How to Make a Blue Tick Rig Box

Keep your blue tick hounds safe and secure when riding through the woods to prepare to hunt. Blue tick rig boxes are metal boxes that fit in the back of a pickup truck. They are made with metal caging material to provide the dogs with proper ventilation. Build your own blue tick rig box using aluminum tubing and caging material. Aluminum is lightweight and it is also strong enough to provide a secure area for your hounds. A project like this is not highly complicated, although it will require knowledge of using a MIG welder.

Things You'll Need

  • Welding gloves
  • Welding shield
  • Welding jacket
  • Tape measure
  • MIG welder with aluminum reel
  • 4 aluminum tubes, square, 2 by 2 by 48 inches
  • 4 aluminum tubes, square, 2 by 2 by 36 inches
  • 4 aluminum tubes, square, 2 by 2 by 32 inches
  • 2 aluminum cage sheeting, 12 gauge, 40 by 48 inches
  • 2 aluminum hinges, 4-inch
  • 2 aluminum cage sheeting, 12 gauge, 36 by 48 inches
  • 2 aluminum cage sheeting, 36 by 40 inches
  • Aluminum latch, 2-inch
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay two 48-inch tubes flat, parallel and spaced 36 inches apart. Lay two 36-inch tubes between them at right angles spaced 44 inches apart. The sides of the 36-inch tubes are flush with the ends of the 48-inch tubes. Weld the tubes together in this position with your MIG welder. Repeat this step so you have two rectangular frames.

    • 2

      Position the two frames on edge so they are each standing on one of the 48-inch tubes. The 36-inch tubes are perpendicular to the ground for this. Position the frames so they are parallel and spaced 32 inches apart. Lay two 32-inch tubes between them at right angles so they are spaced 44 inches apart and flush with the ends of the 48-inch tubes. Weld the 32-inch tubes to the 48-inch tubes in this position. Turn the two frames over so they are resting on the other two 48-inch tubes and repeat this process using the last two 32-inch tubes. This is the frame of your blue tick rig box.

    • 3

      Set the 40-by-48-inch square sheeting on top of the frame so the edges are flush with the edges of the frame. Weld the sheeting to the frame and repeat this step on the opposite side of the frame using your last 40-by-48-inch sheet. These two sheets make up the top and the bottom of the blue tick rig box.

    • 4

      Weld two half-hinges to one of the 36-by-48-inch sheets so they are spaced 40 inches apart along one of the 48-inch edges and so they are flush with the 36-inch edges. The other half-hinges must be able to fold 180 degrees away from the sheet. Weld the other half-hinges to the frame so that the edges of the sheet are flush with the sides of the frame when it is against the frame. This is the door to your blue tick rig box. The hinges are attached to the top 48-inch tubes on the box. Weld the other 36-by-48-inch sheet to the frame on the opposite side of the door.

    • 5

      Position a 36-by-40-inch sheet against the two open sides to the rig box so the edges are flush. Weld the sheets to the box in this position. Weld your latch to the bottom 48-inch tube that is underneath the door. Center the latch so it is 24 inches away from the ends of the 48-inch tube. This will aid in keeping your blue-tick hounds in the box.