3'×3' Shooting Box

Requirements

Gather the following items and quantities.

1. Two 2"×2"×8' furring strips.

2. A circular saw. A miter saw makes this easier.

3. A power drill. A drill press makes this easier.

4. One ½" wood or forstner bit.

5. One ⅛" wood bit.

6. Twenty 10×2½" decking screws.

7.  Sandpaper, or file/rasp.

8. Red outdoor paint. Any outdoor paint is acceptable here.

9. 5'×5' or larger cardboard sheet.

Notes

Painting the boxes is crucial to protect the wood from the elements. Boxes will have to be repainted periodically.

Instructions

Sand or file any rough edges as you go.

1. Cut all Wood Pieces.

   1. Cut the 2"×2"×8' furring strips into four 3' pieces.

   2. Cut the remaining 2' sections into four braces, each 9" long, with 45° inward cuts on both ends. This should result in symmetrical trapezoidal prisms 9" at the base, 6" at the top, and 1.5" high when viewed from the side.

2. Drill Holes.

   1. Drill pilot holes in each 3' furring strip using the ⅛" wood bit, ¾" from the top or bottom edge. In order to prevent splitting when driving the wood screws, do not skip this step.

      1. At one side, drill ⅛" holes at 4¼" and 5" from the end, then one dead center in the end grain.

      2. At the other side, drill ⅛" holes at ¾", 5¾", 6½", and 8" from the end.

   2. Drill a ½" hole through the ⅛" hole at the 8" mark. These will be used to stake the box into the ground with ⅜" common spikes. A ½" forstner bit is recommended for a cleaner hole

      1. To avoid tear-out on the back side of the workpiece, drill a ⅛" pilot hole. Drill the ½" hole halfway through the workpiece, then flip it and use the ⅛" pilot hole as a guide to finish the hole.

      2. Alternatively, complete the hole from one direction. Drill slowly.

3. Finish and Paint the Wood

   1. Sand any rough edges, or use the appropriate file.

   2. Paint the wood with two coats of paint. Allocate at least 12" of free space on all sides of the cardboard backer to avoid overspray if painting with spray paint. 18-24" is preferable.

4. Build the Box Frame.

   1. Arrange the four 3' pieces in a square with alternating butt joints. When the pieces are laid out, this should result in equal lengths on all sides (a square). If it doesn't, rearrange the pieces until it does.

   2. Secure each corner using one 10×2½" outdoor screw.

5. Install the Braces.

   1. Place one brace diagonally in each corner of the box.

   2. Drill ⅛" pilot holes for the brace screws, using the pilot holes drilled in the 3' sections as guides.

   3. Attach each brace using four 10×2½" screws.

Maintenance

Sand/file and repaint as needed.