" This western red cedar deck storage box was built in a day. Not only to provide convenient storage, but to double as an extra seat. Cedar's natural preservatives make it perfect for outdoor projects that must stand up to weather year after year. In another segment, we built the top. Now, we build the box. The storage box is made up of one 8-foot 4 x 4s, meld down to 2/4 and 3/4 inches. Each post has 5/8-inch dado cut into both sides. To receive the side rails and the tongue-and-groove slots, the 3/4-inch slots are held in place by these dado. The rails are made of four 8-foot 2 x 4's. Each rail has 3/4-inch tongues cut into the end to insert into the post. The sides are made up from 8-foot lengths of tongue-and-groove board cut down to 16-inch sections. Likewise, each rail, top and bottom forming the sides has a 5/8-inch dado cut into the rail to hold the tongue-and-groove panels. The 3/4- inch tongue-and-groove panels simply rest in the slots and are neither glued nor nailed. Let's look at some details. Start by cutting a 3/4-inch tongue into each end of the eighth rail. The dados are cut with stacked dado blades, which were installed in the table saw. The slots for the 3/4-inch tongues on the end of the rails as well as for the tongue-and-groove slots"

" angle. Do the same for all four corners, upper and lower until all four posts are attached. The bottom of the box rests on 3/4-inch square cleats nailed 1-1/4 inches up from the bottom of the rail. Cut sections of 3/4-inch square cleats to the inside length and width of the four rails. Fasten the cleats with stainless steel brads set about six inches apart. The bottom is made up of two 1 x 6-inch boards. Spread a thin bead of wood glue along the edge. Smooth it in place and clamp the wood until it dries. When the glue is dry, scrape off the excess, and then measure and cut the boards to fit the inside dimensions of the bottom. The corners are cut off to allow room for the legs. And to provide for the free circulation of air. The bottom drops into place on the top of the cleats. One last step. Cut eight lengths of 3/4- inch square cleat material and install the slots under the rails at the bottom of the legs. This will further strengthen the storage deck, particularly when it doubles as another seat on your deck, and now the project is complete. Because there are natural oils from western red cedar, you don't need to apply any sealers or paint. Overtime, the cedar will naturally mellow to an attractive silver gray."