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Seed Box

Project by TheCaver posted 243 days ago 621 views 3 times favorited 13 comments Add to Favorites Watch

This is a box that my wife will store some garden seeds in. The main body and bottom panel is solid white Ash and the upper edge is inlaid with a 3 part, shop made banding (fir and sapele to be exact). The lid is made from Ash with a veneered panel which contains a 3 part marquetry leaf that happened to be my first test piece from a while back… I had it laying around in a bag of loose veneer hence the odd angle it sits at :)

The lid frame itself consists of Ash pieces laminated with some curly walnut I had, but is probably the biggest mistake on this box. The light/dark/light lid frame does not work with the light panel….I should have used a 2 part lamination, ended it at the walnut and let that contrast against the light panel…..stupid mistake…..and what sucks is, I knew it as I was cutting the pieces!

Veneer keying was done by hand with a dovetail saw and walnut was used for the key material. I regret using the sapele top inlay as the color does not match the walnut, but I needed some practice on inlaying thin, on-edge material….whatever.

The second photo shows a huge error…I was scraping the lid after wet sanding and bit the edge, tearing out a nice sliver…..it was maddening….truly.

At any rate, it came out ok, and I have almost completed its twin with a Wenge top which looks much better, offering the correct lid contrast….will post that soon.

Oh, and hinges were cheap Lowe’s brand, nothing fancy needed here, though I did fit them by hand, that must count for something :)

Finish was a good wet sanding with oil to fill the pores, followed by a few more coats with 400-600 light sanding between coats, and a coat of Black Bison wax.

Critique is welcome….

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan


13 comments so far

View Blake's profile

Blake

2715 posts in 752 days


posted 243 days ago

This is really nice. Great details. I especially like the leaf. Did you say you made the leaf inlay yourself? Really nice.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

View TheCaver's profile

TheCaver

292 posts in 718 days


posted 243 days ago

Thanks Blake, yes, I did the marquetry leaf….That was actually the only part that went well :)

If anyone reading has not tried marquetry, I advise you to go out into the garage right now and try it! If I can do it, anyone can and all you need is an xacto knife, some veneer and blue tape! Of all the tiny details I sweat and put into some of my projects, the marquetry is what always draws the comments, no matter how simple it is. So do it! Get some cheap veneer (don’t start with Wenge or purpleheart though! DAMHIKT) and go to town!

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan

View majeagle1's profile

majeagle1

417 posts in 374 days


posted 243 days ago

I like the leaf also !!!!!! As soon as I finish the box I am doing, I will try to do a Marquetry design….maybe!

I can see cutting the leaf from veneer with an xacto, but do you need to make a pattern and then use a router to cut out the relief for the leaf to go into? Obviously I have never done this before!

Thanks for posting

-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/

View TheCaver's profile

TheCaver

292 posts in 718 days


posted 243 days ago

Gene, its all veneer, no need to cut a pocket like a traditional inlay….

http://www.americanmarquetrysociety.com/beginnersguide.html

You would not believe how easy it is….Let me know if you need some photos, I can do a quick tutorial for you if you wish…..

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan

View majeagle1's profile

majeagle1

417 posts in 374 days


posted 243 days ago

Thanks for the link Caver…......... alot of information there.

When I get ready to start, I will read through it all to digest the info and then maybe try it out. If I have any
questions…............ you may hear from me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Thanks again

-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/

View CharlieM1958's profile (online now)

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 243 days ago

Really nice. Thanks for that link. I’m going to have to try my hand at marquetry. You make it sound easy, but I’ve got 10 thumbs!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View TheCaver's profile

TheCaver

292 posts in 718 days


posted 243 days ago

That does it, I’m going to do another leaf tomorrow night, and this time I will take pics of all the steps and blog it…...give me a day or so….

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan

View TopamaxSurvivor's profile

TopamaxSurvivor

2814 posts in 554 days


posted 243 days ago

Looks pretty good from here. I would have thought it was a great job if you hadn’t fessed up :-)) I’ll be glad to see youir leaf go together.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

View jm82435's profile

jm82435

502 posts in 620 days


posted 243 days ago

The leaf really dresses it up. I need to try that. looking forward to the tutorial.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

View TopamaxSurvivor's profile

TopamaxSurvivor

2814 posts in 554 days


posted 243 days ago

I better put you on the buddy list so i don’t miss it.

-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.

View Karson's profile (online now)

Karson

25271 posts in 1279 days


posted 234 days ago

Great looking box. And the marquetry sets it off.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View getneds's profile

getneds

140 posts in 235 days


posted 200 days ago

ooohhhh all that work. Looks real nice, i like the leaf on top i really makes it stand out. I really like the 1/32 corner splines, not too bold but show strength. have you ever inset box hinges? or used hidden hardware like barrell. All that beautiful work and the hinges kinda jumped out.

nice job. I really like it

-- Woodshop supplies at bulk discounts. www.getneds.com

View kiwisharyn's profile

kiwisharyn

50 posts in 156 days


posted 152 days ago

Hey… I really like this! Have bookmarked for future reference as there’s a lot of info here I need to check out. Thanks very much for posting. Great work.

-- ... must be time for a cup of tea and a sit-down

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