Having received a Petromax lamp from father Christmas I saw one of the wooden carrying cases and wondered how hard it could be to make one, would look quite nice with a bit of stain and polyurethane varnish. Anyone done it? Any advice I'm not much of a wood worker, am I becoming too ambitious driven by lockdown fever.
I’m about to make a few, with mahogany plywood and wallnut trim bits. I detest PU varnish, I would go with classic varnish or just plain oil it with linseed oil (boiled). It will instantly give the box a bit patina, matching old lantern inside.
Would be interested in your progress, I thought the PU varnish would be good in this application as there's always a chance of getting splashed with paraffin or meths, and would need something quite resilient to keep it looking tidy.
I’m maybe biased but that’s why I don’t like PU varnish: it resists quite a lot but once you need to repair such surface it is a pain to remove. Classic varnish just pops when you apply hot air, making ”wooding” the surface a child’s play. If you want bomb-proof surface then coating with clear epoxy would give you most resilient coat. I use WEST system, with their hardener containing also UV protectors. I’ll post pictures once I’m done with mine. I make it for Optimus 1200, my working lantern.
I've found these transport tubes on hytta.de Simple and lightweight. Very clever idea. I hope that gives you some ideas.
I’ve just starting a couple too, mainly as part of a gift for a friend’s birthday and then one for me too so I don’t feel left out. I’m not really geared up for joinery so spent today making a saw guide and a fairly lethal looking table saw. Box design complete, just need to build the box now.
@Kuman Just go to Biltema and buy a couple of tubes for casting concrete pillars, cut to length and make your own top and bottom. They work well.
That’s it @Nils Stephenson ! Thanks! (Although I’ll maybe look for big enough whisky bottle sold in such cardboard boxes - then I would have a good explanation why I need to buy this Scotch!)
Made some progress today. It isn’t fastened together yet. There’s a slot for a Perspex front to slide into and the lid will lift off. Just need to cut the handles in either side and oil it. Then cut the Perspex front. Pleased with it for a first attempt but have run out of steam for building myself one too. Will come back to it in the spring when it’s warmer and make another with some improvements. I do like the look of those tubes though!
There Are certaumly some old threads on lantern Transport boxes in This Forum. Yet, also in peer forums such was discussed. Lampenbox leicht selber bauen. - Pelam.de Forum https://www.pelam-forum.de/thread/3...stID=320396&highlight=transportbox#post320396 Transportkiste für die 150er aus 100% Recyclingmaterial - Pelam.de Forum
I recently made these travel cases. Made them big enough to hold a Coleman model 236. Used plastic bubble wrap around each lantern for protection. Right one is pine, center box is cedar side and maple top and bottom and left one is cedar.
Not sure if the same applies to other nation's military but in the UK we had the "list of changes" or LoC - in this I have found dimensions and specifications for things like Martini ammunition (for all those Rourke's drift fans) - I wonder if box specifictions for lantern transit cases in service exist ?
@rayw Nothing too fancy needed if it is to be moved around. Large rubber piece in bottom helps with jolts and protects mantle. Dimensions were 445 mm tall and 210 mm sides. Good luck, Iain
Got my box finished this weekend. Pretty pleased for a first attempt. Went with a magnetic hatch rather than a drawer for storage, less joinery. This one is for a birthday present for a friend. Will be building a few for myself in the spring when I will hopefully have the luxury of feeling my fingers whilst working. Still got a little leather strap and buckle to install to fix to the back of the box to be able to secure the lantern. Finished with a couple of coats of Danish oil. 2mm Perspex slides in to cover the front.
Good stuff so far. Why not screw a couple of suitably sized Terry (spring) clips to one of the rear corners just above the false floor and then you could store the spirit bottle upright with meths in it. Also some sort of small compartment about half-way up to store mantles in - then you could save a couple of inches on the height. Some sort of padding/packing to secure the lantern would be worth thinking about. I reckon the top opening is probably preferable. Just thinking aloud, really... What's the white plastic corrugated type thingie?
I'm sure I've also seen a box that had a wooden disk fastened onto the base so that the lamp base goes over it and is prevented from moving.
This is one of mine, made dozens over the years for mine and other local scout groups. Made from 8mm ply, external dimensions 205 x 380mm. Made as a solid as a solid box the 100mm cut off on a bandsaw to form the lid. A snap down handle on top to make them easier to stack. Also for transport, I spray the mantle with hairspray, helps with the odd bump or knock
Yes, the white corrugated thingy is a funnel. I never used it as I bought something more substantial, so threw it in to get my friend started. Finished it tonight with the strap to hold the lantern in place. Things I’d change for the next one but pretty pleased with it. For transportation of my lanterns I have an old battered solid box that came with a lantern I picked up and I generally stick a piece of pipe insulation down each corner to give it some padding. This box will mostly just sit in a summerhouse as a display case to keep the dust off between uses. Style over function in this case.
Nice box. Small detail; nice lantern you want to keep it nice during transport, so a box is made. But why not protect the tank against the bail which is hitting on the bulgy tank?
Good idea for the next box @WimVe. I don’t see this one as a box that would go camping though. This is a nice display case that will sit in a summerhouse for most of its life. Need something sturdier and more suited to being thrown in the trailer with the camping gear.
I've made quite a few boxes out of 6mm ply for transporting donut lamps in the back of my car. Size and weight matter, they're transport boxes not shipping crates. I tried that with a box for a Tilley OL51 and damned nearly gave myself a hernia lifting just the box. Make the box lighter and lift it gently into place.
Hi @Henry Plews , I think the box I have already is made of 6mm ply and it certainly does a job for transportation. “Throwing them in the trailer” - was meant figuratively! :-)
