Here at the Art of Manliness, we’ve talked a few times about the manly ritual of a good shoe shine over the years. For awhile now, I’ve kept my own shoe shine supplies in a box I got for Christmas a few years back. It’s a pretty nice box, but I’ve always had an itch to make one with my own two hands. Then a few months ago I was looking through some old Popular Mechanics magazines, and a nifty shoe shine box design in an issue from 1950 caught my eye.

It’s a simple design. You’ve got a place to hold your brushes and polish cans and a place to rest your foot when shining your shoes. What makes this design so nifty is the two free-turning dowels placed inside the box. After you’ve given your shoes a good polishing, the dowels serve as rollers for your polish cloth for buffing your shoes to a mirror shine. Here it is in action:

This is an incredibly easy and inexpensive project. It only takes an hour to complete, but you’ll end up with a unique and sturdy little box that will last you a lifetime.

The Design

Here’s the modified Popular Mechanics design that I used to make my shoe shine box:

Materials & Tools Needed

Materials

(1) 3/4″ x 8″ x 8′ board (I used a cedar board I bought at Home Depot for $11. I was able to make two boxes out of one board. You can use whitewood for an even cheaper box.)

(1) 5/8″ wooden dowel

(18) #6 1-1/4″ wood screws

Tools

Saw (I used my table saw. Miter saw works, too. Heck, you could even use a handsaw for this project.)

Power drill

Band saw or coping saw

11/16″ bore bit

Compass

Measuring tape

Measure and Cut Wood

Here are the measurements you’ll need:

(1) 8 1/2″ x 7 1/4″ (this will be your bottom piece)

(2) 5 5/8″ x 7 1/4″ (these will be your end pieces)

(2) 3 1/2″ x 8 1/2″ (these will be your side pieces)

(1) 2 3/4″ x 8 1/2″ (this will be your top)

(2) 5/8″ x 7 7/8″ dowels

Mark Arcs and Bore Holes

Cut Arcs

Bore Holes for Dowels

Screw Pieces Together (and Insert Dowels)

Sand

Enjoy Your Shoe Shine Box You Made With Your Own Hands