#build box

Why I Left Buildbox for Unity3D

You’d think this would be a quick and easy answer. It really is at the heart of things. Buildbox is geared towards churning out fast and cheap games. Essentially throwing shitat the wall in hope something sticks. It has endlessly contributed to the mountain of detritus littering the iTunes and Google play stores. Buildbox’s amazing easy of use, large graphical library and quick to publish games…

Why did I build a replica Nike shoe box?

I built a giant Nike Air Jordan shoe box for a client who collects Air Jordan Shoes. As a collector, he was fed up with storing Air Jordan shoes on the steps or in a closet. Different designs for this replica Nike shoe box are on the web and this collector asked me to make him a quality one of a kind box. I started to create the initial design with a 3D cad model, built on Google Sketchup, based on a picture the shoe collector provided. Both of us were excited to start the actual build of the Air Jordan shoe storage box. Let the build began!

How many shoes can it store?

This replica shoe box is HUGE! Dimensions are 42” x 27” x 22”. This oversized replica Air Jordan Shoebox can hold 16 pairs of size 11 shoes. That is quite a few shoes and ample storage for many collectors.

How is it constructed?

The construction of the giant shoe box is very simple, but also very study. The entire project is ½” MDF except the back of the main unit which is made of ¾” MDF. Since this replica shoe box is made for storing expensive Air Jordan shoes, I went with Rockler’s Torsion Hinges designed for ¾” stock to give the lid a feel of quality when opening the box.

On the main unit and drawer, I used rabbits for the joinery, held together with regular wood glue, ¾” brads, and I re-enforced the joints with 1.25” #6 wood screws. The lid is assembled with a simple butt joint with the same glue, brad, and screw fastening. The drawer is attached with full extension drawer slides.

MDF is heavy! How do you lift that lid?

I used ½” MDF for the lid so it is lighter than you would think. The length of the lid and the weight that is leveraged off the pivot point caused me to raise an eyebrow. In researching my options the Rockler’s Torsion Hinges jumped out at me. These hinges are under a torsion effect so they provide resistance to the movement of the lid. You would think this resistance makes the lid heavier and harder to move but it doesn’t! This resistance makes the lid much lighter! These hinges come in multiple finishes and 4 different inch-pound torsion ratings. 15, 30, 40 and 60 inch-pound ratings.

This hinge application is great for blanket chests, toy chests, or any project that has a concern where fingers could get pinched.

They will improve the feeling of closing heavy lids and add a touch of quality to your projects.

That took a lot of paint!

I used a about ¾ of a gallon of black latex paint to cover the entire contents of the project. Granted, this was 3 coats, but I wanted the finish to be thick and maintain its quality over time. I debated for a considerable time if I needed a coat of polyurethane over the top and finally decided this is going to be a decorative piece and would be fine without it. This is used storage for a shoe collection so it will be taken care of in a different fashion than some other projects might be.

It looks just like a real shoe box!

This project had to resemble the actual Nike Air Jordan shoe box. The size, proportions, label, and decorative decal all were researched heavily before the build began. I used pictures found on google, a real shoe box, and Sketchup to settle on an appropriate design.

I used my vinyl cutter and software to design and cut the vinyl for the project. I imported a picture into the software and it produced the design that I can send to my cutter. The application of the vinyl is the most important part as it’s a key detail in creating the perfect replica shoe box. In this particular project, the latex paint offers a lot of forgiveness for repositioning the vinyl. On other surfaces you have to use application fluid to get the same effect.

The project label was the hardest part about this project. I tried and tried to use my limited art design skills to generate a replica. I was unable to achieve an acceptable result, so I gave in and hired a graphics artist to replicate the product label. It really adds the extra touch to the project.

Additional Project Information

I hope the video will help bring the article together and give you the details on how to build your own Replica Nike shoe box. If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments of the video or connect with me on Glass Impressions Facebook Page.

      If you are interested in mid-project pictures and updates I encourage you to follow me on Instagram!

        Source Rockler’s Torsion Hinges