Picking the right core box comes down to four numbers: the bit size you're drilling with (AQ, BQ, NQ, HQ, or PQ), the run length you want to store per row, the wall material (plywood vs. dimensional lumber), and how you're shipping and stacking them in the field. Most Canadian exploration programs ship NQ or HQ core, which means a 4'9" inside box length holding five rows of core — either our plywood CanadaCoreBox for lighter handling and budget runs, or our 2×6" or 2×8" framed boxes when crews are stacking outdoors through a Manitoba winter. This guide walks through the decision the way we walk a new exploration manager through it on the phone: bit size first, then box construction, then logistics. If you only read the TL;DR, default to HQ + framed 2×6" + ship by pallet, and you'll be right 80% of the time.
Step 1 — Match the box to your bit size
The first thing we ask any new customer on the phone is, "what are you drilling with?" The answer is one of five letters from the DCDMA wireline standard: AQ, BQ, NQ, HQ, or PQ. That single answer tells us the core diameter, the weight per foot you'll be lifting, and which of our boxes is the right starting point.
| Bit size | Core diameter | Approx. weight per ft | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| AQ | 27 mm (1.06") | 0.5 lb | Geotechnical, shallow |
| BQ | 36.5 mm (1.43") | 0.9 lb | Light exploration |
| NQ | 47.6 mm (1.87") | 1.5 lb | Standard exploration |
| HQ | 63.5 mm (2.50") | 2.7 lb | Standard exploration, deep |
| PQ | 85 mm (3.35") | 4.8 lb | Deep / metallurgical |
About 70% of the programs we ship to are running NQ or HQ. Smaller crews on early-stage targets sometimes drill BQ to save cost per metre. PQ shows up on metallurgical campaigns where the assay team needs more sample volume per interval.
Step 2 — Pick the box construction
We make three core box constructions, and the choice between them depends on how rough the storage life of the box is going to be, not on the bit size:
Plywood CanadaCoreBox
Walls are 11 mm exterior-grade Canadian plywood, bottom is 15 mm, dividers run cross-wise to support the core. Lighter than a framed box by 20-30%, faster to load and unload, and typically the lowest cost per box. We ship plywood when the boxes will live indoors in a core shack, when budgets are tight on early-stage programs, or when the customer is going to scan and discard within a season.
2×6" framed (the default)
Sides are full 2×6" kiln-dried spruce, ends are 2×6" mortised in, bottom is plywood, dividers are dimensional. This is the box you want if crews are stacking outdoors through a Manitoba winter — the framed sides hold their shape through freeze-thaw, they tolerate being dropped off a truck gate, and they stack five high without sagging. Most of our repeat exploration customers buy this construction by default.
2×8" framed
Same construction as the 2×6", taller sides. Use this when you're storing PQ, when boxes will be stacked deeper than five high, or when a project specifies extra storage life beyond five seasons.
Step 3 — Confirm length, rows, and weight per loaded box
The industry-standard inside length is 4'9" (57" / 1,448 mm). Sticking to that means your boxes will rack, stack, and ship interchangeably with anything else in the industry. We also build custom lengths on request — 3' for tight core sheds, 6' for specialty programs — but unless you have a specific reason to deviate, stay at 4'9".
Inside that length, the box holds five rows of core (sometimes four for PQ). That gives you a typical loaded weight as follows:
| Bit size | Rows per box | Core per box | Loaded weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| BQ | 5 | 23.7 ft | ~22 lb |
| NQ | 5 | 23.7 ft | ~36 lb |
| HQ | 5 | 23.7 ft | ~65 lb |
| PQ | 4 | 19.0 ft | ~92 lb |
That HQ loaded weight is where field crews start to feel it — 65 pounds, lifted off a saw bench, walked to a rack, and stacked eye-high gets tiring fast. If your crew is doing high volume HQ, our 2×6" framed boxes with reinforced handle cutouts are worth the upgrade.
Step 4 — Plan the logistics before you order
- How many boxes do you need on the bit? Most crews order 30-40% more than the program-meterage math says, to cover re-runs, broken core, and the inevitable "we drilled faster than we expected" call. We will hold and ship in batches if you need to spread the cost.
- Where is the rig and where is the core shack? We ship anywhere in Canada from Cranberry Portage. Trucking northward into the Shield is what we know best, but we've sent boxes to BC, Yukon, Quebec, and Nunavut.
- Lead time. Standard stock sizes ship inside a week. Custom dimensions or large volumes (1,000+ boxes) we batch into 2-4 week build runs.
- Marking blocks, dividers, lids. Order them with the boxes — marking blocks especially are the kind of thing that gets remembered at the rig in the middle of a shift. Cheaper to ship together.
If you only remember one thing
For 80% of Canadian exploration projects, the right answer is: HQ, 4'9" inside length, 2×6" framed construction, palletized for shipping. If you order that and tell us your meterage, we can usually quote and book a build slot inside a day. The other 20% of the time we'll talk through plywood vs. framed and dimension changes — that's the phone call we'd rather have before you order than after.
Talk it through with us
We'd rather quote a real program than guess. Walk us through your meterage, your bit size, and your timeline and we'll give you a number and a lead time on the same call. Reach the shop at our contact page or see the full CanadaCoreBox lineup.
Frequently asked questions
What size core box do I need for HQ drill core?
HQ core has a diameter of 63.5 mm (2.5 inches). The standard storage box for HQ is a 4'9" inside-length box with five rows, giving roughly 23 feet of core per box. We build HQ boxes in three constructions: plywood (lightest and lowest cost), 2×6" dimensional lumber (the default for outdoor stacking), and 2×8" (for the heaviest programs where boxes will be stacked deep). Most Manitoba and Saskatchewan crews ship 2×6" HQ for the durability-to-cost balance.
What is the difference between AQ, BQ, NQ, HQ, and PQ core boxes?
Those letters are the DCDMA wireline bit sizes, and they refer to the core diameter, not the box. AQ is 27 mm, BQ is 36.5 mm, NQ is 47.6 mm, HQ is 63.5 mm, and PQ is 85 mm. A bigger core needs a wider row in the box and weighs more per linear foot, so larger sizes generally need stronger framed construction. NQ and HQ are by far the most common in Canadian mineral exploration.
Should I order plywood core boxes or 2x6" framed core boxes?
Plywood is right when the boxes will be stored indoors or moved often — they're 20-30% lighter and cost less. Framed 2×6" boxes are right when crews are stacking outdoors, when the program runs through freeze-thaw cycles, or when the boxes will sit in a core shack for more than a season. For HQ and PQ programs in the Canadian Shield, we default to framed every time.
How long are standard core boxes?
The standard inside length is 4'9" (57 inches, 1448 mm). That dimension is industry-standard so boxes from different suppliers will stack and ship interchangeably. We also build to custom lengths on request when a project needs specific row counts.
How many core boxes fit on a pallet for shipping?
Empty boxes ship 40 to a standard pallet for plywood and 28-32 for 2×6" framed, depending on the lid stack height. Loaded with core, you ship 4-6 per pallet to stay under typical road weight limits. We pack and band every order ourselves and can quote shipping anywhere in Canada from Cranberry Portage.
Where are Greg's Manufacturing core boxes made?
Every core box we ship is built in Cranberry Portage, Manitoba — three hours north of The Pas. We mill from kiln-dried Canadian spruce sourced regionally and have been making wood products for the Canadian Shield exploration industry since 1934.
Need a quote on a real drilling program?
Tell us your meterage, your bit size, and your timeline. We'll come back with a real number — usually the same day.
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