Commuting - Wooden Crate!

Two of my hobbies came together this afternoon.
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00132.jpg
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00133.jpg
I think with some stain it will turnout nice.

Hobby? Collecting wood crates or making them? ;)

I like the idea. I've used milk crates in the past and they are very practical. You can put reflective tape and/or lighting on the rear also.

I have an old Schweppes lemonade crate I sometimes bolt to my bike. I think it goes well with the style of bike and increases the carrying capacity nicely

Sweet crate! I've done a couple of platforms for various racks, but no crate yet...

Post more pics after the stain!

Hobby? Collecting wood crates or making them? ;)
Woodworking.
I drug out my table saw after I found the crate I liked on line for $100.
This one was made from 25" of 2x4 and some 1x1 that I had in my scrap pile.
Less than $5 even if I had bought it all new.

Woodworking.
I drug out my table saw after I found the crate I liked on line for $100.
This one was made from 25" of 2x4 and some 1x1 that I had in my scrap pile.
Less than $5 even if I had bought it all new.

Sell it online for $30 :p Hobby+money making

I like the look for sure, I am skeptical of the attachment system, bungees always scare me from the shifting weight unhooking them standpoint.

Sell it online for $30 :p Hobby+money making


http://www.etsy.com/

I bet that'll stain up real purty. I'd suggest a more sturdy attachment, but I don't know what you're carrying.

The bungees are good enough for a change of clothes.
I didn't want to waste zip ties before It was done.

Japan it black and it'll match the bike.

Japan it black and it'll match the bike.

I am going to try and match the seat/bar wrap.
Black spray is my backup plan. In case I mess up the stain.

I have a wine crate I've been thinking of doing this with for commuting. I want it to be secure but also easily removable. I am thinking that since I have a rack like this:

http://chuck.kichline.com/bikes/Dawes/rack.jpg

I can get 2 pair of these, which are intended for panniers:

http://www.bikebagshop.com/cart/images/lone-peak-pannier-hook-set-M.jpg

And mount them all on the bottom of the box, all facing the same direction, so I can slide the box on to the rack from the side, and then secure it. Sound like a good or bad idea to you guys?

That's an interesting idea.

One coat of stain i found in the garage.
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00136.jpg
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00135.jpg
It is a little darker than I wanted.

Just curious how you sized it? I based mine around a 12-pack of bottles because that is what I use the shop bike for the most, making beer runs or pub cruisinghttp://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/switters_bucket/IMAG0255.jpg. I have had several people ask me where I got it and if I would make more. Someone in town is now selling them for $40 bucks but the dimensions are random and they still need to carry a bungie to keep anything from bouncing around.

I am going to try and match the seat/bar wrap.
Black spray is my backup plan. In case I mess up the stain.

Very classy.

I just made what I thought would look good on the bike/rack.
I think it is 9x16" on the outside.
Wouldn't hold a case. 18 can pack might fit.
I am just taking a soft bag with work clothes and lunch.

Still brainstorming on mounting.

http://www.etsy.com/

i buy a fair bit of stuff there and i find it's a super value.

I just made what I thought would look good on the bike/rack.
I think it is 9x16" on the outside.
Wouldn't hold a case. 18 can pack might fit.
I am just taking a soft bag with work clothes and lunch.

Still brainstorming on mounting.

on one bike with a similar rack I took two pieces of wood that were 3/8 thick and about an inch wide and the same length as the width of the crate. then I drilled two matching holes per mounting wood and used a carriage bolt and wing nut so I could take it off easily and put the crate on different bikes. I found out that the wing nuts came loose easily and now have it secured with nylocks on two bolts through the flat rack in the picture. I will be interested to see what you come up with.

I now have "crate envy" well done:)

I have a wine crate I've been thinking of doing this with for commuting. I want it to be secure but also easily removable. I am thinking that since I have a rack like this:

(see picture of rear rack)

I can get 2 pair of these, which are intended for panniers:

(See picture of pannier mounts)

And mount them all on the bottom of the box, all facing the same direction, so I can slide the box on to the rack from the side, and then secure it. Sound like a good or bad idea to you guys?

I use parts of an old saddle to secure my crate to the rack. Seems like those pannier mounts would be ideal, though you may have to find some way of stopping the crate from sliding fore/aft. A couple of well-placed wooden blocks fixed to the bottom of the crate would suffice, spaced to fit between the cross-pieces of the rack.

More pics. It came out just bigger than a paper grocery bag.
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00137.jpg
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00139.jpg
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/PartsMan/cam00140.jpg
(Yes I will part with the Honda XL350. No it does not run.)

Of all the boxes and crates I've seen on bikes, that has to be the best looking of them all. Well done!