The sides of the boxes are usually made from one plank of western red cedar. The plank is carefully adzed and sanded, possibly using shark skin as sandpaper. This plank is kerfed, the plank is steamed and carefully bent into a rectangular shape. The joined corner is pegged onto the bottom edge of the box.

The box lid us usually not recessed, but simply placed on top, sometimes tied on with cordage. Chest lids are more elaborate, often hollowed out to make them lighter, and channeled to allow a good fit on the top of the chest.

This sounds much easier than it is!

This box is made to fit in the prow of a canoe. The kerfs are cut at a slant rather than straight across the plank. After the box was made it was decoratively adzed, making parallel grooves.

This box has been kerfed and bent. It is fitted with a domed lid. After the box was made, the sides were carved in parallel rods, similar to rod armour worn by some northern groups.

Rod armour was made from slats of strong wood tied parallel, wrapped around the body and tied securely.

Sometimes simple incised carvings were done on small boxes.