Ambrosia Maple Box

Yowsir! That’s one beautiful box. The base is great, the top to sides joinery is splendid. And those crazy beetles made some wonderful changes to that curly maple. Can you share more construction details? Interior shots?
Charlie you are one of my favorite box-makers. And as some know, I like small wooden box-makers! (Small homage to Don!)

Speaking of Don, I imagine he will be along shortly. He will no doubt be all over this one!

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

Thanks, Doug. Yeah, Don was the first person I thought of when I posted this one. <g>

My standard box-making techniques is to cut and join the four sides first. In this case I was able to wrap the grain artound the box to some degree. Then I glued on a top and bottom a bit oversized, and trimmed flush on the router table. Ont the top, I just finished with a 1/4” roundover bit. After that, I cut the box into two halves on the table saw. This makes for a good fit, but it always gives me the willies worrying about pinching the blade and having a kickback. Just in case, I always stand clear.

For the base, I started off with one piece of stock about 3/8×4 x 42. I ripped it down to 1 1/4”, then rounded it over on one side. Then I cut that into the four sides of the base, making sure my miters fit right. To make the scallops on the base symmetrical, I used double-stick tape to join the opposite sides, cut a rough design on my small bandsaw, and touched it up with a sanding drum in the drill press.

Finally, I glued the base pieces on just high enough to cover the 3/8 thickness of the box bottom. After about 4 coats of poly, I installed the hinges and catch.

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

Wow – what gorgeous wood and the box was just what it needed!

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

How nice! What a great looking project. Really sweet.
If you don’t mind answering another detail question: where’d the catch come from?
Thx,
Gary

-- Gary, Florida

Thanks, Gary. The catch came from a place I found on the internet a while back..

http://www.smallboxhardware.com/index.lasso

I ordered an assortment of box hardware from them a while back because the prices seemed really good. The stuff is not the highest quality in the world (plated, and not extremely smooth), but good enough for most applications, and dirt cheap compared to Rockler and some of the other well-known sources.

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

I like that box a lot, looks great! Gives me some inspiration to work on some small boxes myself.

Charlie,

Beautiful work!

Super job! That wood is magnificent and the craftsmanship is great too.

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

Ha,ha! Thanks, Tom, I think. :-)

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

Great box Charlie, I love small boxes too, you know. Never used to, but I’ve come to appreciate them more and more through Don. I think he appreciates a fine box too. Really though that is beautiful. I got to try one. jockmike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Nice box Charlie, I love the wood selection!

-- Normite Lou

Man Charlie! – thats a beautiful box! I love the proportions, and the craftsmanship is wonderful! – you are a craftsman my friend!

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

Thanks, guys.

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

Charlie:

I’ve heard of people using Hot melt glue to put in the saw cut as you go around the box to cut off the lid. That keeps it from pinching as you get to the final cut.

Some great Ambrosia maple. I gave a bunch to Greg3G when he was here. All 1/4” stuff that I resawed and i had left over from a kitchen that I made for my wife.

Everyone says that you should have one favorite board, I’ve got one that is the most beautiful tiger, Ambrosia maple, and I can’t bear to cut it up.

I’ve heard some say make a “Your Favorite Board” table. That’s what I might do.

How much of that beautiful wood do you have?

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

OK, guys, you know how much I love small wooden boxes; and who can blame me when we have beautiful creations like this one. Nice job, Charlie.

Now, can we look inside?

Do you have any concerns about wood movement with the top being glued to the top sides?

The box jewelry looks OK in the pictures, but if it’s plated, it sometimes take some time before pitting starts. Let’s hope that doesn’t happen at all. I came to the conclusion a few years back that purchasing high quality hinges, clasps and escutcheons was worth the extra money. I once gave a beautiful box to a friend and when I saw the pit marks on the hinges made the decision then to source Brusso hardware only.

Lovely work, Mate!

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

Great box, Charlie. Inspires me to make some more.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Charlie,

This is a very elegant, yet simple design!

Sometimes less is more.

Beautiful job!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Beautiful box Charlie. I like both the design, execution and wood selection.

