Storage Box of DOOM: A How-To Manual

In this post I'll teach you how to modify a sturdy storage for Sentinels of the Multiverse or any standard size card game with limited funds, basic skills, and questionable talent.

http://i.imgur.com/MCmpuBp.jpg

Materials:

Art Box

Wood Glue

Wood Filler

¼ Inch Plywood Hobby Board

Tools:

Plyers (Multitool)

Philips Head Screwdriver (Multitool)

Tape Measure

Utility Knife

Sand Paper

Plastic Putty Knife

http://i.imgur.com/9DxLFC7.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/D8Q3XKf.jpg

First, you need an art box to work off of. The one I've used for several boxes is a Nicole PRO 2120 Sketch Box Organizer. These are available at A.C. Moore, Micheal’s, and other craft and hobby stores. The Nicole company is actually owned by A.C. Moore so that's where you'll find them at the best prices. They are a “seasonal” item usually around gift giving holidays like Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, and the beginning of college semesters. Any box will do as long as it's deep enough this one happens to be perfect to make 4 rows a bit longer than the Enhanced Edition box.

http://i.imgur.com/inI2rHm.jpg

Next, you'll need to break the box down by removing the extra crap in the lid, this one has a paint palette on a weird hinge so all that and the lock that holds it in place are removed with the screwdriver.

http://i.imgur.com/JrqvuRA.jpg

Now, to remove the dividers that come in the box we break the glue bond by bending the slats with the pliers.

http://i.imgur.com/9VRFvux.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/XfBr7Fw.jpg

Then, just bend the dividers until they come out of their slots in the side.

http://i.imgur.com/k8qCveg.jpg

Now we get to the cutting. Please use caution and practice safe shop habits, if you haven't taken a high school shop class now is the time to brush up so you don't wind up with a knife in the leg.

This box has a rather thin (probably ¼ inch) plywood sides so I have reinforced those by gluing in another piece of plywood to prevent flexing.

http://i.imgur.com/H2qDzsK.jpg

Measure twice, cut once.

http://i.imgur.com/rfbzLB1.jpg

I used the paint palette as a straight edge for my pencil and later my utility knife, though any hard edge will do but a carpenter's square would be best. Holding the edge gently trace the line with the knife until you have a groove to work with. Gradually add pressure to the blade as your groove gets deeper and eventually you will cut through the wood. Obviously using a table saw for this would be much simpler but I didn't have one available.

http://i.imgur.com/b8WyRtC.jpg

Checking the size is imperative, if your piece is too large use coarse sandpaper to shape it. If it's too small don't worry we will fix that with putty later.

http://i.imgur.com/TFqtJJv.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/sarWK9q.jpg

Glue that bitch in and weigh it down.

After allowing it to dry hit up the other side with another piece of wood that's probably the same size.

http://i.imgur.com/nFwUKmV.jpg

Now at this point we can stop if you want to wait for vengeance to make your box because this baller-ass box is a perfect size to hold two Enhanced Edition boxes or presumably one Enhanced Edition box and one Vengeance box.

http://i.imgur.com/YnOsaoP.jpg

Cut the dividers the same way as before mine are roughly 2 inches by 12 inches. Finding and marking the placement for the dividers is a pain mine are roughly every 3 15/16th inches. A little bit of glue on the three contact edges is more than enough. I used old MtG deck boxes to hold them in place while the glue set. Disregard upside-down image.

http://i.imgur.com/vDFGyth.jpg

After the dividers have had 24 hours to dry use filler all joints that we have made to fill any gaps scraping excess away with the putty knife. Then use a damp rag to smooth filled joints.

Once this is all dry there is a choice to make either lining the box with felt or if you use card sleeves painting and sealing the box.

http://i.imgur.com/hWL5eao.jpg

Lining in felt is a better option for those that don't sleeve as it creates a soft environment for your cards to prevent edge wear and tear and is as simple as getting seven 12x9 inch self stick felt sheets and carefully cutting them to size.

Painting is the better option for those that use card sleeves because they have a tendency to get caught on the felt. Mask off everything you don't want painted and use one coat primer, 2 coats color, and 2 coats sealer allowing each coat to dry before adding the next. Follow the directions on the can.

Box: $20-35

Glue: $7

Putty: $5

Wood: $7-10