LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Boxes for Cremains Internment

4K views 8 replies 7 participants last post by  DonnaMenke 
#1 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
 

Attachments

See less See more
20
#2 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Beautiful Boxes and nary a turned lid or sliding drawer.

Karson
 

Attachments

#3 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Beautiful, ... simply beautiful.
 

Attachments

#4 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Nice boxes. And I love the thought put into them.
 

Attachments

#5 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Donna, first let me say that the boxes are definitely well thought out and constructed. But what really makes them stand out is the inspired artistic details, the softened box joint extended fingers, the beautiful wood burned and painted art work. You best watch out, you will be getting order requests, LOL.

If you really feel that your friends husband is insisting on paying too much, how about telling him that if he insists on paying a realistic price then anything above your asking price could be donated to a Breast Cancer type charity. Your box building was a labor of love and it really shows in the finished product. Perhaps he could understand that payment above materials and incidentals could detract from that labor of love in your mind and heart, and that it was not an imposition but a blessing to be asked to build these boxes. I am sure that you will have piece of mind in knowing that you helped provide such a beautiful resting place, and thank him for honoring you with his request.

Did I say all that? Well it might get you off the hook with taking higher than your asking price.
 

Attachments

#6 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Donna a sad story it is at such young ages, Beautiful boxes the detail on top looks awesome.

One thing that I've been using on my small boxes instead of clamps are ratchet straps, they work on all size boxes as well. What I did, I bought a 4 pack set from harbor freight cut the hook end off and then tired the strap back to the ratchet it self so all I have to do is just loop the nylon strap around the box and squeeze it tight.
 

Attachments

#7 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Dear Casual Carpenter- what wonderful thoughts and ideas. I think I will do that. It should make us both happy.
 

Attachments

#8 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Nice boxes, Donna, you did a wonderful job with the box joints.

It's great to see your projects on here, please post more!
 

Attachments

#9 ·
Boxes for Cremains Internment

Kind of a sad topic, but so it is. A good friend of ours died a couple of months ago and her husband commissioned me to make some cedar boxes for her and her sister. The sister died 2 years before, also from breast cancer. They were both still in their 50s.
He provided the wood and asked for plain wooden boxes. Humph- I don't DO plain, so I figured I'd do what I wanted and just charge him for plain boxes.
These are the pieces of 1' x 1" boards after I planed, sawed them, and then squared them up.
Table Wood Wood stain Desk Hardwood

One of the reason's I was particularly pleased to tackle this project is because it uses the table saw- not the band saw with which I am so comfortable. I'm going too be teaching a woodworking basics class in Florida in a couple of months so I needed a refresher on using the tools. Also, I quickly decided to use the box joint jig I bought 10 years ago and never used. I like the look of the extended fingers, so I will do that. If I change my mind I can always cut/sand them off.
The first joint was a bit tight- you cannot get these apart . . . and there is no glue.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Flooring

So I learned how to adjust the jig after 2-3 more trials and got it just right. It is the Woodsmith jig and required a bit of assembly, but I think it is a swell tool and I'm looking forward to using it again- now that I know how.
Here are the boxes during a dry fitting.
Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Plank

I read this tip about using painters' tape to make clean-up easier and it worked a charm. I squeezed glue into the open joints just like this and then closed up the 3 sides with the 4th not glued in place but just as a spacer. Checked for square and then let the glue dry. Then I could do the other 2 corners with assurance that the boxes would be square. And they were.
Wood Floor Gas Hardwood Flooring

Got clamps! Thank goodness (and foresight) that I have enough clamps for a job like this. btw- difference in color of wood due to flash or not. The wood is aromatic cedar and is a rich red color.
Wood Gas Engineering Tool Machine

There were a lot of defects in the boards so I had to cut around a lot to get usable wood. I just barely managed to get enough wood to make each top and bottom out of just 2 pieces of wood. Here is some more clamping. I love my clamps.
Wood Flooring Gas Hardwood Automotive exterior

After some very careful measurements and a few passes with the dado blades to rabbet the lids I have fairly tight boxes.
Table Wood Hardwood Wood stain Engineering

I drilled holes for the 8 brass screws that will hold down each lid, and then I designed each lid to reflect the interests of the women. Wood burned the designs and then colored them with artist acrylic paints.
Wood Body jewelry Font Jewellery Hardwood

Then I applied just one coat of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, my favorite finish.
Hair Amber Orange Wood Liver

Doesn't that look pretty! It all sank it rather nicely, and I decided that more coats would probably look blotchy, so I left well enough alone.
These are the finished boxes.
Wood Natural material Wood stain Table Rectangle

In a couple of weeks they will be buried, but I could not have done them with less finesse. They will be viewed for 2 hours and then never again. I don't care. It doesn't matter.
Oh, one more thing I think you would be interested in- haggling over the price. Note: we have known this couple for 25+ years, on and off. We are sorta friends. On and off. The customer insisted I charge him a going rate, so I told him (all in emails) that I refused payment for the wife and friend, but I would accept $100 for the box for the sister. I never met the sister. I spent the greater part of 3 weeks on the project, but that was mostly due to my incompetence- and I don't charge for that.
Well, he wrote back that he expected to pay $1,000 and wanted no argument from me.
I wrote back that if he insisted then I could go as high as $250 and not feel guilty.
He said that was too steep for him and that $900 was his limit- and to stop arguing!
Well, I said that my final offer was $440- splitting the difference.
So, I haven't received the check yet and I don't know what it will be, but it doesn't much matter. I will be there for the ceremony on their property with friends and colleagues and I am satisfied that I did as good a job as I could and I'm proud of my boxes. No matter what I'm paid.
Thanks Julie, my newest buddy. I enjoy posting here and reading the responses. The joints are so easy and repeatable once you learn how to use the jig. I spent a day or two just working on the set-up, but now I could do it much faster. I'm not one much for jigs and fixtures, but I am getting to really appreciate tools like this.
 

Attachments

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top