Inexpensive box for church donations

Well, this is my first box. I Made it for donations at our church service. We have a small church, and we just set it by the door for people to drop their donations in. I dropped the box when I brought it home to take a picture of it and broke the lid where I routed the slot to drop the donations. I just got to gluing it back together tonight.

It also was my first set of dovetails. I used the Rockler jig and a PC 690 router. I tried the through dovetails, first, but the half-blind were easier to get right for a beginner. I REALLY think I need to learn to cut them with a saw when they are this small……LOL It took me 2 hours to try the through dovetails, with moderate success. When I switched over to the half-blind ones, I had to recalibrate the whole jig over again. Too funny! I guess we all have our tales of our first dovetails. I picked up a set-up jig for the Rockler dovetail jig last time I was in Phoenix, so I am hoping the next set won’t be as frustrating or time consuming! But, they say – “Practice Makes Perfect!” It is no truer than in woodworking!

The wood is simple Cedar and Redwood fence pickets I picked up at Home Depot. I saw some really reddish Redwood and snatched it. I used a #7 plane and a belt and RO sander to get it smooth. I used the pale Cedar to contrast the Redwood to highlight the dovetail joint. (Guess I got sorta proud for a rookie!)

I used clear shellac first to seal the wood then followed with polyurethane. I did not feel as if it needed any stain or dye, but I am always open for suggestions on FINISHING the wood. Seems like putting things together is the simple part, but the key to a stunning piece is in the finish! (Barnwood is sooo simple to finish……LOL!)

Fencing in the Southwest,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards