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Through your life your parents are your rock. They are there for you and support you in ways that are not always simple or seen. They provide you with the guidance needed to one day go out into the world and become the person you want to be…whatever that direction may be.

This is what ran through my head when I was designing "Reconstructing Home". A majority of the box components came from my childhood home. The limestone rock is from the pile in the backyard. The support structure and lid insert are from a Maple tree we cut down and turned into lumber over eight years ago. The hinges are made from an Ironwood tree that was in the front yard but had to be removed….I saved a piece off the firewood pile. The box body was created out of an old cedar seat from a small boat we used to have. The box is lined with the remnants of my sister's old leather jacket.

The major difficulty in creating the box was leveling everything. First came leveling the limestone rock. I did that by hammer drilling into the bottom of it and epoxying in 1/4" dowels. These dowels could be sanded to level the rock. The main two bases were next. To first start the bases I used a compass and a piece of paper to do a top scribe of the rock cavity I was trying to fit into. After cutting those out I had to pick the level they would sit out. I made special "sleds" that I would attach the bases to and slide them in and out of the rock. I would carve out the bottoms until they fit perfectly into the rock face. Before final shaping I hammer drilled into the rock and epoxied in 1/4" aluminum dowels. I attached center points to these and then slid the base into it to mark the dowel locations finally drilling out the bases. This kept everything level so I had good level bases to design and attach all the mechanics to. The mechanics do operate by turning the threaded wooden "pin" at the back but their main job is to just level off the I-Beam support structure/box.

"Reconstructing Home" is 33" x 11" x 11". It was finished with three soakings of Danish Oil followed by two buffings of Briwax.

If you were wondering the box was a gift to my father. The hug afterwards made all the work completely worth it. Keep making that sawdust everyone and Happy Holidays!

Gallery

Comments

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425 Posts
Wonderful design.
Great story.
Wonderful memories.
A meaningful keepsake heirloom.

A well deserved DT3.
 

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169 Posts
Just wanted to thank everyone for the great comments. I am happy you took the time to read the story behind it and that you could see the story portrayed in the box. I am very, very lucky in that I have my parents in my life and a great relationship with them…I love them dearly and now is the perfect time of year to honor them.
 

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2,600 Posts
Having trouble putting an adequate expression of praise for this piece. "Remarkable" doesn't seem to cut it.

Have to go straight to "Masterpiece".
 

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176 Posts
This is very cooooool, with a great story attached to it.
 

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215 Posts
Your work is always so imaginative and inspired. You then take this idea and expertly craft the final product. Thanks for sharing another project with us.
 

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Considering all the comments above, all I can add is OUTSTANDING ! Thanks.
 

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1,156 Posts
Wow! This was a deeply personal build. That makes this a very personal share. You opened yourself to us in this build. Thank you.
 

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45 Posts
Every time I look at it I see something cool and amazing, like the contrasting wood, the spalted top, the industrial look and perfection of the I-beams, the way it appears to defy gravity, and then perhaps my favorite part where it just sort of melts into the rock. And then just when I think I can't be anymore impressed, I see that each piece has a special origin. I'm blown away.
 

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257 Posts
Outstanding….. By the way, Thank you, it was your Ripple piece that made me join LJs just so I wouldn't miss anything…Bob
 

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44 Posts
That is a very nice piece of woodworking, art, and sentimentality. I'm sure he will look at it each morning with a smile. Great job and thanks for sharing.
 

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169 Posts
I always love checking on Lumberjocks and seeing all these great comments guys…thank you. Another cool thing about it was my father instantly cleaned off a space in the living room built-ins to give the box a good home. Happy New Year's Eve!
 

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4,124 Posts
I'm late to this party. Worked today. I believe your dad said it all!
 

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Now this is an awesome project directly from the heart. Well done. I like it a lot.
 

· In Loving Memory
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8,391 Posts
A crazy cool box Jeff and a great gift for your father.
 

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73 Posts
truly another masterpiece - great combination of woods/rock into this one…
 
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