| Project by Jeff | posted 355 days ago | 1331 views | 3 times favorited | 35 comments | ![]() |
I spent last week at our Portland office for work. I knew about the trip for a month prior and decided I would take a few small projects as surprise gifts for my boss and a co-worker I’ve known for 3 years now. It was a nice diversion from what I had been doing in the shop not to mention rewarding. I used keyed miter joints for the first time. I also had an idea for the handle and it actually worked as planned! How often does that happen?
I made this organizer for my boss and a pencil & pen holder for my co-worker. The groove at the front for the a writing instrument was really well received. It was an afterthought that I stuck with from when I sketched it.
It’s very simple and will accommodate post-it notes as well as plenty of paper clips, binder clips, or other desktop minutiae. The center divider can be removed if desired. The lid is simply rabbeted all around and sits flush on the box.
Figured Cherry, Padauk miter keys and handle
8×5 x 2 1/4
2 coats of Watco Danish Oil
Thanks for looking.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
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35 comments so far
Dorje
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1743 posts in 478 days
posted 355 days ago
Nice Jeff! I like the two different lengths on the splines – adds visual interest…
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 355 days ago
Thank you, Dorje. I’m glad to hear that. I was hoping they would give it a little something.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Dorje
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1743 posts in 478 days
posted 355 days ago
And that they do! The cherry top is gorgeous too!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 547 days
posted 355 days ago
Great looking box Jeff. I like the way that your “handle” came out on top. Looks like you used Paduak for the splines and the lift handle. Now, send him over to cajunpen.com to buy himself a proper pen suitable for such a fine box.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 547 days
posted 355 days ago
Great looking box Jeff. I like the way that your “handle” came out on top. Looks like you used Paduak for the splines and the lift handle. Now, send him over to cajunpen.com to buy himself a proper pen suitable for such a fine box :-)).
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
MsDebbieP
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11909 posts in 642 days
posted 355 days ago
a job well done – and what a special gift!! Nice idea
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
WayneC
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5685 posts in 578 days
posted 355 days ago
Wonderful box.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Thos. Angle
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3236 posts in 443 days
posted 355 days ago
Good work, Jeff. Really like the look of the splines. the handle is a dandy
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
scottb
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2940 posts in 808 days
posted 355 days ago
looks great! – great idea for the pen holder.
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Vincent Van Gogh -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
TomFran
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2360 posts in 475 days
posted 355 days ago
Very pretty box, Jeff. I know they loved it.
That cherry is gorgeous!
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
CharlieM1958
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4166 posts in 699 days
posted 354 days ago
This is a very elegant little box. I love it!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 354 days ago
Thanks for the positive feedback everyone. This is definitely the way to start my day!
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
mot
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4837 posts in 517 days
posted 354 days ago
Very nice. I really like this box. The spline variation is eye catching. I’ve not seen a box like this so the design is also unique to me and quite appealing. I can see having something like this on my desk. Really nice, Jeff.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 354 days ago
Thanks for the endorsement, Tom. ‘Unique’ is a real compliment.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
PanamaJack
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4452 posts in 558 days
posted 354 days ago
Masterful job of woodworking Caliper.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
Chip
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1058 posts in 573 days
posted 353 days ago
Wow Jeff. Been away for a bit and just got back and saw this. Really, really great. The craftsmanship is just terrific and I really like the handle. Beautiful piece.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 352 days ago
PJ and Chip, thanks for taking a look and thank you for the kind words.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 350 days ago
Edit: updated the entry to correctly state I used keyed miters rather than splines. Unless I’m wrong, splines are used along the length of a miter joint rather than across the joint as I have done.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
DAN
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3191 posts in 464 days
posted 345 days ago
very nice box .. bet it would be great christmas present
-- ..... art for lifes sake
Douglas Bordner
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2550 posts in 545 days
posted 345 days ago
Yup.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Karson
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12887 posts in 881 days
posted 345 days ago
A great looking box and i agree the top has some spectacular grain pattern.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 571 days
posted 344 days ago
This came out great! I missed this the first time around.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 344 days ago
Thanks you guys! I’m guessing this showed up on the Shuffle… Yeah, Karson, I was pretty excited to have that grain to work with for the top.
Douglas, I wanna see pics of the ones you make for Christmas. Please post them.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
RAH
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292 posts in 358 days
posted 344 days ago
Nice box , I really like the handle.
-- Ron Central, CA
Sawdust2
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846 posts in 569 days
posted 344 days ago
Did you get a raise?
Or a request for more?
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 343 days ago
LOL. No raise as yet… I have had the comment, “It’s too nice for the office. I’m taking it home…” I guess that comment could go either way. ;)
We’ll see what happens on requests once I some other pieces installed with folks around the office.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 343 days ago
Thanks RAH. I plan to build a couple of your Wine Balancers by the way.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Douglas Bordner
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2550 posts in 545 days
posted 343 days ago
Caliā¦er ah Jeff, I’ll post if/when I get around to it. Woodworking is in the not fun mode this moment with an anxious client wanting his piece by Thursday morning. And I seriously underbid the time involved. After that it will be back to exploration/fun mode.
I have to echo the comments about the knob. Way nice. How did you affix this to the lid?
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 343 days ago
Oh no rush my friend. Just a side comment driven by Dan Walter’s comment and your response. I understand things get busy this time of year. I wish you the best of luck completing your commission.
The handle was simply glued on. I should not have done it that way but I myself ran out of time before my trip to Portland and had to take a chance. I hope that since the footprint is small it won’t be a problem.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Blake
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1997 posts in 355 days
posted 343 days ago
I agree with tom: Unique. I really like the pen holder, I have never seen that before. Very, very nice. I like boxes like this that have a timeless, elegant simplicity. Often that it is better than the extravagant “wow factor.” Thanks for sharing.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
Rev_John
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6 posts in 369 days
posted 335 days ago
That was a fantastic job. The grain was matched well and the handle is a great flare.
-- John from Jackson, Michigan
Tablesawed
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5 posts in 278 days
posted 248 days ago
I know it’s been awhile, but I thought I’d comment. This is a beautiful design and implementation. Do you have plans that you would care to share? Thanks, tablesawed.
Jeff
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964 posts in 575 days
posted 248 days ago
Thanks for the kind words, Tablesawed. I’ll send you a PM regarding plans.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Festool4
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54 posts in 259 days
posted 84 days ago
Very nice work. Any chance you could take a picture of the jig that you used for the splines?
-- Festool4
mcoyfrog
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235 posts in 75 days
posted 42 days ago
Neat idea, i like it
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day all Dug