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I will be heading to Japan next month (March 2013) to visit family in Tokyo and need to bring a gift. (Gift giving is a big deal in Japan.) Although I have not made many boxes, I really like the asian-style boxes made by a local woodworker in Bellingham, WA named David Selditz. This box is fashioned after a set of plans he published a few years ago. The box is figured maple, the lid is cherry, and the handle is bubinga. The handle is supported by two tiny pieces of 1/8" brass rod.

I cut the maple for the sides to width, planed it to thickness and then beveled the sides on the tablesaw. I clamped the workpiece to a long piece of plywood so that I could slide it along the rip fence all the way past the tablesaw blade to cut the bevel while keeping my hands clear. I then smoothed the sides and created a soft curve using a No. 4 smoothing plane. After cutting the sides to length and mitering the corners I glued up the box using a bunch of clamps and cauls, keeping the pieces in order so the grain would wrap around the box.

I built two jigs to cut and sand the curves in the lid. The first jig held the lid at around a 13 degree angle and I sanded a curve in the bottom of the lid using a sanding disk in my drill press. The second jig held the lid at an angle so I could cut the curves on top. I removed most of the material with the bandsaw and then smoothed the curves with a 3" sanding drum at the drill press.

I finished the box with many coats of blonde shellac. After brushing several coats, I sanded to 320 grit and rubbed the rest of the coats with a pad until I achieved a smooth finish. I then applied a coat of paste wax. Now if I can just get it to Japan in one piece.

Gallery

Comments

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2,577 Posts
Awesome…A great gift for the family that they willl appreciate foreve.
That is a clever method you used for the cutting and sanding.
 

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That is a great box. It will make a wonderful gift. I really enjoyed the photo with all the clamps!
 

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And a great gift it is Dave. Your family will appreciate your thoughts and
efforts.

Have a great time in Japan and enjoy your family time.

Maybe bring back some Shapton honing stones, hehe.
 

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I plan to shop for a fine waterstone for honing chisels and plane irons…
 

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841 Posts
Beautiful design and great build.
 

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Dave that's a beauty !
The family will cherish this box forever and knowing the craftsman that made it will make it a heirloom passed down for generations .
Pack it well for the trip ,that is one special one of a kind gift !!!!!!!
Thanks for posting the shaping process pics ,very interesting .
 

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I have had the opportunity to build this box and it is a challenge. You did a great job on it. I have mine posted if you want to compare. I gave my box to a school for a silent auction. I e-mail David to ask his permission which he gave willingly.

I hope that you have a nice trip and they appreciate your effort.
 

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19,753 Posts
This is a wonderful pagoda box,very very nice work.
 

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706 Posts
Neat design; beautiful wood !
 

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Great design, fantastic execution.
 

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I like the way you shaped the top - thanks for sharing. Here are a couple of links I found to woodworking related stores in Tokyo.
Hardware store near Shibuya station
Stone shop

My wife has been to the stone shop. She says the owner is very nice, and proud that he has foreign visitors. I don't think he speaks english however.
 

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Great design
 

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Beautiful box in the Japanese style! I'm sure your family will love it!
 

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I remember seeing that box in Wood Magazine quite some time ago. You did a very beautiful job on it. Thanks so much for sharing it.
 

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Please bring back many design ideas and make them for us to copy….
 

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Beautifully executed! The recipient will be quite honored!
 
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