What is it for?

is this for some SECRET group.. like Fred Flinstone’s Order of the Buffalo?

shhhh.. don’t say anything.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Don’t feel inadequate. There is no skill test to become or remain a LJ! It’s in the spirit of information sharing and project showcasing. Put a 2×4 together with some brads, and it will appeal to someone. If you’re 7 years old, it will appeal to even more people. HA. I think it holds game pieces.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Fine box, maybe it holds golden thread.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3

Silver half dollars?

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Hmmm…it certainly COULD be used to hold spools of thread or half-dollars. Good guesses, but no.

Not game pieces either, mot.

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

Does the coin embedded in the top, hold a clue?

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

Indeed it does. the hint link is a closer view of the coin in case you have not peeked yet.

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

Great Box and congratulations to the owner of the coin on top. That is quite an accomplishment.

The coin on top is a 1 year AA coin. (thanks google) I’m guessing the top of the box holds more coins of various lengths of time but I’m not sure what goes in the bottom unless its bulk storage.

PS my origingal guess before looking at the hint was poker chips.

-- Che.

I’ve been sober since 86 Charlie and I’m very proud of it. Is it a Box to hold coins for AA members who have achieved years of sobriety that are passed out at AA meetings?jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Yep…you nailed it Mike. I think Debbie really knew it on the first guess, though….she was just being sly.

I just picked up my 10-year chip a couple months ago. I figured I could do better than the plastic compartment box my Wednesday night group has been using.

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

Finest kind work. Looks like a retro fifties tackle box in wood. And I gotta also be congratulatory to whatever group that uses this item to celebrate birthdays. You should feature it in your district’s newsletter (didn’t I see someone recently make a reference to lunch meetings and someone commented “Thank God for lunch meetings”. I sense a thread here). ;^D

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

LOL. Thanks, Douglas.

The big handle on top really didn’t help the piece aesthetically, but whoever sets up the meeting wil thank me for being able to grab it with one hand.

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

my guess before getting through the comments was chess pieces…congrats on the sobriety…and beautiful box to match something almost as beautiful (as the sobriety)...

and on your comment regarding worksmanship??? anytime you feel your work is not up to snuff…just take a look at my projects to feel better…hahahahha—-your work is greeat…and like the others said—-it is about learning and sharing a sense of community…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...177 days to sanity...

Thanks, Matt. (Nothing at all wrong with your projects either, BTW., ...I may steal the guitar stand idea, but I’ve got to modify the design for acoustic.)

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

Now how was I supposed to know that?
I’m not a member of any secret organization – cept this one. <g>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Congratulations Charlie, Some don’t think I’m still sober because I’m taking narcotics for my back pain. Well my drug of choice was booze, even though I was a garbage can. Well I take my meds as prescribed sometime, depending on the amount of sleep I get and other factors I can get pretty sloppy sometime, but I maintain pretty well, and never exceed my dose. That and I have’nt had a drink since 86. The box is beautiful charlie. again congrats. jockmike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

Don’t let folks like that bother you, Mike. YOU are the only one who can know that you are only taking it as needed. Nobody else’s opinion really matters on that issue. ‘86 is the year my first child was born. I wish I had quit then instead of waiting another 10 years. :-)

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

Joe made it to “two years” before his last slide which went downhill really fast. It was a nasty ride.

So.. to anyone making it to 1 hours, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 1 year, 1 decade (and beyond).... bravo!!!

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

You have my sympathy, Debbie. I know how hard it is on both sides of the fence.

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

Thats a cool idea. Nice job on the box

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

The box is a beaut because of its constuction and wood, but is more valuable now that I know what it is used for. Congratulations on your triumph over your disease and trust in sharing it with us.

-- Jesus is Lord!

Charlie,

I completely failed to look at the close up hint until the cat was out of the bag about the birthday box. Now I look at the close-up, and I see really clean, tight placement of the inlayed medallion and a swirl free smooth glossy finish. You used wood contrast in an interesting way. I’m guessing cherry for the handle and sides, spalted maple for the half-lap frame work in the bottom. I guess sapele for the dark wood, but I can’t be sure. The doves look good, but I really want to know how you did the chip trays in the top compartment. Thanks again for sharing the box.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Now I see that guessing games would be very popular here LOL – great idea – and exceptional box as well, Charlie!

