of the snap together ones.
They're spiffing
Right. . . I'm going for the BIGGEST pun in the room - Wesley's videos are always a real Treat - there I said it! ...am I right or am I ri...ri..ri..right?!
we call them "1 2 3 " boxes . 1ft x 2ft x 3ft step box . you could turn them any way you needed them . i have "lost" a few in the past but the one i still have is about 30+ years old . a lifesaver around the house as well as the shop . good vid , thanks for posting .
Looking sharp Wesley. The nesting option is pure Treat Genius.
Just discovered your channel and been binging on all you videos. Good job, your hilarious and entertaining
Nicely done! You got me to watch the whole thing twice through just to pause on all the captions 😂
Who knew, LA, Chicago, NY. Nice. Your original box reminded me of the old time wooden Coke and Pepsi bottle cases. I have a couple 1’x1’x2’ strong foam blocks that I gift wrapped in canvass (w hot glue) and use all the time. I added a handle strap and a 3/4” plywood base to give them a heavy side. I can toss a block to the side and it usually lands in NY position due to the heavier base. Very useful. I have more blue foam and planned on covering with 1/4” plywood & canvass or leather corners. Maybe I’ll try some different sizes……..
Just measured. They’re only 20” tall. 2 foot could be a little tipsy and awkward
I'm really liking the TV shop class feel to this, I can't tell if that's deliberate or if Wesley is just losing his mind.
3:46 "an impromptu workstation when working off site" and the T-Rex in the background!!!! 😅😂
Apple boxes are the bomb. 🙌
Keurigs, on the other hand, obviously should be recalled for the safety concern they present.
Our most useful addition was similar. Six milk crates(The solidly heavy plastic types), with plywood tops cut so they can still stack and take a good amount of weight.
They are forever having to be retrieved from under other projects or cleared of tools so they can be used for other things. Need to make two more. Already 'aquired' the boxes. :)
Very cool may have to make a set of these. Great work
Great Job Wes!! I too have been a victim of the coffee pot cobra so don't feel too bad. Thanks for being open and honest about anxiety, it's good to know there is another person out there. Hockey Legond Kelly Hrudey also deals with anxiety. He is open about it and is an advocate for men's health.
Such basic construction and yet so useful. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for a great video! A also deal with anxiety and love the humor and style of your videos.
lol, love the scoreboard! Great video, thanks for sharing.
Always a treat when you pop up in the feed.
Wesley Treat...the Norm Abram of 2024.
Great video Wesley, Keep up the grat work brother. Love and Respect from North London UK. 👍🏻
We call those Manmaker's in the biz or Appleboxes. We use them for everything from making Stallone look tall to supporting rigging or simply as a well deserved place to sit. Love the upgrades to an old standard.
I made a little plywood box to raise the mini Christmas tree we put up in the front window. It not only turned out to be one of the nicest little things I made for such a basic purpose but I also use it all year round for all sorts of things similar to these. Funny how that works.
The scoreboard is great, and a fun way to break the tension after a mistake. The only thing I would change is to paint the zero's. Yeah, who am I kidding.
You were wise to withhold the amontillado, especially since they were experiencing vertigo… appreciate all the subtle anthropomorphic jokes!
You're finger cut reminds me of the jokers smile 😆 "Why so serious?"
Seriously, this was a fun build, I was watching as you built the full sized one and though "he could probably fit all the others in there if they were a little more narrow than the full sized one" Then you did and it was so satisfying!
"Back when I still had potential." - So dry, so funny.
Beer crate w/ charcuterie board &stands!
I am definitely going to have to use my little CNC to make handle cut outs on my next project. (No idea why it never occurred to me before to) As I always hate cutting out the handles, as no matter how much I try to use forstner bits and guides on a router, it never seems to line up or be centered...
Yet another great video, They are always entertaining. Thank you Wesley
Very cool project Wes.
Was thinking about your channel yesterday and then a video popped !
Great idea! I will be making these. Unfortunately I do not have the CNC capabilities. Many of us mere mortals who are just starting out will have to do this with tools we can afford. Not slamming CNCs…if I had the money and space I might consider one. But, well, I don’t so I appreciate the idea of the boxes, thx.
Great video and design.❤❤❤
Thanks!
These old things are also nice, because they are old ... Yes, I have a special fable for old things.
You said "curious Erik" freaked me out man😂 I do enjoy your content, who's Erik?;)
Very cool!! 👏👏😎😎
As an IATSE grip, the thumbnail was a welcome surprise!!
Clever solution!
Great looking boxes. Only thing about finish is, depending on which type of finish, it could get a little slick if people are standing on them. I use unfinished boxes for standing as they seem to have more traction.
Just 1 or 2 light coats of the Halcyon and they're grunge-resistant, but not slick.
Buzzer Slap!
Why does your Apple Box man seem to have more humor and be more interesting than I am currently? 🤔🤣
3:04 "put a muffler on that glue" 😂😂😂
Nice!
awesome video. just found your channel. instant subscribe.
