Laminated wood box, playing around

I like it. Looks like lots of fun.

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

You can never go wrong with boxes! I have a few that I was not proud of but they at least hold my screws and random parts. You box unfortunatley is nice enough to give as a gift!

I’m from Colorado originally (Longmont/Greeley). Say hello to my mountains and the snow for me! Go Rockies! Come on Broncos!

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

Very colorful box – I like it. I think it will make a very nice gift for someone, like me :-))

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

Very nice effect. Just curious, did you laminate the boards on top of each other, then come back and slci off pieces the thickness of the sides?

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

Charlie,

Yep, pretty much exactly like that.

I started with mostly 4/4 scraps of each wood, 18 inches or so long, different widths. I ripped strips of each material the thickness that you see on each of the layers. I didn’t plane or finish the strips where they’re glued together. The table saw blade, 40 tooth wwII, gave a pretty clean face.

I played around with the stacking order, seeing what I liked next to each other. Once I got something I wanted to try I glued em up, clamped em up, and the next day I had a 4/4’ish thick by 5 inch tall by 18 inch long slab of laminated wood. I cleaned off the big glue chunks, jointed both faces, resawed near the middle to get two 7/16 ths or so slabs with one face good. Ran both slabs through the planer and ended up with two slabs about 3/8 thick that I cut up into the sides of the box.

Then a piece of resawn walnut maybe 3/16 thick for the bottom and a piece of maple about 3/8 thick for the top. Went around the outside of the top with the table saw enough times to get a relief and done.

Another nice thing about making a box like this, out of a bunch of different kinds of wood, is that it gave me a chance to see how each of the woods responded to the finish. I used tung oil here and some of the woods really took on a shine, the others, not so much.

Interesting all around.

Bill,

I’d love to give you a box but around here you gotta stand in line to get one. I’ll tell you what, the ladies, young and old, snatch up any small box like potato chips. And then once one of them’s got one the rest start nosin around. I got a backlog to keep me busy for a while. :)

Branden,

Yeah, what’s up with those Rockies, who’d a thought. It’s been a zoo around here the last week. It’s good to see the Rockies winning. The mountains are already under a blanket of snow. Looks like skiing will be starting up pretty quick.

I think the ‘I just love small wooden boxes’ guy must be awestruck I’m amazed he hasn’t yet commented on this one

-- Skinna - Australia... I won't stop at murder if that's what is necessary to get the job done

Brad,
That is one nice looking box.
Tom

-- Thos. Angle

It’s fun!

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

Skinna,

Thanks for the kind words but I gotta admit, the box itself is pretty simple. This was more an exercise in playing with different woods, contrasts and finishes. Trying to get something that looked nice but not going for an overly complex box. I’ve seen pictures of Don’s work and I’m not even going there. His work is killer.

I decided I like the maple and bloodwood the best. You can see a couple more examples laying on the bench in this thread (about half way down the pictures). There’s a couple pieces with Purpleheart on the outside of Yellowheart, and a couple pieces of Bloodwood and Maple, top, bottom, and middle, sitting over to the right side of the picture.

All made the same way, rip some 4/4 stock, stack in the order that looks good to you, glue, wait, joint outside faces, resaw, plane, done.

Now all I got to do is do something interesting with them.

Don is recuperating from knee surgery (I hope he doesn’t mind my sharing this). I noticed he wasn’t at his usual level of comment on the small boxes we both love so well. But I’ll bet he will be on this one and the raft of fine work that has appeared in the last few days (I think he must have a Bat-Cave type device that signals when boxes get posted).

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

Boy, this sure has been a good week if ya like boxes hasn’t it. Very creative piece Colorado. A gem.

-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.

A great look box and an interesting way to get the designs and colors.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Vary, very nice woodworking job. Thanks for sharing with us.

-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,

Yet another interesting technique I must try. ‘Twas suggested today that I, in my Santa role, need to make a picture frame. I’m thinking that might be a nice approach. Thanks Colorado.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

Very nice job on the box. I too will need to try lamination. This effect can take something like a simple box and transform it from average and ordinary to extraordinary.

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA