Converting Silverware Box Into A Pen Box

[Write Again]

Okay, so I bought this vintage silverware box a few years ago at an antique store for less than $5. It looked like a perfect candidate to become a pen box. Until today the box has just sat in my office. I decided it was time to transform it into a pen box.

 

Here's what the box looked like when I bought it.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/660DFBBC-9232-4243-ACE0-3C0E78EDA1C5_zpsny6oflss.jpg

 

Lid and drawer removed. Also, removed all the old lining from the box.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/6C6A0C1E-29AE-47DB-9316-D30E776CE273_zpsydlhcihc.jpg

 

Here you can see the top shelf is missing and the wooden lip it sits on is broke, so that'll be fixed and I'll make it a stackable 2-layer shelf.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/1F2B0059-A435-43B9-B6C5-B3FA4A04A85F_zpstur9cyre.jpg

 

Got the lid all sanded down, also bought some antique brass hinges.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/51070F66-A2D4-47A5-9A1E-905F47F64F3D_zps0mt5rj03.jpg

Edited December 4, 2014 by kovey10

[Shangas]

I had a project like this. It was lots of fun. I now have space for up to 100+ pens.

[Write Again]

I had a project like this. It was lots of fun. I now have space for up to 100+ pens.

So far it has been quite a bit of fun. I should be able to hold a decent amount of pens in it too. That'll be nice, because I have a bunch of little boxes all holding 10-12 pens each.

[Art]

Nice project. I'm looking forward to your progress.

[Write Again]

Thanks, Art! It's coming along. Will post more pics of my progress later today.

[Write Again]

Here's a quick little update. Haven't had as much time as I would like on this box, but it's coming along.

 

I've got the outside of the box, lid, and drawer sanded. I'd say sanding is about 90% down on those 3, box is smooth now and all the old stain is removed. Next, I need to work on the inside, I'm not overly worried about that since it will be cover in felt, but I'm sure I'll end up sanding it just as much as the outside once I get going on it.

 

Here's what's next on the list:

 

-Pick out a color for the box, I'm leaning towards something lighter to help show off the box joints.

-Build a new main tray for the box and make it so I can stack 1 or 2 more trays on top of it.

-Add a bottom to the drawer.

-Line the drawer, inside of the lid, and inside of the box with felt.

 

After that I should be ready to throw on the hinges, latch for the lid, and knob for the drawer.

 

Only really updated picture I have right now, just shows where the box is now. Once I get some color on the wood and everything else built for it I'll add more pictures.

 

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/EA6A9D53-470F-4150-ADF1-3F96943A4126_zpsln006f9n.jpg

[Barnaby Bumble]

Neat project, kovey. I'd never even thought about using a silverware box.

 

Topic followed!

[Write Again]

Neat project, kovey. I'd never even thought about using a silverware box.

 

Topic followed!

Thank you!! It hadn't dawned on me to use a silverware box either until I saw a bunch of them for sale cheap at the antique store, so I took a look at them and found one that looked big enough to hold a decent amount of pens.

[Barnaby Bumble]

The nearest thing I have is a very fancy wooden cigar box. It even has a lock. How to convert to pen storage has been rolling around in the back of my head for a while, so I'll be especially interested in how you make your trays.

[my63]

Nice work it will look great once finished

[Write Again]

The nearest thing I have is a very fancy wooden cigar box. It even has a lock. How to convert to pen storage has been rolling around in the back of my head for a while, so I'll be especially interested in how you make your trays.

I've been using various cigar boxes for years now, but nothing fancy that's for sure!

 

I have a few ideas for the trays that I've been tossing around. I'm not sure if I want to make stackable wooden trays with pen slots or use the trays from go pens and lay them into wooden frames, again being stackable.

 

Nice work it will look great once finished

Thanks, that's what I'm hoping. I just want to get as many of my pens in 1 place and not scattered across the office.

[Write Again]

I was able to squeeze in a few hours over the weekend to work on my box. For the most part all the major portions of the project are done.

 

I got the lip for the main box tray done.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/4D97FB86-B79D-470C-8065-69A834A1C0BC_zpsifo7rygy.jpg

 

Both sides done, waiting for the tray to be put in.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/180D63F6-3E2C-49A5-8251-8381BF8DC8CB_zps1haxori8.jpg

 

Tray cut to size and set in the box.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/B445F8E5-D098-4C4C-840D-43E6E91F56FB_zpspwrmyrrp.jpg

 

Also, finished up with the bottom of the drawer.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/F2FD3217-8ADA-456E-9E7E-6A56B289CEDA_zps8imji7zm.jpg

 

And this is where we are at now.

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/930C3EFC-311C-4E09-92A4-5EA5EDA18B43_zpsdcwsibw1.jpg

 

Haven't decided if I am going to use Go Pens or Pendora trays to fill the drawer and box tray, but that's not overly needed just yet.

[MrThoth]

Looks like you're making great progress -- good luck with the rest of the project!

[Wandering Man]

Hmmm ... Wife had better hide her mother's silverware box ...

[Write Again]

Looks like you're making great progress -- good luck with the rest of the project!

Thanks, it sure is coming along. All that's left now is: stain, hardware, and line the box with felt.

 

Hmmm ... Wife had better hide her mother's silverware box ...

Haha a safer bet might be trying to track one down without the sentimental value attached.

[Barnaby Bumble]

Nice! It's going to be really interesting to see how it goes when you start putting pens in it. How many it holds, if there's much unusable space due to dimensions, etc.

 

It's looking good.

[Write Again]

I know I'm going to lose some space from putting the trim piece in to support the main shelf. Maybe I'll tweak it up a bit and see if I can gain some space, but we'll see.

[Barnaby Bumble]

Oh, I was just thinking of how well the box dimensions match up with the average fountain pen size.

[Write Again]

Oh, I was just thinking of how well the box dimensions match up with the average fountain pen size.

Oh okay I see what you're saying now, the inside of the box is 14"x10", so I can probably double up pens in some spots, but we'll see when I get the trays how many I can squeeze in.

[Write Again]

Okay, I was able to get the box stained today and lay down some blue felt. All that's left to do now is throw on the hinges and finish felting the lid and drawer.

 

http://i723.photobucket.com/albums/ww233/kovey10/Pens/071F3CEC-E7C6-492A-980B-76B2D5C900A8_zpsioqtps1a.jpg