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Just looking for critique (don't hold back)

2K views 12 replies 8 participants last post by  Pete_Jud 
#1 ·
Just looking for critique (don't hold back)

My wife has a jewelry business (and I am trying to start a woodworking business), so she asked me to make her some jewelry boxes. My design consisted of approximately 24" X 36" closing cases which were made from various material. A few were made from 3 X 1/2" pine, 3 X 1/2" poplar, 3 X 1/2" ash and I am ready to make some from a heavier type of wood (probably red oak). Next was the design phase - we wanted something that would be sturdy in the base (1/4" birch plywood). So we cut a dado around all the wood (1/4" deep on my router table) for the bottom section and also the top section (which is 2 X 1/2" stock). Next - we mitered all the end pieces and cut biscuit slots in them for added stability. After all that, we stained the wood and then glued everything together (sliding in the bottom and the plexiglas top section). Final touch was the heavy duty hinges. I'll get a picture or two for critiques as soon as I figure that part out.

Cheers,
Denis
 
#2 ·
Upload your pix into an outside photo site (photobucket), then just click to add a pic and paste the url into the body of your blog…....I think…..it's been a while since I posted any pix.
 
#3 ·
I think that your idea is good commercially. Now you just have to design and construct the boxes so you can sell them at a price point your wife's customers will go for and still make you and your wife a reasonable profit. I would just add here that if you can do that, then you should also sell to other similar jewelry business's not in your wife's marketing area, unless of course, she isn't selling from a store location. You probably want more to hear our opinion about the design, so of course we are interested in seeing you photos. Good luck with your new venture.
 
#4 ·
looking forward for the pics. although based on description it sounds good.

Biscuits sure will make things faster (glue and align), but if you want added strength and a distinct look - I'd drop the biscuits, and use splines - this will actually present you with long-grain to long-grain gluing surface of hardwood compared to biscuit material, and add a nice design touch to the finished box.
 
#7 ·
very cool. all in all it looks very good.

one things is asked for - the green box miter seems out of square, leaving the joint open. this only is visible on one of the joints.

are you cutting all the parts to size, and then cut the miter on each part?

you may find it easier to get all the parts mitered the same waay, if you cut the miters first, and then rip the parts to width. this will ensure your parts are all the same length and will match up on the joinery.

another thing you could use is a shooting board to clean up those miters before assembly to make sure they are all precise.

Other than that - I think those look great!
 
#10 ·
Thanks for the positive comments. I will try a couple of splines and see how that works out. Purplev - that silly biscuit maker slipped and that is why the ends did not align (oh I am anal about those joints). But thanks for that input. I was thinking of strengthening the miters by using a finger bit for the router. I saw one in a ShopNotes from the winter and it looked pretty sturdy. Must experiment with that first though.
 
#12 ·
shopguryl - I have that bit for my router, however, when I use it it chews up all the corners so I set it aside. Perhaps now that I have a nice kreg table, it might work better.

tyskkvinna - I argued with my wife about the colors and wound up doing it anyways. It certainly did pay off (she's snickering right now as I write this).

Thanks Scotsman

Thanks for all your advice - looks like I have a bit more work to do (no pun intended)
 
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