Box Joint Box

Nice book match on the top. I like boxes like this. It has the look of something you might find in a grandmothers attic with old buttons stored in it.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

For Bob:

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Dorje, it looks as though your jig worked just fine. Like a lot of nice things; simple, functional, and attractive.

-- Bob

Wow, Dorje, I just love small wooden boxes! And this little box is nothing to sneeze at.

So many boxes are made with walls that are just too thick. This one has a delicate look and is being used for a perfect application – a button box. I stopped designating a purpose for the boxes that I make. I no longer call them ‘jewelry boxes’ – just ‘small wooden boxes’. It’s up to the owner to decide their best use.

Curious about the lid; how does it locate?

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

Don – the buttons were from my daughter’s craft supplies! That shot was just for fun! (See Bob’s post above) My wife pretty much uses it to collect and hide little junk in the living room…I think there was actually scissors, post its, a baseball, some yarn and and various other things stowed in there at present!

You’re a very astute observer to comment on the delicate nature of the box. I have attempted to be intentional with proportions in my work. For example, on my case topper, 3/4” stock felt too thick for the fairly small piece, so the main case and drawer fronts were milled to 5/8”, while the drawer sides and drawer backs were milled to 3/8”.

I believe all parts of this box are 1/4” thick. The top locates in a fitted manner (I think that’s how you referred to it in one of your posts?) – just a rabbetted underside.

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Dorje -

Very cool box and a great button collection. I just love small boxes like that – makes me think of what I could store in that box.

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

And, what are you thinking?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Quote Dorje: ”My wife pretty much uses it to collect and hide little junk in the living room…I think there was actually scissors, post its, a baseball, some yarn and and various other things stowed in there at present!”

Dorje, you’ve made my case: “It’s up to the owner to decide their best use.”

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

Nice box regardless of what it is for. You could store bugs in it or butterflys, or nothing at all, just for looks. jockmikie

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

I really like the box joints. I’ve been using dovetails on most of my boxes, but I’ve been meaning to try making a jig for box joints.

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

Lol…..just like grandma’s

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Nice box joints. Can we see your box joint jig?

-- Jesus is Lord!

Sure oscorner – I’ll post pics in a blog…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Nice box Dorje. And great first attempt at box joints.

I also like resawing wood to get matched wood, where necessary.

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

Very nice Dorje! It looks to be a great size for stashing things. Simple pleasures…

My love of the box joint is to that of Don’s love for the small wooden boxes. I remember making my first jig and then cutting my first box joints on a project for my sweetie. I’ve since made a couple of different jigs varying in complexity. I checked out your jig in the blog and I don’t know why the differently sized slots in the front piece never occurred to me. This is a good example of why we appreciate this community so much. Thanks for posting this box which resulted in another post giving me some new insight into a modification I can make to my original jig.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

my daughter got several boxes of buttons for her birthday last year – due to her emotional connection to the aroma of her Grandmother’s button box… (Jenn has a sensitive nose and the smell reminds her of her times on the farm and helping Grandma with sewing etc).

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Very nice Dorje… I like simple “looking” things like this though I know a lot of thought went into it. It’s beautiful.

-- Steffen

Great looking box! The proportions and thickness are really nice. I like the bookmatched top and subtle color. It is nice to see a box that is not so flashy and contrasty sometimes.

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

Why thank you – I appreciate these comments coming from a fine box builder…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Dorje,

I had not seen this before. Very nice box – simple and delicate design with a lovely bookmatch for the top. The box-joints looks o be very well done, as well!

-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com

Missed this first time out. Good one, Dorje. Not sure where some of my first boxes ended up, so in the living room and used by your family is a testament to the job you did. Seeing it filled with buttons was a joy too. My seamstress Grandmother had a button jar – it was pretty magical to a young kid some fifty years ago.

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

I had to stop by again and add this to my favorites… I really like this one.

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

Glad Blake dredged this from the archives. I’ll add my kudos for a nice, functional box.

I like it too. I like the nice square pins/ corners. Aren’t box joints fun to cut with a jig? I think that is my favorite jig to use; quick and easy.

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

Hi Dorje,

You posted this one long before I came on board. I am glad it came back up on my review list. This is a nice box and I like the box joints. It looks like Bob nailed this one in his comment. I have been meaning to do something like this (provided of course that I can find enough time away from the computer).

Thanks for the inspiration.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Thanks guys – I see the quick switch to fill it with buttons after Bob made his comment got another unsuspecting viewer!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Nice box. I think the top could have been a little nicer if it was book matched, but it still came out nice. Did you follow some pattern for the box joint jog or craft one up yourself? Love to see what you came up with!

Does the lid have guides so it sits on the top securely, or is it just a flat panel?