I noticed that you mentioned that you were concerned about cutting the top from the box that the box might close on the wood and cause a kickback. It is a concern, but one way to avoid it is to cut the two ends all the way through, then lower the blade so that you leave about 1/32” of wood on the front and back. You can then take a Utility knife and cut through the rest of the way, a little light sanding and you are done with the cut off.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Karson, thanks for the hot melt glue tip. I only had two 8” x 42” pieces, so it is pretty much gone.

Don, I really don’t think about wood movement in small boxes….maybe that is a mistake on my part. Here in south Louisiana, though, the humidity is pretty consistent. I have not had a problem with similarly constructed boxes that have been around several years.

Bill, that sounds like a good idea. Thanks.

Thanks to all for keeping me inspred to keep improving my skills.

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

Another stunner as always Charlie. How are things coming along down there by the way? Improving slowly but surely? I hope so.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

A perfect example of simple design, awesome material and quality workmanship! That is one sharp little box!

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

Great choice of wood!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Thanks all!

Chip, things are coming along well in some areas, slower in others. If people around here would quit electing the same politicians over and over, maybe we could make quicker progress!

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

You said you used a wipe on poly. Can you specify which one you use? Do you think it could be used indoors? I’m asking, because with winter coming, it’s near to impossible to finish items in my shop because of the cold.

-- Hard work spotlights the character of people; some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don't turn up at all!

I use Minwax, and the fumes are not too bad. It really depends on the size of the piece. If you were doing a dining room hutch, I’d say no way unless you could open windows and doors. But a small item like a box is not a problem. Just put your wiping rag outside when you’re finished so that the piece itself is the only thing giving off fumes.

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

Wow Charlie! That is some beautiful Maple and the way you put it to use is stunning.This box is alive with movement.The eyes just have to dance over the surface. Nicely done! I agree with you regarding Minwax,it is one of the best finishes if you are not set up to spray and it can be recoated fairly quickly. More durable than lacquer too. My 2 cents worth on cutting the box in two: Bills idea is a very good one,and so is Karsons.But here is one more option that works for me.I cut each end and one side,leaving a long side for last.After each pass I slip in a shim the same thickness as the blade and tape it in place after first taking a loop around the shim.I flush it with the outside,pinching it very tightly by making a pass all the way around the box..The shim cant vibrate out. I dont use the Blue tape, its not sticky enough for this.Works great and no glue to clean up.

-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon

Charlie,
How’d I miss this one? This is great work and I love the Maple.
Tom

-- Thos. Angle

Tom, thanks!

Andy, that sounds like a winner. So simple I’d have never thought of it. DuhHHHH! Thanks for the kind words. Coming from you, it means a lot!

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

Wow…thank goodness for Pulse. What an amazing looking wood. Great box, Charlie!

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

Thanks, Tom!

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

nice work hope to see more

-- Bob "life is one big school & we are the students"

Great box!! Nice wood, design and execution for the completed work. Well done!

-- Bob A in NJ

That is really one fine box.

Charlie,Beautiful work

-- jeanmarc manosque france

Charlie,

You put this one up before I was on board. I am glad that it came back up on my list (with 139 pages to work my way through I don’t know how if I ever would have gotten to it). This is a beautiful box.

Is the box attached to the base? I have seen boxes built similar to this with a “hidden” compartment between the box and the base.

Thanks for the post.

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

Veeeerrry Nice!...

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

This is a beautifully executed box. I love the ambrosia maple and it is skillfully laid out. Great job!

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

great looking selection of wood and very nice design as well.

-- www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.darrylmasterson.etsy.com

Thank you for the nice comments, Gentlemen!

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

Very nice, Charlie. I really like the clean lines and proportions of the box. The curl in the ambrosia maple is outstanding, adding even more visual appeal to the ambrosia maple. Excellent piece.

-- Eric - Nashville, Tennessee

well done Charlie

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

What a beautiful use of the Ambrosia Maple. This is a very stunning piece. I don’t think you could do much better to show off this wood. Excellent job!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe