If you mean the small pagoda-inspired box featured in WOOD magazine, the closest match is the WOOD Store Pagoda Box Downloadable Plan. It is credited to woodworker David Selditz and lists finished dimensions of 5-1/4 inches wide, 6-1/2 inches long, and 5-3/8 inches high. Its signature challenge is a lid curved in two directions, for which the plan description says it includes jig plans.
Which plan matches “Pagoda Box Woodworking Plan”?
The exact match is WOOD Store’s downloadable Pagoda Box plan. The listing credits the design to Bellingham, Washington, woodworker David Selditz, and says the project appeared in WOOD issue 176, May 2007. The page was updated January 16, 2024; check the live listing for current purchase and availability details.
WOOD describes the design as rooted in Asian architectural style and form, with an emphasis on beauty through simplicity. The listing gives these overall finished dimensions:
| Dimension | WOOD Store listing |
|---|---|
| Width | 5-1/4 inches |
| Length | 6-1/2 inches |
| Height | 5-3/8 inches |
These are the retailer’s stated overall dimensions, not measurements independently verified from a completed build. The available listing information does not establish a full cut list or skill-level rating.
#1 Best Overall
- MATERIALS NOT INCLUDED, PAPER PLAN ONLY
- Plan features step by step instructions with detail photographs
- Exploded illustrations for various project steps
- A cut list and cutting diagram
- Get hands on this Christmas! Woodcraft is proud to be America’s leading supplier of high-quality woodworking hand tools, power tools, domestic and exotic wood, shop supplies, project plans and kits, plus so much more! Our family of brands include Highpoint professional-grade fasteners and hardware, and precision-engineered Pinnacle tools. Our products make the perfect holiday gift for anyone that loves woodworking.
What makes the lid the key part of the build?
The lid is not a simple flat panel: the official WOOD instructional video describes it as curved in two directions and shaped with a compound cut. That combination makes its setup more demanding than the box’s small finished size might suggest.
The plan listing says the download includes jig plans for sanding the lid bottom and for bandsawing and spindle-sanding the lid top. WOOD’s video, updated July 6, 2025, illustrates a plywood jig with a 13-degree bevel and a drill-press-based setup. Treat that bevel as a detail of the demonstrated jig arrangement, not a universal setting for other boxes or methods. The video helps explain the lid-shaping approach, but it is not identified as a substitute for the downloadable plan.
In the video description, WOOD magazine Master Craftsman Chuck Hedlund says: “The gracefully curved top of the Pagoda Box in issue 176 (May 2007) may look complicated, but Chuck Hedlund designed two simple jigs that make the job a breeze.”
What to check before choosing this project
Before committing, compare the plan’s shaping method with the machines and workspace available to you. The listing specifically names bandsawing and spindle-sanding jigs; the video also shows jig and drill-press setup. The sources do not establish that every builder must use precisely the same machine arrangement, nor do they provide a complete alternative hand-tool method.
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Rank #3
- MATERIALS NOT INCLUDED, PAPER PLAN ONLY
- Build it yourself with full size traceable patterns (where needed)
- Measured drawings and diagrams for assembly
- A list of materials and instructions for building and cutting
- Get hands on this Christmas! Woodcraft is proud to be America’s leading supplier of high-quality woodworking hand tools, power tools, domestic and exotic wood, shop supplies, project plans and kits, plus so much more! Our family of brands include Highpoint professional-grade fasteners and hardware, and precision-engineered Pinnacle tools. Our products make the perfect holiday gift for anyone that loves woodworking.
- Confirm that you can follow the plan’s jig drawings and reproduce the lid’s compound shaping safely.
- Review the downloadable plan itself for its complete material list, dimensions of individual parts, and any additional tools or steps before buying lumber or preparing stock.
- Do not borrow materials or tool requirements from a different pagoda-style box: the Woodcraft project below has a separate drawer-based design.
How is the Woodcraft Pagoda-Style Jewelry Box different?
Woodcraft also offers paper and downloadable versions of a plan called Pagoda-Style Jewelry Box, but it is a different project, not another format of the WOOD Store box. Its associated build article describes drawer-based construction, including V-grooved legs and slides, splined mitered drawer corners, and a raised-panel top.
| Comparison | WOOD Store Pagoda Box | Woodcraft Pagoda-Style Jewelry Box |
|---|---|---|
| Plan formats established in the sources | Downloadable plan | Paper and downloadable plans |
| Finished dimensions established in the sources | 5-1/4 inches wide × 6-1/2 inches long × 5-3/8 inches high, per the WOOD Store listing | Not stated in the cited Woodcraft pages |
| Storage layout | Box with a distinctive curved lid; the listed plan description does not specify drawers | Drawer-based construction, described in the Woodcraft build article |
| Notable construction detail | Two-direction curved lid; listing says jig plans cover lid-bottom sanding and lid-top bandsawing and spindle-sanding | V-grooved legs and slides, splined mitered drawer corners, and a raised-panel top |
Choose by the form and construction you actually want: the WOOD Store design centers on the curved lid, while the Woodcraft article’s project organizes storage around drawers. Woodcraft’s article also discusses router work, dowels, drawer bottoms, liner material, walnut, plywood, and clear finish; those details belong to that project and are not a bill of materials for the WOOD Store plan. The sources do not support a reliable comparison of build time or relative difficulty.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
- You build it plans for a large, sturdy raised planter. All screwed and bolted construction for long life.
- Woodworking plans include photos at every step!
- Build out of common 5/4" pressure-treated deck boards. With some intermediate woodworking skills and common shop tools, you can build this planter in a weekend. Makes a great gift!
- Raised bed is perfect for square-foot and container gardens. Can even be placed on a deck or patio.
- Plans are send to you on a USB thumb drive in PDF format. Detailed plans include full-color photos and easy to understand instructions. 39 pages total. 8 1/2 x 11" pages can be printed or viewed on your computer.
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