Patrol Box

metalspinner · April 10, 2012, 11:07:38 AM

Camping seems to have taken over my weekends since my oldest son has moved onto Boy Scouts from Cub scouts.

For those uninitiated to the Boy Scout way of life, the organization is supposed to be boy led. The adult leadership teaches, but the boys activities are supposed to be run by the scouts themselves. Which can be quite amusing when it comes time to make menus and shopping lists, go grocery shopping and watch the boys cook. :D Of course, the adults guide them a bit along the way, but ultimately, they have to make their own decisions and live with the consequences. I'll save the "Boiled Bacon" story for another day. :D :D The "Mom Prepared Cooked Chicken" story is another classic in our troop. :D :D

Anyway, the boys are off on their side of the camp sight cooking their meals with their equipment (more on that later). The leadership needed a patrol box, so I stepped up and cobbled something together. ;D

It's made of walnut and has a cooking side and a serving side.

The legs are white oak and slide up into an angled socket. The legs are braced with a cross member and a half lap joint.

A removable shelf slips onto each side for extra work surfaces.

I don't know if all this stuff will fit???

Of course, it does with plenty of room to spare.

Here's a video for a little tour through the kitchen...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sV-CWBMmqw&feature=youtu.be

Raider Bill · April 10, 2012, 11:54:08 AM

Chris,

Your workmanship, leadership and dedication to your Sons amaze me. You are a GREAT Father.

Red Pill · April 10, 2012, 12:06:33 PM

Very nice.

zopi · April 10, 2012, 12:07:45 PM

Nice! I wanted to build one on wheels for the girl scouts troops, as I was doing a bunch of the cooking (much better than making hemp bracelets.) when my wife and girls had some sort of spat with the administration and bailed on the whole thing.

I did come out of it with a nice set of cooking gear though. Never did get to build the patrol box.

metalspinner · April 10, 2012, 12:26:55 PM

Bil,
I'm just trying my best. I know at some point they will push me back a bit, but until then, I'll keep as close as I can.

Zopi,
I considered some sort of wheeled system. But this really doesn't make it too far off the beaten path. It really is convenient to have everything in one spot ready to go. It's small enough to set in the boat and motor off to some secluded spot, too. ;) I already have a couple of sights circled on my map. ;)

Jemclimber · April 10, 2012, 01:24:36 PM

Very nice, design and craftsmanship.

Magicman · April 10, 2012, 01:42:12 PM

Terrific Chris. The idea as well as the craftsmanship. It is amazingly similar to one that I built in 1966 from plans from Popular Mechanic. I gave it away or more accurately, it was not returned after the last person borrowed it. :-\

metalspinner · April 10, 2012, 02:23:43 PM

Ouch, MM.

I know how much (I think) I have spent an all the stuff in this box. To have it walk away like that is quite a hit in the wallet.

Axe Handle Hound · April 10, 2012, 02:28:23 PM

As always, beautiful work. I remember my dad building one similar to that when I was young and we were camping more often.

metalspinner · April 10, 2012, 02:44:33 PM

Our troop is fairly new and a bit unorganized. But we took care of that last week.

Here are some pics of the trailer all geared up and ready to go. To load the trailer, everything has to be placed in its proper position and in the right order. Otherwise, it all will not fit. Each of these pics are posted on the inside of the door with very specific instructions on how the trailer is to be loaded.

Level 1...

Level 2

Level 3

As you can tell, we have three patrols. Each patrol has their own kitchen box (level one onthe bottom), propane cylinder, camp stove, waterjug, ice chest, water cooler, folding table, and plastic tote for gear.

The other items are troop gear like canopy shelter, tarps, etc. There is still plenty of room in this 4' x 8' trailer. Our Scout master didn't think I could get it all in there. ;)

While building the patrol boxes, my camera battery was dead, so I don't have those pics, but will soon. It has basic kitchen cooking supplies - pot sets, utensils, mixing bowls, etc.

I delivered the trailer last night to their scout meeting, but I didn't have time to stay. They went through it all in a mock camp set up and teardown. That was the dress rehearsal. This weekend will be the performance at another camp out.

beenthere · April 10, 2012, 03:02:34 PM

Looks like fun. For sure it keeps the adults busy and entertained. ;D

thecfarm · April 10, 2012, 03:03:24 PM

That looks some nice.

scsmith42 · April 10, 2012, 04:37:38 PM

Quote from: Raider Bill on April 10, 2012, 11:54:08 AM
Chris,

Your workmanship, leadership and dedication to your Sons amaze me. You are a GREAT Father.

+10! Wow....

T Welsh · April 10, 2012, 06:16:36 PM

metalspinner, Your hard work and dedication will pay off in spades when your son reaches maturity. Scouting teaches young boys the way down the right path in life. My father was our scoutmaster and was double hard on me! and now I know why. My hats off to you! Tim

Magicman · April 10, 2012, 08:54:08 PM

I was never an actual leader, but a "helper Dad". Marty and I spent many weekends together on campouts.

And we are still doing it in Colorado each year in October.

WDH · April 10, 2012, 10:15:17 PM

Chris,

I have three daughters all three years apart, and my wife was troop leader for three troops. I know all about those camping trips. It was tough enough with girls; I can't imagine what it is like with boys

. We were nowhere as organized as you are. Hats off to you!

Then, to go and make a cooking box, and to make it out of walnut, wide plank stock no less, and to dovetail it, and make all the accoutrements perfectly designed for task says that you are a man who knows how to do things right and with a flair and with an eye towards beauty!

Once again, I am impressed!

Lud · April 10, 2012, 10:21:43 PM

I hope your boys got the chance to help you with the box a bit. What they and their Dad built for the troop can be a forever connection. 8)

metalspinner · April 11, 2012, 12:08:51 AM

Lud,
My oldest helped out quite a bit. He likes to catch the boards on the outfeed side of the planer and drum sander.

W,
I didn't mention the 18" wide walnut, but I'm glad you noticed. :D You know what's interseting? Each plywood patrol box I made for the boys cost me 2x's the money that the walnut box cost.

I had this box done - other than the finish - for our last camp out. Here is the first meal we cooked...

We kind of overdid it with this meal, but boy was it good. ;D

Here was the next mornings pancakes. We called these BackCountry Flapjacks. One ofthe other guys had some trailmix we sprinkled in there.