Octagon Box

My son Teddy got me inspired with his walnut and maple box to do one the really shows off the contrast. I selected an Octagon with maple showing as the bottom when you open the box. The design is basically the same sliding dovetail however with the complexity of putting in a key we decided this one should have a simple catch so we put neodymium magnets in the rim of the walnut and in the top to keep the box closed.

Should I repeat this project I would have inserted a maple bottom inside the walnut so that from the outside you would only see walnut. I was really surprised at how easy the walnut ring was to make and it was very fun and rewarding when I realized that the best way to make the pieces was a back-saw and sandpaper. Being patient with hand tools can be very relaxing

In my past I was a small plane pilot, in one of the magazines I read at the time was a one page article titled ” I learned about flying from that”. It was basically a collection of stories by pilots who messed up and lived to tell the tale. Sharing the story in hopes that it would make other pilots smarter. I share this picture with the rule Never route a dovetail cross grain. Fortunately me and the dog who shares the shop with me were unharmed when the piece flew off the router table and across the room.

This was a pleasure to build hope you like it.

-- Ron, Aptos, CA