My mom is doing some amazing bead work. one time when I went with her to the beads store, I saw a small box/cabinet that the store used to store (no pun intended) the beads in, and thought it would make for a great way for my my to have all her beads organized – and I can make it.
After completing my handtool box (at least the general construction of if) it made me think that I can scale it down and use the same ‘general design idea’ for the beads box. plus some additions that will fit the situation.
As opposed to using box-joints (that I used for the handtools cabinet) I will be using dovetails on this one to give it a more presentational look, and I will also introduce a (maybe hidden) drawer on the lower part of this box.
Question: since I will not cut through all the way to separate the doors from the base of the box – it makes more sense to me to use a bandsaw for that cut -and “cut around” the door opening parts (leaving the lower drawer parts still attached to the main box) but since the box is quite large (12×10x10) it might be impossible to keep those cuts straight and perpendicular to the other parts… in which case a table saw would be a more precise way to go about -but that means I’ll have to completely separate the front of the box and then reattach the front pieces that are NOT part of the doors back to the main box – does anyone have any suggestions which saw I should use? (I’m leaning toward the table saw, and reattaching the cutouts back)
Goals – making a functional/presentational box for my mom, and while at it – practicing dovetails, and box making. drawer fitting, drawer lining, and everything else that will comes along with it.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
6 comments so far
Woodchuck1957
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944 posts in 1933 days
#1 posted 1544 days ago
This is the way I think I would do it.
PG_Zac
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366 posts in 1558 days
#2 posted 1544 days ago
Cool idea Lev,
Personally, I would make the entire outer case up to and including the dry fit.
Once happy with the dry fit, mark out the separating cuts on the panels and dismantle the box.
Using the bandsaw, cut the top panel in two and set aside. Keep the fence position for the next cut.
Clamp or tape the side panels together and cut out the door parts together – starting with the vertical cut (same fence setting as before). Clamp a stop-block on your bandsaw fence rail so that you can return to this setting for the door internals.
Cut the horizontal section keeping the main side panel as an “L”
Now you can move on to the rest of the joinery and the interior the door frame sections.
-- I may be schizophrenic, but at least I have each other.
PurpLev
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7753 posts in 1818 days
#3 posted 1543 days ago
Thanks Woodchuck, but I really like to keep the sides the way I drew it – as a one piece, with the only contrasting part being the dovetails. it would however be much easier to do it the way you drew it.
Zac- that is fantastic. for some reason my mind was locked on the need to have the box assembled for the cutting of the doors and although it would make things easier in other scenarios- maybe here it would be best to take it apart after dry fitting- I’ll have to dry fit the box and take it apart either way in order to do the rest of the construction (doors and main carcass) so I may as well do the cuts with the pieces disassembled. Thanks – makes much sense, and will get all the pieces cut clean and easy.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Carolynne
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33 posts in 1474 days
#4 posted 1295 days ago
Please post pic when completed! I also bead and this sounds beautiful! What wood are you looking at using???
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1842 days
#5 posted 874 days ago
Thats a nice start.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
JohnChristmas
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6 posts in 810 days
#6 posted 810 days ago
Gaining some creative tips coupled with a step by step on how to achieve the result is brilliant. Great project for the beginner!
-- John - http://www.ldj-lights.co.uk/
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