Learning the small box techniques

Bob;

Great box!

It seems the smaller the project, the longer it takes, and the more critical the joints.

Sounds crazy, but in the construction business we have a fee for working in a small space!

All the same details as a large space, but no room to move. A big room is much faster to finish.

Looks like it will be easier from now on due to the new jigs.

Nice work;

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Bob. A nice looking box. Great splines.

I bought a jig to cut those about 10 years ago. Still in the package. I guess I’ll have to try it out. Also the jig to cut the splines. It’s called a Kehoe jig

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I too decided to make a box yesterday, however, something I thought would be completed in four hours sat on my work bench 10% finished with gaps I can see clear across the garage. I barely need anytools to build a bookself, but I’ll have to get maybe a unisaw to build a nice box. You persevered.

-- Thuan

Welcome to the club. I posted my first box a couple of weeks ago and that baby ate my lunch. Unless it’s a really simple design, it’s not going to happen in a week end.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Bob – it a great start! Boxes are deceptive—- the smaller the harder because of the accuracy. I can’t wait to see the next one.

-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle

Great looking box, Bob! I like the radii.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Bob,

This is a nice box. I like the round overs on the top. It adds a nice element to the box. This is a nice piece of “scrap”.

Thanks for the post. I am working on my first box so this one gives me some ideas.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Bob, I think it is a very nice box especially for a first try. I too have decided to give boxes a try and they are deceptively difficult. I’m hoping that since they require so much precision that the experience will end up making my other non-box work much better too. Some of the boxes made on this site are just incredible but I doubt most of the people that built them started making them that nice to start with. Hey, maybe we need to have a new-to-box-building contest :)

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

Looking good Bob! I haven’t tried dovetail splines yet…you dove right in. (no pun intended originally – but on the re-read, i’ll take it.)

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Nice box Bob. I appreciate te blog.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

Bob, the whole box thing just ain’t as simple as it looks. Yours came out looking quite nice and I like the splines. That’s something I want to try in the near future.

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

I received a book for Christmas called Box by Box. It is intended to teach woodworking techniques box by box. Looks like I need to give this thing a try.

-- Berta in NC

Hi Bob,
Welcome to the world of box making. As you’ve discovered there’s more to it than mneets the eye. keep on making them and the whole thing becomes a lot easier. You’ll gradually make a range of jigs to speed up the whole process.

I’m kind of hooked on this segment of woodworking right now as the accuracy and material selection has me fascinated.
I appreciate all the encouragement at this point from you folks
It would be easy to giveup now there one is hatched, so to speak.
I’m trying another one now with cherry and spalted Manitoba maple for the lid inset.

cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner