My lids have flipped...well cupped.

I think it is possible that the handle is what made your lid cup like that. I had a similar problem with a lid I had glued a handle on. It doesn’t take much extra tension on one side to cause cupping. My handle was also aligned with the grain and held in place with dowels as yours are. This is the only box among many that I have had that problem with.

-- Mike, American in Norway

The area of the top exposed to the elements opposed to the bottom contained in a sealed state may have an impact. But looking at the grain direction and the fact that both are probably cut from the same board, I would lean more tword the attachment of the handle, expansion and contraction of the different woods being used. Because the one that is attached in the middle is only slightly cupped opposed to the outter edge attachment.
I wonder if the openess of the pores would have anything to do with it?
Good question.

-- Can't never could do anything, to try is to advance.

Good insights guys. I wonder if I had placed the handles in an orientation of 90 degrees to the top lid piece…hmmm. It would have changed the look a bit though.

I was planning on making a couple more boxes like these, except more rectangular rather than square. I’ll have to rethink a bit.

Thanks!

-- Follow my woodworking adventures in The Second Wind Workshop, http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/

Great work,I hope you will add some more similar stuff here.

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-- Lawron M Kluve