How To Make A Beer Crate For 12oz Beer Bottles

[UncleDavid]

This crate will hold a case of 12oz beer bottles with dividers to protect your homebrew. The design is based on the original Two Picket Beer Crate so if you are having problems putting this one together read the detailed instuctions for the Two Picket Beer Crate for help. This crate is made from 1x2 and 1x3 furring strips and is held together with 2 1/2 finishing nails and wood glue. The antique finish is done with a steel wool and vinegar mixture. You can find how to do the finish and how to emboss your own logo in the Two Picket Beer Crate detailed instructions as well.


Download the detailed plans here.

Download the divider template here.

 

[davis119]

Subd

 

[JoshuaWhite5522]

Very cool. Thanks for the write up!

 

[cwdrake]

Awesome! Thanks!

 

[nutty_gnome]

Will this plan accomodate a case of the shorter fatter bottles like those used by Sierra Nevada?

 

[quick5pnt0]

Sweet!

 

[scottvin]

awesome, I am going to make one this weekend!

 

[Lancer033]

very nice. Thanks for the plans

 

[JonGrafto]

UncleDavid...

What did you use for the insignia? A standard wood burning tool?

Edit: Nevermind.. I saw from the picket fence post that you just print it on paper in reverse and iron it onto the box.

 

[Homercidal]

Would this be suitable for anything other than Budweiser?

 

[eobie]

Will this plan accomodate a case of the shorter fatter bottles like those used by Sierra Nevada?

I measured the sierra nevada bottles and they will fit without the dividers.. i havent built it yet so I suggest you double check.

 

[eobie]

I measured the sierra nevada bottles and they will fit without the dividers.. i havent built it yet so I suggest you double check.

Just built it. Sierra Nevada Bottles DO fit. I am not using the divider..

 

[JonGrafto]

Just cut all of my wood at lunchtime. Assembly tonight.

 

[scottvin]

I made one crate with another wood already cut. I will post a pic tonight

 

[JonGrafto]

Tried to assemble tonight and every piece of wood kept splitting. Ticking me off. Gave up for now. What size nails or screws is everyone using for the firring strips???

 

[quick5pnt0]

Tried to assemble tonight and every piece of wood kept splitting. Ticking me off. Gave up for now. What size nails or screws is everyone using for the firring strips???

Try pre-drilling the holes first if you haven't already.

 

[nds34d]

Tried to assemble tonight and every piece of wood kept splitting. Ticking me off. Gave up for now. What size nails or screws is everyone using for the firring strips???

I used a pneumatic stapler and some wood glue. It is holding together great.

 

[TyTanium]

Post pics!

 

[Reaver]

I used a pneumatic stapler and some wood glue. It is holding together great.

This is my plan when I do it.

 

[ScootNJ]

The plans look good. I am going to use them to build at least two crates. Thanks for the work that you put into this.

 

[mmurray]

Awesome! Been thinking about this for a while!

 

[JonGrafto]

I used a pneumatic stapler and some wood glue. It is holding together great.

I ended up putting one together at lunchtime today. I used 1" brad nails (probably should have used 1 1/4") with my electric nailer. Went super fast and looked good... Firring strips are sometimes crooked so you have to watch out for the squareness when picking out wood.

All in all, looked good and without the dividers, I was able to fit 26 standard bottles.

 

[Phyrst]

This is awesome, and I like the aesthetic touches you put on them to make them not look like something you want to hide in the closet or garage when company comes over. I have way more bottles than cardboard cases to store them in, and last night I had a few of those boxes get destroyed in a water leak. I think I'm going to build a few of these. You have inspired me, sir!

 

[jybingbrew]

I made one slight modification that allows you to cut the # of pieces of lumber (assuming 8') from 4 pieces (2 of each) to 3 pieces by replacing the 5 17" slats made with the 1x2 with 4 17" pieces made with the 1x3.

This will actually let you make 2 full crates with 5 total piece since the 1x2 strip can be used across 2 differen crates by only using it for the vertical pieces.

Summary of the breakdown for one crate:

1x3: 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 18.5 | 10.5 | 10.5
1x3: 10.5 | 10.5 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 17
1x2: 10 | 10 | 10 | 10

Thanks for sharing this idea, and thanks to the original fence picket too! Awesome being able to make 2 crates for less than $5 (I didn't do the dividers).

 

[JonGrafto]

This is the third one that I have made in the past week. Small mods but looks good. I am going to use the vinegar and steel wool trick to condition it. Here are some pics.

