The larger sizes of plain paper boxes, such as those used for holding envelopes, shoes, etc., are not made from the same shapes of blanks as are used for the making of the smaller sizes of boxes. In the majority of cases the board used for the larger-size boxes consists of three separate pieces. The main piece contains flanges with mitered corners. After the main piece of box-board has been cut to the required size, and after it has been scored and the corners mitered, the board is folded or bent to form the bottom and two sides of a box, having flanges at either end. Separate side pieces are then glued to these flanges, making the box complete as to form. The principal reason why the larger-size boxes are made in this fashion is because it prevents wastage of box-board.
CHAPTER III
SIDE-SET PAPER BOXES.
IF a single piece of box-board were to be used for the making of a large-size set-up paper box, (a hat box, for example) it would necessitate the cutting out of four corner pieces which would be as large in size as the two side walls of the box, therefore the reader can readily understand that it would not be economical to cut out corners of stock which is to be used for the larger-sized boxes. Another advantage of the side-set paper box is in the ends being stronger than the ends of a one-piece box. While this strong feature of construction would not been needed in a small-size box—a pound size candy box, for instance—it is an advantage for a larger size box such as is used for holding 500 No. 10 envelopes.
For this kind of a box, the chip-board, news-board, or straw-board is cut and scored to the size required on either a single or double scoring and cutting machine. This refers to the body-piece of the box. The side pieces may be cut to the desired size, in stacks of fifty or more sheets at a time, on an ordinary power paper cutter, or of course, the side pieces may be cut from large-size sheets of box-board on a scoring and cutting machine, or on a rotary board cutter. In many of the big paper box plants the rotary board cutter is being used for neck-pieces, side-pieces for side-set boxes, and for other plain cutting where no scoring is to be done in connection with it. The main advantage of the rotary board cutter is in the smooth, clean edges left on the box-board after it has been cut into the various sizes. The smooth, clean edges could not be procured on an ordinary paper cutting machine, but in the case of common paper boxes, the rough edges of end-pieces would not be a serious matter. For the better grade of boxes the edges of the end-pieces should be smooth and free from small particles of the board, especially when the box is to be covered, as the rough edges would show plainly from under the covering.
