How to make a handy toolbox

Photographs Ed O’Riley

You will need

• Woodoc Water-Borne MARINE Clear Matt/Gloss
• Woodoc Colours Brights Red and Beaufort Grey
• fine sandpaper
• cloths
• methylated spirits
• wooden planter box
• pine shelf (900 x 300mm)
• hinges
• screws (4 x 20mm)
• mixing jars
• flat mixing sticks
• paintbrushes
• measuring tape 
• pencil
• G-clamps
• jigsaw
• screwdriver 

Here's how:

1 Measure and mark the size of the box on the pine shelf.

2 Secure the plank on your work surface with G-clamps and use the jigsaw to cut on the measurement you made in step 1.

3 Decant about 100ml of the Woodoc Water-Borne MARINE Clear into each of the mixing jars. Shake the Colours bottles well. Add the Woodoc Colours Brights Red and Beaufort Grey to the jars separately. Stir well.

4 Paint the lid on all sides with three coats of the red, letting it dry completely between coats. Lightly sand with fine sandpaper after each of the first two coats have dried, before applying the next. Do not sand after the third coat has dried. Do the same with the Beaufort Grey on the planter box.

5 Once the sealer has dried, attach the lid to the box with the hinges and screws.