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It's August 19, 2004, as I write
this page. I am at a "work stoppage" on my engine and
suspension awaiting delivery of key parts. So, it occurred to me
that this might be a good time for me to replace the shipping container
for my torque plate. The nailed plywood and 1" x 2" pine
box has simply self-destructed. I've had several people just
recently ask about renting the plate, but haven't been able to ship it
without a box. So, today seemed like "the day" for a good
"quick" project. I started out to build a simple raw box,
but typical to my nature, I got kind of carried away...
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 Do
you agree? 
What started out as a raw box constructed
from scrap 3/4" MDF, turned into the "box from hell" at
left. Click the image to see a larger version.
First, I decided to custom fit the carcass
to the torque plate such that it would just fit into it with Neoprene
spacers all the way around. I reduced the height to eliminate
possible shifting in transit. MDF doesn't like nails, so I
pre-drilled for #8 x 1-1/2" screws and glued/screwed the
carcass. Then, I needed a way to secure the top. I didn't have
a piano hinge and locking latch on hand; so, I pre-drilled the top and
bottom together for #8-32 stainless steel machine screws and stainless
steel washers. Then, I went back and counter-bored the carcass holes
for metal inserts to accommodate the machine screws... all for
durability's sake of course.
I got to thinking that the box with the
torque plate inside was going to weigh a good bit and getting it off a
flat surface was going to be a challenge; so, I added full width legs
(which I routered flush as I did the top/bottom to frame, and then put a
1/2" round over to the bottom edge).
It was looking pretty good, but then I got
to thinking that MDF doesn't do too well in contact with moisture, and I
DO want this box to last. So, I filled the screw counter-bores with
wood putty topped with glazing putty and sanded it
"smooth". To keep the moisture damage in check, I added 4
coats of primer, sanded it "smooth" again, and topped it off
with a can of Dupli-Color Bed Liner Coating that I had left over from a
speaker project.
Finally, it occurred to me that the UPS
folks are likely to be pretty hard on the box, shoving it around
"hither and yon"; and MDF doesn't like impacts on edge and
corner, so I dug through the hardware bin and found a couple of sets of
left-over, brass, corner guards. They're brass, not silver, and
really are intended for decorative use, but they will offer substantial
protection.
In any event... I finally finished it
at about 2000hrs today, so the torque plate is now available for shipment
again. 
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