| Project by CharlieM1958 | posted 174 days ago | 984 views | 2 times favorited | 61 comments | ![]() |
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Well guys, I managed to salvage something out this experience, but this little box is the result of one of the top bonehead woodworking mistakes of all time.
After putting in a fair amount of time on the basic box and the inlay, it was time to cut the lid free. I set the fence on my table saw, adjusted the blade depth, and made the first cut on one long side of the box. Then I quickly flipped the box over and made the second cut on the opposite side of the box…..ONLY TO DISCOVER I HAD MADE ONE CUT AT THE TOP OF THE BOX AND THE OTHER CUT AT THE BOTTOM. Doh!!!!!!!
After the initial thought of throwing it on the scrap pile subsided, I decided to whip out my jigsaw and connect the two cuts on each end of the box. Of course there was much sanding to do in order to even things out and create a reasonably well-mating opening.
I’m only sharing my secret with you jocks. For the rest of the world, this was a creative design choice. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
































61 comments so far
a1Jim
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15557 posts in 456 days
posted 174 days ago
Hey Charlie
You have just started a new trend for tops ,great save good looking box
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
degoose
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1858 posts in 233 days
posted 174 days ago
Charlie you secret is definitely safe here at LJ’s.
I like the design and may make one by accident too.,
-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au
TopamaxSurvivor
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2817 posts in 554 days
posted 174 days ago
I’d patent it :-)) I did that the other day putting in the kerf for the bottom to slide in ;-)) Oh, Well!!
-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.
Kirk
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51 posts in 932 days
posted 174 days ago
Charlie,
Help me out here. So the box is upside down or is the top with a tall front?
Who would notice? Look great. Wish I could get my corners to match that good.
W. Kirk Crawford
Tularosa, New Mexico
-- W. Kirk Crawford - Tularosa, New Mexico
Allison
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648 posts in 677 days
posted 174 days ago
Don’t ya just love it when you can salvage a project and on top of that have it turn out looking so good!
Great looking screw up Charlie. Love it!
-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!
MrWoody
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279 posts in 653 days
posted 174 days ago
Great looking box and nice save.
-- If we learn from our mistakes, I'm getting a fantastic education.
Rustic
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1221 posts in 475 days
posted 174 days ago
secret? what secret. LOL
-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI
majeagle1
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417 posts in 375 days
posted 174 days ago
Way to go Charlie, It’s nice to see that there are “others” out there that do the same thing that I have done.
I did one similar to this when I was cutting the slots for the kerf hinges…... I cut the slots in the correct position in the top, but then cut the slots in the “front” of the box part…... Like you say, another design opportunity, I did an inlay all around the top edge of the box part and then cut the slots in the “correct location”.............
Very, very nice box and wonderful “design”, thanks for posting
-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/
blockhead
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268 posts in 187 days
posted 174 days ago
Nice job Charlie. Sweet save. I wish my “non” accidental boxes came out so well.
-- Brad, Oregon- Wood, it's what's for dinner.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 592 days
posted 174 days ago
This is a great little box and a great big save! Well done
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
John Marr
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17 posts in 567 days
posted 174 days ago
Nice save, I caught myself in the nick of time doing that the other day on a box I’m building. Now I know what I can do If it happens again.
Thanks for sharing.
John
-- John
stefang
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1531 posts in 213 days
posted 174 days ago
Before I read your text I thought, oh! what an interesting design. After reading the text I thought it must be a lie, because my mistakes never ever turn out like that. I think the mistake was lucky because you now have a truly unique and beautiful box. I think it would be ideal for containing some precious collectors object or as a very luxurious presentation box. Keep making those mistakes Charley, we’re all watching and waiting.
-- Mike, American in Norway
whitedog
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155 posts in 336 days
posted 174 days ago
i think that is part of the woodworking experience ,how do i fix this… looks great
-- Paul , Calfornia
cajunpen
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5970 posts in 944 days
posted 174 days ago
Nice “screw-up” – it turned out very nice. I like the inlay as well. Your an honest man Charlie – and there are so few of left these days :-)) (outside of the LJ family I mean).
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 174 days ago
LOL! Thanks, Everybody. They say you are only as sick as your secrets. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Brad_Nailor
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1192 posts in 836 days
posted 174 days ago
When I saw the title “accident box” I thought it was possibly a keepsake box for any parts you might cut off while wood working..
