| Project by Jeff | posted 766 days ago | 2146 views | 3 times favorited | 37 comments | ![]() |
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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































37 comments so far
Dorje
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1768 posts in 888 days
posted 766 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 765 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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1768 posts in 888 days
posted 765 days ago
And that they do! The cherry top is gorgeous too!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
cajunpen
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5970 posts in 957 days
posted 765 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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5970 posts in 957 days
posted 765 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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14159 posts in 1052 days
posted 765 days ago
a job well done – and what a special gift!! Nice idea
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
WayneC
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5962 posts in 989 days
posted 765 days ago
Wonderful box.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 854 days
posted 765 days ago
Good work, Jeff. Really like the look of the splines. the handle is a dandy
-- Thos. Angle
scottb
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3403 posts in 1219 days
posted 765 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. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
TomFran
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2509 posts in 886 days
posted 765 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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7599 posts in 1110 days
posted 765 days ago
This is a very elegant little box. I love it!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Jeff
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997 posts in 985 days
posted 765 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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4902 posts in 928 days
posted 765 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 765 days ago
Thanks for the endorsement, Tom. ‘Unique’ is a real compliment.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
PanamaJack
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4447 posts in 969 days
posted 764 days ago
Masterful job of woodworking Caliper.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
Chip
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1058 posts in 984 days
posted 764 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 763 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 761 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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6435 posts in 875 days
posted 756 days ago
very nice box .. bet it would be great christmas present
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 955 days
posted 756 days ago
Yup.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Karson
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25793 posts in 1292 days
posted 755 days ago
A great looking box and i agree the top has some spectacular grain pattern.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
gizmodyne
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1668 posts in 982 days
posted 755 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 755 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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414 posts in 769 days
posted 755 days ago
Nice box , I really like the handle.
-- Ron Central, CA
Sawdust2
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1181 posts in 979 days
posted 755 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 754 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 754 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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3424 posts in 955 days
posted 754 days ago
Cali…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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 754 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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2754 posts in 766 days
posted 754 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.blakeweberwoodworking.com
Rev_John
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17 posts in 780 days
posted 746 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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18 posts in 689 days
posted 659 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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997 posts in 985 days
posted 659 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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76 posts in 670 days
posted 495 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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809 posts in 486 days
posted 453 days ago
Neat idea, i like it
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
denisev
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2 posts in 206 days
posted 206 days ago
That’s my box!! I love it and thank you so much. I would have posted a comment here when you gave it to me if you had sent me this link!! Now I have a profile just so I can comment on your work! :)
Jeff
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997 posts in 985 days
posted 206 days ago
Hey, hey!! Thanks for joining up and following my stuff. I’ve been meaning to ask you for a week how it was holding up. Did the lid get wonky at all? Any cracks show up?
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN