A tip you may want to use if making your own paperboard boxes is to get an old rotary pizza cutter and really round off the edge, make it round and not sharp. Before you start folding up the box you cut out, lay a straight edge on the back side of where the fold will be and score it with the pizza cutter. The score will give you sharp, straight creases and make the folds very easy. It will probably be even easier if you do the scoring after you mark the cutout lines of the box but before you cut it out.

Jack Kuzepski

Jack, that's great advice for those of us who don't make a lot of cardboard folds. P.H., no need for him to adjust his patterns. I have already volunteered to send him patterns. Of course, I haven't heard from him.

Geez, sorry, I guess I didn't know I was working on your schedule. I've been busy designing and turning out some 10 ga., thin walled, brass hulls on our company's swiss lathe to go in the boxes first. I have to finish that project before I can design the boxes for them to go in. I guess I just need to keep to myself from now on.

Didn't mean to offend. I was just reminding Paul that there is not a need to adjust an existing pattern when a working pattern is available.

Don't worry about it. I should apologize, I think I was having a bad day earlier this week. Like most people, I get myself into too many projects at once and get overwhelmed sometimes.

I've been turning out some thin walled brass 10 ga hulls and mill engraving the Parker headstamp markings on them. I'm pretty pleased with how they are turning out. I need to load them up with some black powder and card wads and start trying them out over the next few weeks. If things work well I'll start designing some boxes for them.

Thanks again for the pattern offer. I'll keep that in mind when I'm ready to cross that bridge.

Forrest, a standard one piece box for 3 1/2" ten gauge shells may serve as a pattern for the 2 7/8" brass shells. A standard one piece box for 2 7/8" shells would serve as a pattern for star crimped paper or plastic 2 7/8" shells. Such boxes have curved edges on certain areas. A two piece box, in contrast, has all square edges on the pattern and would be easier to fabricate with hand tools, and would make a more impressive box. A two piece box also displays the headstamps and crimps of the shell, where the one piece box only displays the side of the shell. The only drawback of a two piece box is that it has to be glued or supported by a paper cover.

Forrest Try "The Old Western Scrounger" I was amazed at what he comes up with..

Why not just get a small wood box. Similar size to what you need that would be even more classic. Maybe oak ?

Just a idea http://www.etsy.com/listing/62279627...cat2_gallery_8

Bill, Is the 10 ga. pattern you have for a 2 piece box ? Thanks Dave