Repurposing Box

**GLD** · March 16th, 2012, 01:28 PM

My Dad's birthday has come and gone and I was having trouble figuring out a gift for him. Everything he wants/needs is well out of my budget. He mentioned recently that he found some old boxes in barns that were being torn down so he grabbed them. My belated birthday gift idea finally came to me!

My plan is to take this old sewing machine accessory box and convert/repurpose it to carry shotgun shells. I'm leaving the outside as-is so it remains old looking. Inside is getting a new liner (black suede maybe?) and sections of a bandolier attached to each folding side.

On with the pictures!

Comments/feedback/suggestions welcome!

**Shodan** · March 16th, 2012, 01:36 PM

That's cool and will probably mean more to him than something store-bought no matter what the cost.

**thebearpack** · March 16th, 2012, 01:43 PM

That's a fantastic idea. Please post some pics when it's done.

**dman** · March 16th, 2012, 03:14 PM

That will bring a tear to his eye.Any body can buy something but this is very special , he'll love it .

**GLD** · April 3rd, 2012, 09:15 AM

Testing out the fabric glue before jumping to the actual box. Picked up some new hardware as well. I'll have this done soon enough.

**streaker69** · April 3rd, 2012, 09:18 AM

Originally Posted by GLD

Testing out the fabric glue before jumping to the actual box. Picked up some new hardware as well. I'll have this done soon enough.

I've had decent luck with the Elmer's spray on glue when gluing felt. It goes on light enough that doesn't cause the felt to bunch up and get hard on the non-glued side.

**GLD** · April 3rd, 2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by streaker69

I've had decent luck with the Elmer's spray on glue when gluing felt. It goes on light enough that doesn't cause the felt to bunch up and get hard on the non-glued side.

Was that for fabric to wood?

I was recommended this:

and tested it on synthetic fabric to the bandolier material. Not sure if I didn't let it set long enough or if the bandolier material was too textured for it to hold, but I wasn't impressed.

**streaker69** · April 3rd, 2012, 09:26 AM

I believe the can said it could do that. I don't have the can anymore. But what I did was spray it on the wood and then let it set for a few minutes until it was just tacky. Then laid the felt down over top and smoothed it out. Then placed weight on it for at least 24 hours. It held up well, but I'm not sure it would do good if it got wet.

Originally Posted by GLD

Was that for fabric to wood?

I was recommended this:

and tested it on synthetic fabric to the bandolier material. Not sure if I didn't let it set long enough or if the bandolier material was too textured for it to hold, but I wasn't impressed.

**GLD** · March 18th, 2013, 09:15 PM

Realized I never followed up with this! For shame!

It's been a year since his last birthday and I gave him the box soon after. He thoroughly enjoyed it, and it sits nonchalantly on the coffee table, ready for use, lol.

It doesn't hold as many shells as I originally intended because I didn't allow for the thickness of the cardboard behind the material to stiffen it up, nor the thickness of the bandolier itself.

Still came out cool, IMHO.

**firebird.77** · March 18th, 2013, 10:18 PM

Very neat, I always find it very interesting to find antiques that were made from household items into whatever the guy/gal needed at the time. Reminds me of a time when people were much more self-reliant and didn't buy everything they needed. Hopefully one day someone will see that box and get that same feeling!