Sassafras Box - a True Learning Experience.

Great box from some wonderful lumber. Nice trick with the Inlace. I have a kit of it that I have let collect dust for a few years. Going to have to see if it is still good. Let us all know if it suffers any effects of wood movement.

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

I just read your blog Bill. Nice work with adding the wooden hinges and I really like the epoxy solution for the floating lid. The Sassafras is beautiful. (I love that word. It’s like Sassparilla.) Certainly something to be proud of! How did you like doing the splines in the corners? I just finished a box using the same technique and really liked it.

By the way, I like your tag line. I’m learning more about that mindset with every project.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

Very cool! I like the wood and the hinges. Excellent!

-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com

Douglas I’ve used it, the InLace, one time about a year ago. I carved a sign for a friend and used it to fill in the name. So far it’s holding up great.

Caliper I used the spline jig that David Stowe has on his video. It is easy to use and I really like the look it gives the project – when you use a contrasting wood.

Thanks David.

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

I agree. I just made the simple one from a 2X4 scrap and a piece of 1/4” MDF. Easy enough to make and slick to boot.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

I really like it, Bill. Great color and design. Sassafras always brings back memories to me. We had lots of it where I grew up. Every year, Dad would take the John Deere and pull up a tree. Usually it was one about 4 inches around. We’d drag it to the house which would shake most of the dirt off the roots. After we got the dirt off the roots we’d cut them up with pruners. After they were washed and bagged, we had enough for a years worth of sassafras tea. This time of year it would sure taste good. Thanks for bringing back the memory, Bill.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Nice job, Bill. You’re motivating me to give three new things (for me) a try: splines, wooden hinges, and that Inlace epoxy.

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

Great box, Bill. Good blog as well.

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

Nice work on the hinges and overall design!

-- Branden - Sacramento, California - www.ShopDogUSA.com

Sassafras is a new one to me, and I like it a lot. Those hinges are a delight; I’ve done wooden ones but never set them in like that. My sort of box – lovely. Thos. Angle – As for dragging trees out of the ground to make a cup of tea – that’s beyond my wildest dreams! <grin>

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

Great Sassafras box.

I made a Sassafras roll top Bread box once. It was sitting on the kitchen counter and my wife saw a mouse run across the counter and then disappear. She rolled down the roll-top and we went about our way.

The next day we noticed a big hole gnawed out of the roll top.

I’ve heard it said that European Royalty did not consider themselves complete without a piece of furniture made out of Sassafras.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Thanks for all of the nice comments, I appreciate them.

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

Thanks Thomas, I’ve never tried Sassafras tea, but I knew that it came from the roots of the tree. Sassafras has a wonderful aroma when milling it.

It is amazing Thomas that you actually were able to enlighten someone from the UK on the art of tea making (just kidding Stewart :—))

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

Charlie – go for it, I’m finding out that every time I step into the shop I learn something new – even if it’s just by finding one of the many tools that I’ve bought and put away for future use.

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

Karson did you make another top or pitch the bread box? I think that I’d like to try a bread box – I’ll have to dig up some plans and give it a try. Think I’ll use red oak – I’ve heard that mice will eat sassafras.

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

Love, Love, Love, Love,...Love wooden hinges. A new friend of mine, Rob Cosman has taught me some new wooden hinge techniques. Your box has inspired me to get off my can….......and do it! Thanks.

-- ICN, Bill, (http://www.beavercreekfitness.com)

Thanks Bill. I have Rob Cosman’s video on making that hidden wooden hinge. Haven’t tried it yet, but it is on my list of things to do.

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

nice details…...........

Bill:

I pitched it. It was probably in the basement for a while and then out.

It was simple to make a profile like a roll top desk 8” or so wide at the bottom, 5” flt top. An end that was flat on the back, bottom and top and a curve on the front.

I routed a track from the front all the way around the edge, but a curve at the top to the bottom back.

The door was 1/4”flat pieces with a profile on the edge, glued to canvas.

Make it and post the pictures.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Nice design, beautiful wood and perfect job.

-- Jiri

Wow Bill, Is that a thin stone inlay I spot in the lid of your box? If so how did you do it? I like the wooden Hinges, they are definitely original!

-- --Chuck

Bill, I am glad this came out of the archives so I could see it. Nice job.

-- Maplewood, MN