Category: Other projects

Tin box

Builder: Fridolin Messerer

Construction time of the model: approx. 2 hours

Total costs: approx. 10 - 20 € for aluminium sheet metal

Level of difficulty: Beginner

An empty, rectangular aluminium box lies next to tools, including riveting pliers with orange handles and a square. A pen and various tools complete the arrangement.

The project

A small box was made from a sheet of aluminium to store various items in the workshop. This can be used as a divider in drawers or as a miniature tool box. The finished box measures 260 x 120 mm and is 45 mm high.

Tools / material used

Press brake W1.0 x 610A
Sheet metal 350 mm x 210 mm (thickness: 1 mm)
Marker
Sheet metal shears or other tool to be able to cut the sheet metal
Square
ruler
Riveting pliers and rivets
Files and sandpaper for deburring
Drill
Drilling machine / cordless screwdriver or similar
centre punch
Caliper gauge

Step 1

Transfer the pattern

Firstly, the cutting pattern is drawn onto the sheet using a square and ruler. Alternatively, a drawing can also be created on the computer and then transferred to the sheet metal.

Holes were drilled so that the corners close at the edges. The excess material was then removed with tin snips. To remove the sharp edges, they were deburred with a file and sandpaper in the next step.

A twist drill drills through a metal plate. Red lines cross on the plate under the drill. Metal shavings can be seen around the drill hole.

A pair of pliers cuts along a red line drawn on a light-coloured rectangular material. The lines intersect and form a centre with a circle.

Grey cardboard with red line drawing that can be folded into a box. The number 3 is at the bottom right.

Step 2

Folding

The first step was to bend the short sides. This also bends the tabs that will later be riveted to the long sides.

In order to be able to bend the long sides, some of the bending bench segments may have to be rearranged so that they fit between the previously bent sides.

The two surfaces could then be bent exactly along the marked bending line.

Close-up of a folding machine. A red frame is visible. A metal plate lies on it, fastened with screws. White material is underneath.

A folding machine with a metal workpiece can be seen. There is a sign on the machine with the inscription "W1.0x610A folding machine".

Close-up of a folding machine. Red metal parts, silver metal sheets and screws can be seen. A sign with the inscription "W1.0x610A folding machine". A number "3." at the bottom right.

Rectangular, flat box made of grey metal with curved walls. It stands on a beige surface. At the bottom right is a dark area with the white number 4.

Step 3

Riveting

To make the box more stable, it was riveted in the next step. To do this, two holes were marked on each edge using a combination square (or calipers). The holes were then carefully drilled through the outer sheet and the tabs and the individual edges were riveted with the riveting pliers.