Help: need a wooden box

I've just ordered a beautiful chrome front rack for my girlfriend's build, now all I need left is to find a wooden box pretty much like this;

Now obviously building one shouldn't be hard but right now I really don't have the time to make one and since the deadline (otherwise known as christmas) is closing by, do anyone got any idea of where to get such box that should be sturdy enough to be used as a bicycle basket?

try wine shops like threshers

Your spending way too much money on that build!

I hope your girlfriend appreciates the attention to detail.

In terms of box, I would say a crate from the fruit market but you dont want it to be half arsed do you? And finding a decent sized sturdy one to buy would cost loads and probably be heavy & not waterproof.

I say go with the build, you dont have to give the whole thing in one go! You can give her the box at some later date as a spontaneous gift. Spread the generousity over more time for extended happiness value innit.

Well... I think if you want one quickly you shouldn't waste your time trying to source a shitty box that is the wrong size, but get down to a joinery/cabinet making workshop and ask them for the 4 sides and base cut to size, and then glue and screw it together yourself.
You either need it to be covered in a good weather resistant finish, or at least have it made of a weather resistant wood. So not birch ply cos it'll go black.
It'd take a machinist 10 minutes to prep the wood for you, if they've got the type you want.
Avoid Travis Perkins at all costs.

Your spending way too much money on that build!

I hope your girlfriend appreciates the attention to detail.

well, my plan is to build the bike to look exactly as if it came off the Raleigh factory in the 1970s.

my budget is actually £300, the money came from the tax return that the government own me.

And finding a decent sized sturdy one to buy would cost loads and probably be heavy & not waterproof..

You either need it to be covered in a good weather resistant finish, or at least have it made of a weather resistant wood

going to let it weather a bit, and then paint some wood varnish on it, a la fast boy bike;

(I actually got the wooden mudguard to go with it from him).

Nice one, well in that case get hold of some reclaimed pitch pine or douglas fir. Or nick a good old scaffold plank and pay some one to clean and cut it up.

Or.... you could try an offy (a fairly posh one, not a special brew place), sometimes wine comes in presentation boxes that are designed for 3 bottles. Sometimes people don't want the box, and they're quite often fairly well made, and would look good with a coat of varnish.

good advice so far (and so fast at this time of night!), they're fantastic, especially the idea of finding a nearby joinery to ask them to build me a sturdy box (for hopefully not a lots of money).

good advice so far (and so fast at this time of night!), they're fantastic, especially the idea of finding a nearby joinery to ask them to build me a sturdy box (for hopefully not a lots of money).

I'm meant to be writing a report, so writing about woodwork is an all too easy distraction for me (I was a cabinet maker, so essentially used to make posh wooden boxes for a living)

"I make posh wooden boxes for a living"

I bet you use that as a chat up line mate!

I think that's where I was going wrong....

A carpenter worth his salt would build one in an hour(s).... A joiner / timber framer builds houses with a nail gun and a hammer, don't ask them lol.

"I make posh wooden boxes for a living"

I bet you use that as a chat up line mate!

Probably gets better results that way than saying he makes coffins...

http://ciclismodesign.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/wood-box-update-project-chaboo/

This guy added me as a contact on Flickr and he's always posting images of interesting things so I thought his blog post about wooden boxes would be of help. Good luck.

i reckon nicking a shopping basket from ur local supermarket would be a better idea - less likely to disentergrate after getting wet etc. plus in my opinion would look nicer.
howver, if u/the missus has your heart set on wood... this has been a very unproductive post! :)

i reckon nicking a shopping basket from ur local supermarket would be a better idea - less likely to disentergrate after getting wet etc. plus in my opinion would look nicer.
howver, if u/the missus has your heart set on wood... this has been a very unproductive post! :)

I'm building a bike that should look as if it from the 70's and a plastic blue basket with "TESCO" written across it will defintely add a 'classic' feel to it!

http://ciclismodesign.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/wood-box-update-project-chaboo/

This guy added me as a contact on Flickr and he's always posting images of interesting things so I thought his blog post about wooden boxes would be of help. Good luck.

perfect, that gave me some brilliant idea.

if the missus has her heart set on wood...

I'm building a bike that should look as if it from the 70's and a plastic blue basket with "TESCO" written across it will defintely add a 'classic' feel to it!

alright mate, chill out - i was thinking more along the lines of the chromed old school baskets... if u fall off ur high horse i hope u break a bone or three!

£20 ono

alright mate, chill out - i was thinking more along the lines of the chromed old school baskets... if u fall off ur high horse i hope u break a bone or three!

sorry mate I was joking about in my post, didn't meant to come off sounding rude.

ed - drop in to a small but quality wine shop. buy yourself a nice bottle of vino and ask for a wooden box. If they are decent people they should sort you out.

I know for sure that The Sampler on Upper St, Islington definitely do this. I have a few beautiful Bordeaux boxes at home. They also have great wine on offer.

sorry mate I was joking about in my post, didn't meant to come off sounding rude.

thats cool mate, my response was a bit harsh - early morning grumpyness im afraid!

+1 to the wine shop idea

Ed - there's that nice wine place in Wimbledon across from the BMW dealership - they keep the wine on display in wooden crates that might do the trick.

well, my plan is to build the bike to look exactly as if it came off the Raleigh factory in the 1970s.

my budget is actually £300, the money came from the tax return that the government own me.

going to let it weather a bit, and then paint some wood varnish on it, a la fast boy bike;

(I actually got the wooden mudguard to go with it from him).

That bike looks amazing, i'd actually consider delivering bread/papers/sandwiches for a living if i could ride that!