Egg boxes?

[Nick69]

One thing I have noticed is that you cant buy quail egg boxes in anything other than plastic. I dont like plastic as im sure you understand but my question is, what could I make simple egg boxes from.
Thinking maybe a mould, soaking newspapers with some added starch in the water and mould them in.
The specialist farm we got our new quail from said they would be interested in any ideas I could come up with.

[Thomzo]

Could you pad out normal egg boxes?

You can make hand made paper from ordinary shredded paper. Just soak overnight then process in a food processor with the water. It will pulp without any extra starch. You could try taking small balls of the resulting pulp, squashing out as much water as possible and then squishing it into the egg box using your thumb to mould the shape.

I haven't tried this so I can't guarantee it'd work but I have made lots of paper bowls using this method and squishing the pulp into a sieve. It would be pretty time consuming though and you don't want to get the egg box too wet or it'll fall apart.

Another option, if you can get some thick corrugated card, would be to use a wide, flat drill bit to make holes. Then sellotape two halves together.

Zoe

[Nick69]

Yeah maybe some kind of Inserts for normal egg boxes. Saying that, i do have some Magnum icecream boxes that would be the perfect size for quail eggs. Againa they would need some kind of insert.

[red]

you could make paper pulp by processing newspaper in a liquidizer (ask on freecycle so you dont have to use your kitchen one? ) and spread it over a mould?

for a mould... hmm i spose you could carve one out of wood. or polystyrene or something?


its a good idea. i see you going into production!

[Nick69]

Yeah see thats what I had in mind. A nice solid mould.

You know what im gonna try and knock something up next week.

[red]

excellent

how are the quail getting on?

[Nick69]

Yeah much better today thanks. They seem to really like their pen, following some good advice ive put their food in the house for the night to try and encourage them in.
Ill try and get some pics up over the next few days. They are very pretty birds.

[red]

i have quail envy

[Thomzo]

i have quail envy

Me too.

Zoe

[Rosendula]

I have skill envy! Please would you post some pictures of your mould and eventual egg boxes.

[Nick69]

Of course I will. I made up some very basic test samples today but having some more ideas this evening I will make some more tmw. My final mould/s will be of wooden construction to allow for 'In mould drying'. Hoping to have something ready by next week.

Dont be envious, my knowledge and 'skill lol' is available to all on this forum if required. Im mearly a PM away.

[Rosendula]

Im mearly a PM away.

Chuck me! You're Gordon Brown!!??

[Keaniebean]

I too have quail envy.

How about using that modelling clay stuff as a mould. The stuff that you shape and then bake in the oven, Fimo or something like that its called sorry I cant think of the name but you can get it in craft shops and I'm sure you could find it on the net.

[red]

clay or clay alike is not a bad idea - if you glazed/varnished it it would make the boxes slip off the mould easier

I shall buy my recycled boxes from you Nick, once i have my quail. ..somewhen

[Nick69]

Ive finalised my design for the egg boxes. I shall be making the final HARD mould at the weekend and also making a few boxes to test it.

Im going to use wood for the mould because I have some here at home. lol