Swiss Army apple box 😮
Haha, I caught reference to A Cask of Amontillado, then realized how much of a nerd i actually am for knowing that. For Gods sake Montressor
I found myself imagining a crossover video with Wesley Treat and Mathologer demonstrating Towers of Hanoi.
good idea have you ever thought about making an MFT style box?
I'm sure there's something clever in there by having standard dimension holes in a set to use as bases that threaded metal pipe or the like can be fished through for racking / stands / interlocking / etc
Yeah, they make versions for film and photography that have threaded inserts for lights and stuff.
It's always funny to see you press the button :D What's your record days without a dumb ? :) I think mines probably 6 .. XD
What did you call us in the beginning? Curious? Yeah, I guess you're right.
I love the idea of these. Who isn't always looking for a stool they don't have? Wesley, that's who!
Great video, as always! I love your boots! Who makes them?
Thanks! Carolina: tinyurl.com/2vy9ccvr
Thanks for the build! @13:12 - TIL the Edgar Allan Poe reference, that poor box fella didn't deserve to be buried alive! I also thought of Bane's line "No one cared who I was until I put on the mask..." th-cam.com/video/-cshZ6439yI/w-d-xo.html
And here's me thinking that apple boxes were for putting apples in. Duh! Eedjit! 🤪 👍
My only issue with the insertable apple boxes is you can't park a car on them. Also i recommend waterproofing them before assembly. helps them last longer when left in the rain.
Great video, Wesley! They really are a Treat to watch. I can't tell you how many times I laugh watching any of your videos! Also, what is the brand of plywood you used for these? Or maybe the distributor you used? I am in Houston and I'm hoping it may be available here too since Dallas isn't for away. Seems like a nice alternative to BB. Thanks! - Joe
Thanks! It's Baltic birch. I usually get it from Central Hardwoods.
@@WesleyTreat Oh, really? It didn't look like it had enough plies to be BB, so I thought it was something else. Sometimes there really is no substitute! Thanks!
These look usefull, and I want to build some. But being a machinist I am wondering if making the boxes 1' x 2' x 3' like a 12 x machinist's 1-2-3 block would work, or If I should stick to standard apple box dimensions.
Sprinkle a little salt on the glue edge and it won’t slip around
15:36 did you make the scoreboard?
th-cam.com/video/lMFvqcRyJAk/w-d-xo.html
The glue always in the base of the cutouts. it ends up being on only one side... but that's the easiest way to remember
Just saw a set of these roll across my FB feed for sale for $180.
Blood Drinking Coffee Makers will always getchya
I use a full-size as a step-stool beside my bed so my feet don't dangle when I'm sitting on the edge. Better than building a step-stool for tots to reach grown-up height bathroom fixtures, too, IMHO.
I've never understood the middle brace. It seems like extra work for no real benefit. You could probably drive a truck onto a set of 1/2" ply apple boxes without that center brace.
Film crew uses the apple boxes all the time on set. paint them green, then they can disappear out of your shot, making objects float in your videos....lol
Clear finish on apple boxes is under rated. Makes them last much longer and keeps a lot of junk off them. Just don't use them on carpet if clear coated!
am i the only one taht cant get the robot face out of my head now?
Where did you get those cute little corner clamps ? 3-D printed ?
Seem to be Clamp-It Clips from rockler
Link in the description 👍
Thank you so much. Guys.
I called myself looking in the description. But must have missed it. So I did a dumb. 😕
Rounding over the edges of the apple boxes too much actually makes them dangerous to use. If you are standing on one and the edges are rounded over it makes it more likely to flip suddenly when you shift your weight. Slight Chamfers are less prone to the sudden flip. We also make the New Yorker which is much bigger apple box. Thanks for the entertaining video.
What’s the New Yorker? I work in theater in NY and have never heard of it 😂
@@tylernewcomb6465 It's film term. The XL apple box is called the NY'er.
13:15 I'm Boxman.
Giant 1 2 3 blocks. When you use them ...... ya know!
12:18 😂😂😂
"I thought I'd cut one and see how I like it"
hahahahahahahahahahahaha
Oh man, I'm 7
9:27 watch it! 😂
9:41 I couldn't make out what it was on my phone, so had to fire up the computer 😄
👍
Question. I'm a big dude with two bad legs. Having a platform like that would be awesome to reach those slightly out of reach light bulbs. How much weight do you suppose they can handle? Right now I use a five gallon bucket. It's just a matter of time before I have to hit the accident reset.
With the center support, I'd say quite a bit.
@@WesleyTreat thanks. I think I might try to make a couple this spring.
Happiest injury ever?!?!?
"Um actually didn't Jimmy DiResta do a video about this. COPIER!" in a baby voice.
20:34
Apple boxes are the best! But, you could sell more, if you made a windows version. 😂
TV/Film/Photo jargon is needlessly complicated.
But changing the size makes them not apple boxes!
They whole point of the “standard sizes” is so that you can makes equal height stacks using them in different orientations…
Then it sounds like you would not need the nesting ones. Make the regular ones instead.