Making a Small Wooden Box #1: Getting Started

Go Don Go! Very elegant splining jig. I had to subscribe to the RSS feed on this one…

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

I can already tell its going to be a winner. Beautiful wood, and I like the addition of the trim. It should set the burl off to great effect. Great progress shots.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Don;

Absolutely beautiful ! The splines in the miters are larger then I’m used to seeing, and I love it.

It really stands out nicely. Also, as Bob pointed out, the trim added to the lid will make the burk really stand out.

You are going to end up making me build some small wooden boxes, I’ve had all I can stand, seeing how beautiful they can be!

I hope you’re happy! One more hobby to use up my spare time! LOL

I hope you get this done quickly, so I can see the final project photo’s.

Also, as Douglas mentioned the jig you used for the splines deserves some explaining.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Boy, Don, you not only love small wooden boxes, you do a darn good job of making them! That wood is going to be pretty outstanding when you get some finish on it. Outstanding design! I can’t wait to see the finished product. Hurry up, will ya!!
Tom

-- Thos. Angle

Don,

Very nice. Great inspiration.

Dave

-- Dave _-^-_ Baltimore, MD

Anyone who has a Barton Box, truly has a work of art.

-- http://ye-olde-cabinet-shoppe.com/

I can testify to that Obi. The one you have is wonderful.

Looking forward to seeing the completed box Don. It is coming along great.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Thanks Don, for the detail in making this box. I have had it in my mind to make my daughter a jewlery box, but havn’t gotten past the thinking about it.

how exciting – getting to watch you build a small wooden box!

I would like to see more on how to do the splines

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Fantastic! I’ve always been scared of making a box because the joinery has to be so precise. You’re going to have me trying it before it’s over.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

very nice work Don…

-- Steffen

Great and wonderful work on this blog Don. You really got me interested!

Now I can say: I love small wooden boxes, Don! (With your permission.)

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Can’t wait to see the finished project, we all know it will be abeautiful one. Thanks for sharing you process.

-- Joel Tille

This is one of the reasons that I joined Lj.com so that I could learn knew things and get ideas to try myself. Don your pictures say a lot and your box look great, the contrast in colors is cool and I would like to use your ideas to come up with something for myself. Great work.

-- Jeff B.

Don. Now I see it. It was reposted as a blog. Great job.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Exceptional work as always Don.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

It’s going to be gorgeous. Thans for sharing your progress with us.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

I once made a spline jig to put fake dovetail splines in mitred corners. I should have used claimps to secure the box to the jig like you did.
Now I might make one I would keep.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Just wonderful Don! I’m so behind on everyone’s blogs I have a lot of reading to do. This is great instruction, and would sure make a great Cyber Skill Share episode! hint hint

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I just linked in from the LJMag.

Neat work there Don.

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

I’m starting my first small box, and about to start glue up. Any advice on aligning grain direction to make hand planing easier?

I am in the midst of making a wood whisperer cutting board (my 1st wood working project) and I try to generally keep the end grain directions the same. Any tips (outside of a sharp plane)?

-- Knoxy for short

DON, QUITE OFTEN THE GOOD ONES ROLL AROUND AGAIN. GREAT JOB.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python