| Project by Blake | posted 1263 days ago | 3835 views | 5 times favorited | 28 comments |  |
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I built this box as a tool kit for bonsai tools. My wife got me a starter bonsai and bonsai book for Christmas. I have always been very fascinated by these little trees. I have been collecting tools for trimming and training my bonsai, so I decided to build a box to keep them in.
The simple design is loosely based on the Japanese toolbox in Toshio Odate’s book Japanese Woodworking Tools. And as you will notice, YES, those are nails.
Toshio Odate’s toolbox:
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”Note that the toolbox is nailed together. The Japanese are especially careful about the joints in their work, and are, in fact, noted for the skill and beauty with which they created these joints. But while the dovetailing and other joinery in a cabinet may reveal the shokunin’s care, the drawers in that cabinet, like the joints of the toolbox, are nailed… I believe that the shokunin’s use of nails for drawers or toolboxes, which are in relatively constant use, is prompted by a practical sense.” -Toshio Odate
The forth photo shows some of the tools that I have been collecting. They were mostly old rusty tools that I found and have been resurrecting. Also in that photo is a turntable I made from a scrap of walnut and a small lazy suzan (under the bonsai tree).
I chip-carved the characters on the lid (“Bonsai”) and then painted them black, and the entire box got oiled with Danish oil. Its mostly made of Oak left over from my workbench and I think the lid might be Ash.
Update:
Heres the Bonsai I made!
-- Happy woodworking! http://www.blakeweber.us
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28 comments so far
MsDebbieP
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18335 posts in 2358 days
#1 posted 1263 days ago
beautiful box .. and the story behind the box! Cool
Lovely carving. Well done
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
SPalm
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4174 posts in 2079 days
#2 posted 1262 days ago
Sweet. A refreshing change.
So you too have a million and one interests. It keeps life interesting. I always told the children that I have never been bored. It looks like you never are either.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
HoBoMoNK
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1380 posts in 2324 days
#3 posted 1262 days ago
Ichiban!
-- 温故知新
Maveric777
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2592 posts in 1274 days
#4 posted 1262 days ago
What a great job Blake! I love the carving in the top. I always wanted to try my hand at raising a Bonsai tree. Now that I seen this cool little jewel I want a tree and a box….lol
-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.
Tim
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1301 posts in 1762 days
#5 posted 1262 days ago
Pretty cool Blake, I have also been interested in Bonsai. Nice interpretation of the Japanese toolbox and a good place to keep your Bonsai tools. How do you like the book?
-- Good judgement comes from experience and experience comes from poor judgement.
CharlieM1958
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14933 posts in 2415 days
#6 posted 1262 days ago
Well, I guess bonsai counts as woodworking. :-)
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Karson
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34396 posts in 2597 days
#7 posted 1262 days ago
Blake: i great looking toolbox. Nice job.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Monty Queen
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#8 posted 1262 days ago
Nice looking box, superb.
-- Monty Q, Columbia, South Carolina.
Junji
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698 posts in 1579 days
#9 posted 1262 days ago
Wow, what a coincidence! I Just made a toolbox as Xmas gift to my 7 years old son, and it’s just like the black and white photo. The most impressive part is the lid, and your version looks great but different. I will post the project soon,and I will explain it then!
Well done, and I like the Bonsai letters in Japanese.
Happy new year!
-- Junji Sugita from Japan, http://tetra.blog12.fc2.com/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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8682 posts in 2496 days
#10 posted 1262 days ago
A great looking box.
Also some great photography.
-- -** 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
Woodwrecker
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3035 posts in 1772 days
#11 posted 1262 days ago
A cool hobby in itself, and now some nice implements to pass down in a dedicated bonsai box.
“You only get bored if you let yourself”.
-- Eric
a1Jim
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#12 posted 1262 days ago
unique idea
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
CaptainSkully
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1187 posts in 1755 days
#13 posted 1262 days ago
Domo arigato! I love bonsai. Great box. Thanks for explaining the nails.
-- You can't control the wind, but you can trim your sails
blackcherry
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2949 posts in 2020 days
#14 posted 1262 days ago
Years ago I had a small collection of trees my favorite was a red maple that stuck up a lot of conversation. It was nice to bring them into the house during the summer evening and place them thought out the living room. Your post reminded me so much of my trees…thanks and enjoy you new hobby…Blkcherry
miles125
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2175 posts in 2202 days
#15 posted 1262 days ago
Very cool Blake..I like the hint of cargo/crate look you got going there. Nice job.
-- "The way to make a small fortune in woodworking- start with a large one"
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