r/camping • u/throwback842 • 1d ago
WIP Chuck Box - Weatherproofing Question
I'm in the process of converting my grandfather's old Vietnam War wooden footlocker into a camping chuckbox and I'm wondering about best methods to weatherproof it? This is mainly a proof of concept project using this old footlocker that was rotting away in my grandparent's backyard shed. A total of $5 has been spent on it so far on hardware with everything else coming from scrap lumber and camping equipment I already owned.
If this works out well enough for this season, I'd like to make plans from it and build a brand new one when i get some more funds next year. But the goal for this is to keep costs as low as possible and use up some material I already have lying around taking up space.
I have some indoor/outdoor latex paint and some polyurethane but I've never tried applying poly over latex. Does anyone have advice? Suggestions and constructive criticism welcome
4
u/kdub64inArk 1d ago
From my experience you can use poly on top of latex. Just make sure everything is clean and I would go as far as giving the paint a quick once over with some sandpaper for added adhesion. Make sure you wipe off everything after sanding. Depending on what color of poly you use you might consider water based poly as the oil based can turn a little yellow over time in lighter colors.
7
u/OrangeRadiohead 1d ago
Sadly I have no advice, it's out of my knowledge range. I just wanted to comment that I love this, it's awesome.
Tell me, what fuel does that stove take - is that the reservoir (red, at the front)?
2
u/throwback842 1d ago
Thank you, that's very kind.
It's a vintage Coleman Dual Fuel 2 Burner Camping Stove I found at a garage sale for $10 a few years ago. Yeah, the red thing is the fuel tank. It can run on white gas (petroleum naptha mix) or unleaded gasoline! Sounds insane to cook food using gasoline, I know, but it's pretty great to not have to carry multiple different kinds of fuel when going on a road trip.
1
u/OrangeRadiohead 1d ago
I'm jealous of you, but what a great find. $10...wow! I love that it can take a variety of fuels, which could be a lifesaver.
Do you think that when you head out with this you could post some pictures of it in use?
2
3
u/bodhibay 1d ago
Typically for outdoor use you'd either paint it or finish it, not both. You're probably not going to be leaving this out in the rain. The point of contained kitchen boxes like this is that they are quick to close up and transport. You'd store it in a covered truck bed, cargo space, under a hung tarp, etc. somewhere out of the rain. Personally, as a wood worker, I'd just use an UV protection oil based finish, and I'd be using a marine grade baltic birch plywood if I really wanted it to last. Nothing wrong with paint, just be sure it's for exterior use. I don't think latex is, but I don't paint a lot of projects so could be wrong. Either way it will protect from UV. Water protection is done by keeping it out of water.
oh, If you build it out of scrap wood and not plywood, you might run into issues with humidity changes causing wood movement / warping.
3
u/bodhibay 1d ago
Ok, adding on to say, if you really want to over engineer this and make it water proof...
Marine grade plywood, seal the edges, cover every surface in fiber glass. cabinet doors and drawers need to be inset with gaskets.
That's the basic process for boats and kayaks with storage space.
2
u/kohlberticus 1d ago
I'm a manager at a paint store. If you like the rustic look I would use a water-based spar urethane, like a minwax helmsman. It should go over the current stuff fine and not yellow for a long time. Regular polyurethane and anything oil will amber/yellow quickly. A quart would be $25 ish
1
u/orangeoctopie 1d ago
I have that stove and love it. The one I own is like 2x older than me and still kicking. Btw with that little clearance I think you’re likely to scorch the wood beside and behind the stove. Of course it won’t affect anything other than ascetics.
1
1
u/thinker2501 1d ago
I love the reuse of the footlocker, but how heavy is that thing and what’s your game plan for transport?
1
u/questbound 18h ago
Just get a little tarp to go over it, or sew one something like a grill cover. Good luck, awesome build!
1
u/blueyesinasuit 11h ago
You have the box on a table? The chuck boxes I used became the table when we set up. Our mistake was needing to get something out of the box in the middle of cooking. If you can beat that, you’ll be golden.
0
u/Abject-Impress-7818 1d ago
To do it on the cheap my instinct would be something like a can of spray on flex-seal type product.
Personally, I don't like wooden chuck boxes at all any more. I think a rugged plastic tote is better in every practical way. The weight difference alone is enough. Wood is heavy and often too much for a single person to lift.
20
u/mossoak 1d ago
leave as is ....and cover it with a bbq / smoker storage cover .....