Why pay $300 or more for a Carton Stand?

I am a small business / e-bay seller. I box and ship a few times a month (some times more, some times less). I am always being offered boxes, but it was getting a little out of control!! I researched the possibility of buying a "Carton Stand" -- but it was at least $300 for the type and size I needed and I just don't have that kind of money!

But, as I looked closer at it, I thought "I can build that!" -- So I sketched it out using 2x4s, 1x2s and plywood and called Lowes who cut what I needed to length!!

Here's what I bought and how I had it cut:

1) Two by Four by 16 Foot. I had it cut into 4 pieces that were 45" long (throw away the scrap)
2) Two by Four by 10 Foot. I had them cut into 4 pieces that were 60" long (aka 5' each)
1) Two by Four by 8 Foot. I had it cut into 4 pieces that were 18" long (throw away the scrap)
6) One by Two by 8 Foot. I had them cut into 6 pieces 60" long and 10 pieces 18" long
1) 1/2" Plywood 4' x 8' in size. This I had them cut into 2 pieces that were 18" x 48" long and 5 pieces that were 12" x 48" long (those are not part of the project, I am going to use them elsewhere as shelving)

I also purchased a box of 2" wood screws and a box of 3" wood screws.
The whole project cost me $71.46 (including the PA state sales tax).

SO - the parts list includes:
4) 2"x 4"x 60" wood boards
4) 2"x 4"x 45" wood boards
4) 2"x 4"x 18" wood boards
6) 1"x 2"x 60" wood boards
10) 1"x 2"x 18" wood boards (It's not totally necessary to have this many -- I got this many because that's the amount of board I had left after cutting the Six 1"x 2"x 60" boards)
2) 1/2" Plywood boards 18"x 48"
1 Box 2" Wood Screws
1 Box 3" Wood Screws


STEP ONE: Using 3" Wood Screws, screw 2) 2"x 4"x 45" wood boards and 2) 2"x 4"x 18" wood boards together forming a box (place the 18" boards on the outside to ensure you have the complete dimensions of 18" x 48"). Try to keep everything square.

STEP TWO:  Place 1) 18"x 48" piece of 1/2" plywood on top of the box and screw into place. I used 10) 2" screws.

STEP THREE:  Repeat (for a total of 2 finished boxes)

STEP FOUR: 

Stand-up both boxes on their ends. Place 1) 2"x 4"x 60" along one 18" edge. I left 14" at the top. Repeat on all 4 edges. I used two 3" screws at each screw-point.

 

 

STEP FIVE:  Place boxes on their side. Space 3) 1"x 2"x 60" boards equally spaced on one 48" side (keeping them even with the bottom and 14" over the top).  I pre-drilled the holes using a 7/32 drill bit so that I didn't split the wood when I put in the 2" screws. I used one screw per screw-point.

 

STEP SIX: - Flip over and repeat!

 

 

STEP SEVEN: - I used a few of the 1"x 2"x 18" boards to put between the 2"x 4"s and the 1"x 2"s on the top to help keep the boxes from sliding between the 18" space if they were smaller than 18"

 

STEP EIGHT: Fill with boxes!!

 

 

I am a novice and did ask my husband to help with a couple things that I wasn't sure on, but this project took me 2 hours and I did it in a small cramped space. I would say this project is OK for a novice, and very easy for anyone with a little more experience!! PLUS it saved me over $200!!

 

P.S. I have extra 1"x 2"x 18" pieces that I have no use for, so maybe you might not want to ask for as many as I did!!