Project Information
So for my next box i very much wanted to make a shoe valet, a box that will hold shoe polishing equipment.
With prior experience in making a curved lid, there wasn't anything particularly challenging. What i was able to concentrate on, was the quality of the details, the black and white banding, ensuring that everything matched up as close to perfect as possible, and of course, getting the french polishing to a flat mirror finish.
i used baltic birch plywood as the substrate for the veneer and relied on rabbet joints to glue up the box. once the frame was complete, i focused on shaping the sides of the box to contour to the shape of the lid. the rest of that process, including the entire process to make this box is available using the most comprehensive material out there on the subject: Roger Bean's box making e-books available at smartboxmaker.com.
As you will notice, the edges of the box are also veneered and in my opinion, significantly more elegant done this way.
the shoe polishing equipment is from saphir, made in france and contains equipment for polishing smooth leather and suede. The shoe horn is made out of genuine horn. there are 2 trays and the bottom has about 3.5 inches of space for additional items the owner may wish to add in addition the comprehensive kit included.
The lining is a genuine silk velvet that is luxurious and very easy to work with at the same time.
the lock is from ian hawthorne and is quite simply, in a different league to any other box lock on the market today.
A bit of history on this project:
I am a relatively new woodworker, and had no exposure to working wood as recent as 2 years ago and was actually quite clumsy whenever i had to do any kind of repair work around the house.
i got into collecting smoking pipes about two and a half years ago and happened to see a beautiful pipe cabinet for sale. i wished i could make one. it took a while, but eventually, the thought of learning how to build one took hold in my mind. from that moment on i was determined to learn how. research took my to lumberjocks, and perusing through the project gallery i was overwhelmed with a respect for the talent hobbyists had for the things they were making. When i stumbled on Roger beans fine decorative boxes. my jaws dropped. i just could not believe that someone could make something so magnificent. i felt a twinge (perhaps more than that) of jealousy. it was simply out of the question. there was no way i could make that. i didn't even own a chisel, not to mention never having the opportunity to hold one in my life. i signed up to lumberjocks, if only, to be able to favorite Rogers box so that if i wanted, i could find it and look at it again.
I always enjoy a morning coffee 15 minutes or so before school starts ( i am principal and director of a small private school in Brooklyn NY) and i took this opportunity to once again look at that lovely box on lumberjocks, and take a closer look at the description. were my eyes fooling me? i simply couldn't believe it. The sheer luck! there was a 200 page e-book with color photos on how to make this very box! needless to say i purchased the e-book right then and there. Upon scrolling through the pages of the e-book, My joy and excitement slowly switched to horror then dejection, when i realized that i could barely follow any of the processes in the book. I did not even know how to make the simplest of joints, not to mention a veritable masterpiece of woodworking. but that dejection lasted for a minute or two. for my mind had already been made up. i was going to make that box whether i like it or not. whether i wanted to or not. i was going to do it. And i guess i did.
Many people who have seen my boxes say i am am a natural, have talent etc. but i know better. i have always been a bit clumsy when it comes to things like this, not to mention having challenges with dimensions, numbers, measurement, angles, many of the things required to make furniture. The fundamental processes in woodworking did not come naturally to me, but with a will and determination to succeed the learning curve is that much smaller and easier to accomplish.
I think the two underlying factors was the determination, and never to give up. And The second, the generous ability for woodworkers to give the time to share and teach their knowledge.
I think that is the aim of this rather lengthy writing i am sharing with you.
I owe a big thank you to the woodworkers at lumberjocks for introducing me to this wonderful craft and equally, to Roger for his generous ability to teach and share his knowledge.
thanks for looking!
Eyal Bension.
With prior experience in making a curved lid, there wasn't anything particularly challenging. What i was able to concentrate on, was the quality of the details, the black and white banding, ensuring that everything matched up as close to perfect as possible, and of course, getting the french polishing to a flat mirror finish.
i used baltic birch plywood as the substrate for the veneer and relied on rabbet joints to glue up the box. once the frame was complete, i focused on shaping the sides of the box to contour to the shape of the lid. the rest of that process, including the entire process to make this box is available using the most comprehensive material out there on the subject: Roger Bean's box making e-books available at smartboxmaker.com.
As you will notice, the edges of the box are also veneered and in my opinion, significantly more elegant done this way.
the shoe polishing equipment is from saphir, made in france and contains equipment for polishing smooth leather and suede. The shoe horn is made out of genuine horn. there are 2 trays and the bottom has about 3.5 inches of space for additional items the owner may wish to add in addition the comprehensive kit included.
The lining is a genuine silk velvet that is luxurious and very easy to work with at the same time.
the lock is from ian hawthorne and is quite simply, in a different league to any other box lock on the market today.
A bit of history on this project:
I am a relatively new woodworker, and had no exposure to working wood as recent as 2 years ago and was actually quite clumsy whenever i had to do any kind of repair work around the house.
i got into collecting smoking pipes about two and a half years ago and happened to see a beautiful pipe cabinet for sale. i wished i could make one. it took a while, but eventually, the thought of learning how to build one took hold in my mind. from that moment on i was determined to learn how. research took my to lumberjocks, and perusing through the project gallery i was overwhelmed with a respect for the talent hobbyists had for the things they were making. When i stumbled on Roger beans fine decorative boxes. my jaws dropped. i just could not believe that someone could make something so magnificent. i felt a twinge (perhaps more than that) of jealousy. it was simply out of the question. there was no way i could make that. i didn't even own a chisel, not to mention never having the opportunity to hold one in my life. i signed up to lumberjocks, if only, to be able to favorite Rogers box so that if i wanted, i could find it and look at it again.
I always enjoy a morning coffee 15 minutes or so before school starts ( i am principal and director of a small private school in Brooklyn NY) and i took this opportunity to once again look at that lovely box on lumberjocks, and take a closer look at the description. were my eyes fooling me? i simply couldn't believe it. The sheer luck! there was a 200 page e-book with color photos on how to make this very box! needless to say i purchased the e-book right then and there. Upon scrolling through the pages of the e-book, My joy and excitement slowly switched to horror then dejection, when i realized that i could barely follow any of the processes in the book. I did not even know how to make the simplest of joints, not to mention a veritable masterpiece of woodworking. but that dejection lasted for a minute or two. for my mind had already been made up. i was going to make that box whether i like it or not. whether i wanted to or not. i was going to do it. And i guess i did.
Many people who have seen my boxes say i am am a natural, have talent etc. but i know better. i have always been a bit clumsy when it comes to things like this, not to mention having challenges with dimensions, numbers, measurement, angles, many of the things required to make furniture. The fundamental processes in woodworking did not come naturally to me, but with a will and determination to succeed the learning curve is that much smaller and easier to accomplish.
I think the two underlying factors was the determination, and never to give up. And The second, the generous ability for woodworkers to give the time to share and teach their knowledge.
I think that is the aim of this rather lengthy writing i am sharing with you.
I owe a big thank you to the woodworkers at lumberjocks for introducing me to this wonderful craft and equally, to Roger for his generous ability to teach and share his knowledge.
thanks for looking!
Eyal Bension.