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Small Desk Organizer

Project by Jeff posted 752 days ago 2116 views 3 times favorited 37 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 752 days ago

Nice Jeff! I like the two different lengths on the splines – adds visual interest…

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 752 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

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1768 posts in 875 days


posted 752 days ago

And that they do! The cherry top is gorgeous too!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5970 posts in 944 days


posted 752 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/

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5970 posts in 944 days


posted 752 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/

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14090 posts in 1039 days


posted 752 days ago

a job well done – and what a special gift!! Nice idea

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View WayneC's profile

WayneC

5854 posts in 975 days


posted 752 days ago

Wonderful box.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 840 days


posted 752 days ago

Good work, Jeff. Really like the look of the splines. the handle is a dandy

-- Thos. Angle

View scottb's profile

scottb

3391 posts in 1205 days


posted 752 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/

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2501 posts in 872 days


posted 752 days ago

Very pretty box, Jeff. I know they loved it.

That cherry is gorgeous!

-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7466 posts in 1096 days


posted 752 days ago

This is a very elegant little box. I love it!

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

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 752 days ago

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone. This is definitely the way to start my day!

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 915 days


posted 751 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)

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 751 days ago

Thanks for the endorsement, Tom. ‘Unique’ is a real compliment.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View PanamaJack's profile

PanamaJack

4447 posts in 956 days


posted 751 days ago

Masterful job of woodworking Caliper.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

View Chip's profile

Chip

1058 posts in 971 days


posted 750 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.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 750 days ago

PJ and Chip, thanks for taking a look and thank you for the kind words.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 747 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

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 742 days ago

very nice box .. bet it would be great christmas present

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 742 days ago

Yup.

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

View Karson's profile

Karson

25271 posts in 1279 days


posted 742 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 †

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1659 posts in 968 days


posted 741 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

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 741 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

View RAH's profile

RAH

414 posts in 755 days


posted 741 days ago

Nice box , I really like the handle.

-- Ron Central, CA

View Sawdust2's profile

Sawdust2

1168 posts in 966 days


posted 741 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.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 741 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

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 741 days ago

Thanks RAH. I plan to build a couple of your Wine Balancers by the way.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 741 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.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 741 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

View Blake's profile

Blake

2715 posts in 752 days


posted 740 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

View Rev_John's profile

Rev_John

17 posts in 767 days


posted 733 days ago

That was a fantastic job. The grain was matched well and the handle is a great flare.

-- John from Jackson, Michigan

View Tablesawed's profile

Tablesawed

12 posts in 675 days


posted 645 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.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 645 days ago

Thanks for the kind words, Tablesawed. I’ll send you a PM regarding plans.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

View Festool4's profile

Festool4

74 posts in 656 days


posted 481 days ago

Very nice work. Any chance you could take a picture of the jig that you used for the splines?

-- Festool4

View mcoyfrog's profile

mcoyfrog

735 posts in 472 days


posted 439 days ago

Neat idea, i like it

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

View denisev's profile

denisev

2 posts in 192 days


posted 192 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! :)

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

996 posts in 972 days


posted 192 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

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