This is an earlier project of mine that also neatly shows one of the simpler box making techniques I use, that of the mitred box with drop-on lid. First we see the basic components:
On the left are the four sides, each with a 3mm slot routed in near the bottom to hold the base. The base is bottom right and is two layers of 1.5mm birch aeroply. The top is the last piece, top right. This particular one is a three layer sandwich; 3mm design, 3mm ply and 3mm maple (this bottom 3mm will locate the lid on the box.
First you mitre the corners of the box sides. Sand the insides of the box and apply sanding sealer to all but the top 6mm of each side. Lay them out, in order, above a 50mm strip of masking tape (sticky side up), below which is a straight edge to line the bottom edges up on. Lay them onto the tape.
Place the top and bottom (this one in the slot) on one side and wrap the sides around them. Check for size/ gaps and adjust top or sides accordingly.
Apply PVA glue to the mitred edges and the top 6mm only of the sides. Close the box up again using the tab left over (to the right, Step 3) to hold the box closed. I used to just use this to hold the box whilst the glue dried but found that the last joint was never as tight as the other three. So I put together a windlass clamp.
This is four identical pieces of softwood with a right angled notch in one end and a hole for some string to hold them together with. Oh and a pencil or stick to tighten it up with. So
Tightening the pencil provides even inward pressure on each corner of the box whilst the glue dries. When its has remove it and all the tape and sand the top down flat (theres always a slivver of something out of line).
Next we need to cut the top off.
This is done on a router table with a 3mm slot cutter bit. Cutting through the last 1/2mm with an xacto knife until you have a seperate top and box.
Sand the top of the box and all outside faces to finished.
Apply sanding sealer and polish.
The wax polish I’ve been using for many years now is by Organoil, an Australian company. Beautiful finish and nice spicy citrus smell (my customers enjoy smelling the boxes as welll!). Next line the bottom. I use a foam called Funky Foam. Comes in various colours and easy to cut with a knife.
So here we have it the completed Black and White dots box.
The overall box dimensions are 96×96 x 50mm. The materials are Purpleheart, Ebony and Maple. No dividers in a box this size as there doesn’t seem much point. Oh and no slipfeaters in the corners. If it can’t stand my 76Kg (160lbs odd) of weight standing on it, and this did, only then does it need them.
Simples!
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
23 comments so far
JamesVavra
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304 posts in 3285 days
#1 posted 04-01-2010 08:09 PM
Great tutorial.
James
Derek Lyons
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584 posts in 3537 days
#2 posted 04-01-2010 08:10 PM
Nice tutorial – thanks!
-- Derek, Bremerton WA --
Dennisgrosen
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10880 posts in 3084 days
#3 posted 04-01-2010 08:39 PM
great tutorial
that´s is something
everyone can understand
Dennis
Cozmo35
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2200 posts in 3005 days
#4 posted 04-01-2010 08:46 PM
VERY WELL explained! Thank you!!
-- If you don't work, you don't eat!.....Garland, TX
DaddyZ
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2475 posts in 3009 days
#5 posted 04-01-2010 08:47 PM
Cool show – how to !!!
-- Pat - Worker of Wood, Collector of Tools, Father of one
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3005 days
#6 posted 04-01-2010 09:00 PM
Thanks guys.
Martyn
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
Fireguy
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132 posts in 3204 days
#7 posted 04-01-2010 09:33 PM
nice clamp, I have not seen that one before.
-- Alex
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3005 days
#8 posted 04-01-2010 09:35 PM
Cheap too Alex, pennies if that!
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
patron
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13600 posts in 3310 days
#9 posted 04-02-2010 12:46 AM
well done martyn ,
free pass to the next
geometry expo for you !
nice design and execution .
so if you stand on a finished box ,
and i breaks ,
you have to make another one ,
to put splines in (LOL) ?
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
rons
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72 posts in 3320 days
#10 posted 04-02-2010 01:00 AM
Hi Martyn Ive been enjoying your tutorials alot… That clamp was a good idea. Can’t wait to see more from you. Your boxes are great. Thanks Ron
-- Ron, Michigan
jm82435
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1285 posts in 3711 days
#11 posted 04-02-2010 03:52 AM
Great tutorial, thanks. I really like your work – your boxes are fantastic.
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3005 days
#12 posted 04-02-2010 02:44 PM
Yep. If I stand on it and it fails I make another one. First however I look carefully over the old one to learn of any failures, in glue line etc. If there are none I put splines in the second one. I would spline a mitred box over 200mm anyway or one with very thin wallls.
I know all the technical stuff, about end grain to end grain being the weakest joint and along the grain being stronger. I use common PVA glue, nothing special. Apart from actually throwing the things, corner first, at a concrete floor I don’t get many failures. The concrete floor experiment was spectacular by the way but only two joints failed.
So what do you guys in the US do to these things, over and above standing on them, that makes splines a necessity?!!! lol
Martyn
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3005 days
#13 posted 04-02-2010 02:52 PM
I’m not prejudiced against the use of splines, by the way. They are a technically elegant solution. I just prefer a plain corner.
Martyn
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
patron
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13600 posts in 3310 days
#14 posted 04-02-2010 03:05 PM
i give a lifetime guaranty on my boxes ,
my life ,
your life ,
or
the life
of the box .
which ever comes first (LOL) !
-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle
BritBoxmaker
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4611 posts in 3005 days
#15 posted 04-02-2010 04:44 PM
lol
-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging.
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