 

[Supurb]

That is sharp looking ! Great job ! I made some with plans from here, they also turned out great.

http://www.beerclings.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=81

 

[MMachi]

Stopped at Lowes this morning and picked up some materials. A few hours later I have my first of many crates ready for finishing. This is a great low cost project! I used wood glue and a mixture of 1" staples and 1 5/8" brads with my pneumatic nailer and it's nice! Thanks!

 

[WoolyBooger]

I made one of these today. Just a couple comments, the logo process didn't work well for me. It only transferred to the high spots on the wood grain. I didn't sand it, maybe you could get it flat enough to work. Also, I am making dividers, but I will use my own measurements. The measurements for the picket design would be smaller than my crate. Overall though, I am really happy with it and I will definitely make more. Thanks for posting the instructions!

 

[jtswkd]

I just made 3 of these, for abut 4.66 + tax a piece can't beat it! used some old cardboard for dividers and the bottle are held snug. Also added some small tabs using scraps that allow them to be stacked securely.

If I had a chop saw mine would be a lot prettier, but close enough for beer!

 

[Vellum]

I just made four of these at about $2.50 each. Hopefully the picture loads.

 

[davis119]

I just made four of these at about $2.50 each. Hopefully the picture loads.

View attachment 57220

hows the stability 4 high ?

 

[MMachi]

Stopped at Lowes this morning and picked up some materials. A few hours later I have my first of many crates ready for finishing. This is a great low cost project! I used wood glue and a mixture of 1" staples and 1 5/8" brads with my pneumatic nailer and it's nice! Thanks!

<img src="https://www.homebrewtalk.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=57072"/>

Ended up with 3 case size and 1 that fits a dozen that I'll use as my "travel case". I also found some thin steel rods that I fit between some partial pilot holes as a guide. I only have them going lengthwise at this point, but I may break down and add the short ones too to make a grid. Now to do the steel wool/vinegar trick and iron on some logos!

 

[Vellum]

hows the stability 4 high ?

It seems pretty sturdy not that I would put it in a place where it was easy to bump. It is against a wall on two sides but isn't leaning on either. I would have liked to offset the vertical slats so they hooked on each other like milk crates but i made all my cuts by hand with a japanese pull saw so they werent entirely square.
Each one has twentyeight or so full bottles of beer weighing it down which I think helps too.

 

[T-Dan]

very useful! thanks

 

[UncleDavid]

Ended up with 3 case size and 1 that fits a dozen that I'll use as my "travel case". I also found some thin steel rods that I fit between some partial pilot holes as a guide. I only have them going lengthwise at this point, but I may break down and add the short ones too to make a grid. Now to do the steel wool/vinegar trick and iron on some logos!

View attachment 57265

View attachment 57266

Great idea!!! I wonder how your concept would work with nylon cord threaded into a grid pattern? I think I might try that. Nylon cord is cheaper than 1/8 inch hard board and easier to work with.

 

[pigroaster]

I plan on using plastic core board to divide bottles. Look at real estate signs if you don't understand what I mean. It runs around $8.00 a sheet (4 x 8) here in Canada but you could probably get them free after any election!!!!

It looks like plastic cardboard. Sorry no photos as I am working on hop poles today!

 

[autobaun70]

Made this slightly modified version tonight. I spaced the vertical ends out by 1/8" to allow for a hard board panel to be used to block out the light.

On the end panels I added (3) 1x3 x 10" boards vertically. This allowed a space to cut a grove for another hard board panel lid, again for light blocking purposes. Also, when multiple cases are stacked they will lock together somewhat.

I have enough material to build 6 of these, this one was just the trial run.

If you want to save some $ on the hard board get a 4x8 sheet and have it cut down into 2 4x4 sheets in the store. Home depot will do 2 cuts for free. This cuts the hard board cost by more than half and is still easy to haul home.

 

[davis119]

If you want to save some $ on the hard board get a 4x8 sheet and have it cut down into 2 4x4 sheets in the store. Home depot will do 2 cuts for free. This cuts the hard board cost by more than half and is still easy to haul home.

Sorry man but this makes no sense. I think the cashier messed up
They let u buy half a sheet?
Did u mean cut time in half?

 

[autobaun70]

Sorry many but this makes no sense. I think the easier messed up

Did u mean cut time in half?

No, the 2x4 panel cost 4 and change. The 4 x 8 cost 8 and change.

 

[davis119]

No, the 2x4 panel cost 4 and change. The 4 x 8 cost 8 and change.

Im confused u started with a 4x8 sheet and they cut it. And let u pay for just what u wanted?
Im just asking cuz its good to know when I make them