| Project by Heyz | posted 390 days ago | 348 views | 0 times favorited | 6 comments |  |
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I think I made this box back in Grade 9. The corners are simply mitered and the top was attached with a rabbet joint. I glued the whole thing together top and all, and then cut the top off with a table saw to create the ‘top’ That might work on a perfectly aligned table saw, but not a high school shop saw. Needless to say, the saw cut didn’t line up, so a lot of sanding was required and I ended up rounding some of my edges in all the sanding that was required. It still looks good. The bottom was a 1/8” piece of something (can’t remember) that I installed by cutting dado’s into the sides of the box. It just sits floating in there but doesn’t move. I then put a piece of felt on it.
My plan had been to fit a sleeve into the lid so that it would fit inside the box and keep the lid secured. (Is there a technical name for this style?) You can see the pieces inside the box that never quite got installed. I made the mistake of only measuring once and had a hard enough time tracking down that piece of wood – just never got around to finding a second piece and trying again. But soon I will… Or I may just put some hinges on it.
I made it from basswood because a few months before the class I had wanted to try wood carving so my mom signed us up for a carving class in town. We got to make a few things, like a christmas tree ornament and a letter opener, scoop etc. I decided to combine two projects, so made this box in shop class and then carved in my own time at home. I’m pretty happy with it.
-- Heyz, in the cold winterland of Canada
6 comments so far
Blake
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2715 posts in 753 days
posted 390 days ago
If I were you I would leave it alone! Its a nice box, and it will always remind you of your experience in 9th grade woodshop and how much you have grown in skills since then. That story you just told is one of the most important things about this box, and by altering it, you sort of lose part of that story.
I have a few projects from my early days of woodworking that I thought about “fixing” but I am glad I didn’t. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be special, nothing ever is anyway. My suggestion is keep it as a reminder of your childhood.
And by the way I like the carved top.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
woodup
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145 posts in 822 days
posted 390 days ago
Great Job!
-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"
brianinpa
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1363 posts in 602 days
posted 390 days ago
Each project has it’s own character. For me I leave everything as I made it so I can look at it later in life and see that I have made improvements in my abilities. Your box looks great as it is: it has character. I also really like the carving in the top.
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
lew
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4413 posts in 634 days
posted 390 days ago
I think it looks great! And only in 9th grade!!
Dominic Vanacora
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504 posts in 748 days
posted 389 days ago
I agree with all the above, leave it as it is and years from now you will recall what you went thru to make this box. I also have things I made in highschool that my son now has and I can recall every step I have to go thru to make my first bread board. I gave it to my mother and now my son has it. (I’m 63 ) If you want to do any thing at all put hinges on it. After putting on the hinge you can….....
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
Heyz
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22 posts in 395 days
posted 389 days ago
Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I know what you mean about leaving it how it is. I really would only make it so the top stays attached, so it’s useful :) But the way all of you are talking about it displaying a moment in time, and a gauge of your skill at the time, makes me want to leave it just the way it is. Cheers!
-- Heyz, in the cold winterland of Canada