Sunday DIY: See the light

Make your own emergency supplies storage unit. Photo / Michael Craig

Greig Morgan shows how to make this practical emergency kit

With winter nearly upon us, it's also the time of year we can expect the occasional power outage. But smart cookies won't get caught in the dark, not if they put together a blackout buster box, a one-stop spot to store all the things you need when the plug is pulled.

Torches, candles, matches, batteries, this kit will leave you sitting pretty, a shining example to the neighbours. So, don't make excuses, just make sure you're prepared.

Step 1 - Measure and mark the length and width of the base, keeping in mind the storage space needed to house your items. Using a square, scribe pencil lines to the marks and then, using a sharp handsaw, cut along the waste side of the lines.

Step 2 - Measure and cut two side pieces at the same length as the base by the height required. Mine was about 200mm high.

Step 3 - Measure, mark and cut two end pieces to fit flush and between the side pieces. When cutting the height of your end pieces, make them about 70mm higher than the side pieces to create handles.

Step 4 - To make the handles on the end pieces, measure and mark about 15mm down from the top centre, then about 25mm down again. Now measure and mark about 50mm either side of the centre pencil marks. Join the lines together rounding off the ends.

Step 5 - Using an appropriately sized drill bit, about 12mm, to fit a jigsaw blade, drill a hole inside the pencil lines. Now, using the jigsaw, carefully cut along the waste side of the lines.

Step 6 - Using a square on the base, measure and mark spaces for the dividers.

Step 7 - With all of the framing components cut to size and shape, scribe a pencil line along each side of the base 6mm in. Mark points at even spaces for screws to fix the side pieces to the base.

Then fix the side pieces to the end pieces, allowing the screw head to sit just below the surface.

Step 8 - Measure and cut dividers at appropriate heights to accommodate batteries, candles, torches, and whatever else is required for your blackout buster.

Step 9 - Fix the dividers from the sides at the pencil lines on the base, and wherever else is needed.

Step 10 - Fill all screw holes with putty. Allow the putty to dry before sanding off smooth. Remove all sharp edges with sandpaper, ready for painting.

Materials
• 12mm MDF
• 25mm screws
• Wood filler
• 120grit sandpaper
• Paint
• Torches
• Flashlight
• Candles
• Spare batteries
• Lighter

Tools
• Sharp handsaw
• Jigsaw
• Screw gun
• Drill bit 12mm
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Square
• Putty knife
• Paint brush