Nice save Charlie!
-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"
ND2ELK
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6065 posts in 652 days
posted 174 days ago
Hi Charlie
You never tell anybody you screwed up! Just like the time I was duck hunting and shot the last duck in a string of three high flying ducks. One of the guys I was hunting with howlered at me – great shot. I said THANKS. He was so impressed with the shot I never had the heart to tell him I was aiming at the first duck. Great design Charlie! And you say, THANKS!
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Russel
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2032 posts in 817 days
posted 174 days ago
It takes a master box maker to develop such an innovative design on the fly. It’s really quite cool and now to make a jig to do it on purpose.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6991 posts in 1178 days
posted 173 days ago
That’s what I call great Yankee ingenuity.
I hope that’s the proper thing to say, being you’re so far south.<(:O}#
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
TraumaJacques
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380 posts in 379 days
posted 173 days ago
Good save buddy the inlay looks real nice.
-- All bleeding will eventually stop.
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 173 days ago
Tom: Good shot. And thanks!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Peik Löf
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109 posts in 251 days
posted 173 days ago
awesome looking box!
-- My signature is awesome.
CanadianWoodChuck
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152 posts in 792 days
posted 173 days ago
Great box Charlie, love the inlay. We could all take lessons just from your little design changes.
-- Canadian Wood Chuck (Bruce)
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 942 days
posted 173 days ago
All the better to display the contents. Great save Charlie.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
woodworm
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7828 posts in 469 days
posted 173 days ago
Very nice box with lesser capacity though.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 173 days ago
I like it
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
cabinetmaster
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7999 posts in 437 days
posted 173 days ago
Charlie, your secret is safe with me. Nice work, Inlay, accident and all…..........
-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps
Skarp
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165 posts in 204 days
posted 173 days ago
Good save, but eww, sanding. I hate sanding. Probably would use a spokeshave and then card scraper on the slopes. Have you got a spokeshave? Very handy in places you can’t manage to fit a hand plane. Nice banding by the way. What did you use for the black?
-- Ooo, er.
Napaman
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3416 posts in 955 days
posted 173 days ago
nice save…
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
choppertoo
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61 posts in 191 days
posted 173 days ago
I’d like to say thank you for making a mistake that I/we can learn from! That’s not to say that I won’t screw up similalarly in the future but it will be good to know that I am in good company. I like the way the inlay and the flocking look with your wood choice.
p.s. great example of how “woodworking – patience doesn’t have to = firewood. :)
-- The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that our aim is too low and we reach it.. Michelangelo
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 173 days ago
Skarp, I can’t take credit for making the inlay. I picked up some really old banding on eBay a while back. I talked about it in my blog here.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
patron
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2244 posts in 219 days
posted 173 days ago
good save , charlie .
if it wasn’t for mistake/inovations , we would all still be playing with blocks in a sandbox !
i guess that cruise really helped .
-- david ,new mexico ,allheart
Scott Bryan
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20070 posts in 700 days
posted 173 days ago
Great recovery, Charlie. The box turned out to be a nice piece that sports a unique design.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
matt garcia
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678 posts in 550 days
posted 173 days ago
I’ve never seen such a great recovery!! Almost David Marks like!! Great job Charlie, you’re my hero!!
-- Matt, Houston Texas
Woodhacker
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1145 posts in 602 days
posted 173 days ago
Charlie, I’m way down the list here, but I agree with the others and I have to say…Great Save. It turned into a beautiful display box.
-- Martin, Kansas
croquetman
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82 posts in 200 days
posted 173 days ago
I think we can all sympathize. I was making a box, having just hand cut the dovetails for the corners, and singing along to something on the radio, when I realized I had made two left sides. No hope. So I started the right side over … and did it again!!! That box went in the fire – the karma was all wrong.
So who gets this new design innovation?
-- Whatever
Maxx
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62 posts in 184 days
posted 173 days ago
Great save. I love the design you ended up with. Turned a mistake on a “standard” box to a success on a very unique…display box? That’s the impression I have anyway.
-- Where did all this sawdust come from?
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 173 days ago
Thank you all. Yes I definitely see this as a display box for a fine watch, necklace, or maybe even a really nice dial caliper. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
TopamaxSurvivor
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2817 posts in 554 days
posted 173 days ago
What was it supposed to be for?