-- Martin, http://lumberjocks.com | My Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Martin_Sojka/1357216976

I really appreciate the workmanship of this box, and its significance. i also appreciate the daily struggle you must face to overcome this disease. This is why I do not offer congratulations. If we truly accept alcoholism as a disease then praise for sobriety is misplaced. We wouldnt peon a cancer survivor. “Hey you’re still in remission, good going” To laud your restraint would denigrate your condition to a “willful choice” that you have decided not to make, as if you were just a drunk deciding to waste his life. The factors that cause alcoholism are many, beyond the control and choosing of its victims. We all pray for your continued sobriety.
Your woodworking talent should be unencumbered, and hopefully you will share with us more details on this treasure’s creating.

-- Dan

Good point Dan! The chip signifies a celebration of freedom from a helpless state of mind and body. We don’t have a choice about the disease but we do have a choice about recovery.
Charlie Wow! that box is pretty high class for a bunch of drunks!

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Good insight, Dan. I truly believe it is a disease (I know I didn’t choose to have it). Most of us sober drunks just learn to accept and appreciate conratulations in the good spirit with which they are intended.

To Doug’s questions: you are 2 for 3 n the wood…the darker wood is walnut. And I was waiting for someone to ask about the chip trays! I chose the proper size forstner bit (1 3/8 in this case) then clamped a fence to the drill press table. After rough cutting the trays to the proper size, I measured and marked where each semicircle should be drilled, and just moved the workpiece down the fence,one semicircle at a time. It was a little tedious, but not difficult at all.

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

good project, nice comment section on this project. Good job Jockmike. I was guessing poker chip box, or State Quarter collection box. I didn’t know about the AA chips. Do they have chips for sugar and caffeine addicts like me? Course, to get a chip I have to try and tackle the problem first! What about a chip for wood addicts like us lumberjocks!

-- Mark DeCou - Kansas Flint Hill's Artisan

Like you said Mark…..ya gotta give something up to get a chip. I don’t know about you, but I’m not about to give up coffee, sugar, or makin’ sawdust!

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

Loved this story.

God bless!

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

My Dad just put a 30 year token on his dresser (too pretty to risk scratching in his pocket).

I’m finally an adult … with 21 years myself.

-- http://nmwoodworks.com (pens & bowls, mostly)

30 years.. Bravo.
21. woo hoo

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

And to think when I looked at this three months ago I didn’t give it my “I just love small wooden boxes” blessing. Don’t know what I was thinking. LOL

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

25 here

-- ..... art for lifes sake

I’m not a friend of Bill W but I have several friends who are. Congratulations Charlie and all the rest of you. I never joined AA but quit drinking and smoking at the same time. I knew if I drank I would smoke and it was killing me. That was 13 years ago and I’ve never looked back

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Congratulations to you all and in your continued success! Great box by the way.

Charlie,
I’ve got a good friend who just got his one year coin not too long ago, I was really proud of him. Before he joined AA, he almost killed himself with the drink. But praise God he didn’t, he’s an accomplished artist and a lumberjock. I guess I was just sharing this little tidbit to let you know I’ve seen it firsthand and you have my prayers and I’m proud of you for what it’s worth.

-- Isaac, "It's no coincidence that Jesus was a lumberjock too"

oh yeah, and yes that is one great box. one of these days i’m gonna try my hand at a “small wooden box”. you guys (and gals) inspire me.

-- Isaac, "It's no coincidence that Jesus was a lumberjock too"

Thanks again to all for the nice comments, and special thanks to my brothers and sisters in the fellowship.

Dan, that’s a long time! Way to go!

Tom, it doesn’t matter how you did it….what matters is that you did it before it killed you. I smoked for another 3 years after I got off the booze, and I think giving up the cigarettes was the harder of the two!

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

You all are inspiring. My longest run without tobacco is 2 mounts and with a nip of something is 7 months. My hats off to ya’ll!

I’ve never tried the stuff. And proud of it. But congratulations Charlie for being strong.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Many more and we’d have to rent the lumberjocks chat room for weekly meetings….

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

Some people need motivation.

I quit drinking when I had pancreatitis.

I quit smoking when I had a heart attack.

Now my doc wants me to stop eating (as much) to lose weight.

If you can’t drink, smoke or eat what is one to do? (It’s a rhetorical question)?

Guess I’ll go make some sawdust.

-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.

Sawdust, If your into punk rock(Adam Ant), then it must be something inside….

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Sawdust, since that was a rhetorical question, I’ll refrain from answering it. :-)

Here in New Orleans, eating is practically a religion, so moderation is always difficult. Especially for us folks who think that if a little of something is good, more must be better!

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

Oh man, I love it. Not sure about the half ovals. But love the idea, especially the outer look of the box.

-- http://www.LanierandSons.com