-- Debt is nothing more than the 21st Century's form of slavery.
Durnik150
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536 posts in 200 days
posted 173 days ago
And heeeeeee’s…....SAFE!!!! Nice save. I’ve had numerous moments like that. Glad to see it worked out.
-- Behind the Bark is a lot of Heartwood----Charles, Centennial, CO
scrappy
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1433 posts in 309 days
posted 173 days ago
Nice save! Great box. Love the design “as is” The fact that it was accidental just makes it that much more unique.
There are a LOT of things we use everyday in life that were made by accident. Vulcanized rubber(car tires),just to mention the most common.
Did the same thing on my one box when cutting the key slots.(thats why that center key is larger! not on purpose!)
Again great save and great workmanship.
Keep it up.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
woodspar
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705 posts in 978 days
posted 173 days ago
Now everybody’s doin’ it.
-- John
sval229
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25 posts in 420 days
posted 173 days ago
Nice save. Remember … it’s never a mistake unless you can’t save it. Up to that point everything else is just a slight design modification.
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 173 days ago
Shhh! Don’t tell anyone that you didn’t plan it that way. Who’s to know!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
woodbutcher
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416 posts in 1044 days
posted 173 days ago
CarlieM1958,
I looked that box over very intently, I didn’t see any mis-cutting anywhere. I mean it was designed to house antique door stops wasn’t it? The corners were all super square as usual, so I thought it was just another success story, no need to add that accident story! Great save buddy, and thanks for sharing.
Sincerely,
Ken McGinnis
-- woodbutcher north carolina
newTim
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233 posts in 485 days
posted 173 days ago
This is great. Now you don’t have to fumble around in all the dark corners to find something. :)
-- tim hill www.newcalshop.com
sharad
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686 posts in 683 days
posted 173 days ago
Charlie, this is ingenious. It shows your intense desire to turn an accidental mistake into something useful and concern for the material used in making it.
Sharad
-- patanjali
Loucarb
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901 posts in 324 days
posted 173 days ago
Great save and nice job with the inlay.
spanky46
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735 posts in 269 days
posted 173 days ago
Your mistake turned out better than a lot of on purposes! Nice save Charlie!
-- spanky46 -- Never enough clamps...Never enough tools...Never enough time.
adeptr
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43 posts in 232 days
posted 173 days ago
I actually admire your admittance! I can’t admit my mistakes…...or I would be redundant.
Dave
-- Dave Haynes, Indiana, http://www.oldaveswoodshop.com
Dennis Zongker
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1005 posts in 470 days
posted 173 days ago
This is a great story, about turning a mistake into a success. And it’s a little funny to. If I could get a dollar for every mistake that I have made I would be a millionaire. Thanks for sharing Charlie.
-- Dennis Zongker
Woodwrecker
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469 posts in 454 days
posted 173 days ago
I think it looks pretty cool that way.
-- Eric
eddy
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247 posts in 243 days
posted 173 days ago
nice recovery looks like it was meant to be that away
Bradford
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783 posts in 701 days
posted 173 days ago
WOW, Charlie, You’ve got skills…and friends…and a great piece of art. Absolutely LOVE it. Way to think “Outside of the Box”. Ha Ha Nice work.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
Splinterman
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4500 posts in 240 days
posted 173 days ago
It may have been a mistake but it looks good to me…....nice one.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
jm82435
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502 posts in 621 days
posted 173 days ago
I wish all our mistakes would turn out so nice. I like it – better than the boring old straight lid. I think you just started something new. We are all going to be making these now…
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
sIKE
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1093 posts in 632 days
posted 173 days ago
Very Nice save! was the cuts beveled aka not 90 degree’s to begin with?
-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 173 days ago
The cuts started off straight, so it took a good bit of stock removal to get everything beveled equally.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Jim
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98 posts in 523 days
posted 172 days ago
Wow nice box Charlie. I will have to remember this next time I make a serious oops.
-- Jim Sollows --- Langley BC Canada --- www.sollows.ca
skywalker01
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91 posts in 172 days
posted 172 days ago
was wondering where you got the small brass handle?
Great save. I’d call that inspiration though.
Everything happens for a reason.
-- LAS
CharlieM1958
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7466 posts in 1097 days
posted 172 days ago
Thanks!
The small brass knob was from Lee Valley I’m pretty sure.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"