| Project by Don | posted 746 days ago | 893 views | 1 time favorited | 30 comments | ![]() |
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It’s been quite a while since I’ve been in my shop. But today was the day. Bad leg or not, Christmas is comming and I have about a dozen gifts to make.
Last year I made some small wooden boxes – and in case you didn’t already know, I just love small wooden boxes!
But this year I’m cutting back; not because I want to but because I need to keep off my healing knee repair. So I whipped these up in three hours from three different Australian timbers – Red Gum on the right, Huon Pine in the center and Tasmanian Blackwood on the right.
The finish is friction polish from Ubeaut.
I’ve inserted a glass vial in each to retain the water. Hope my friends and family understand. Each one is slightly different in shape – not intentional.
Sorry the pictures are similar, but why waste the space?
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/































30 comments so far
mot
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4902 posts in 929 days
posted 746 days ago
Just beautiful, Don! I love a good turning!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Peter O
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1016 posts in 767 days
posted 746 days ago
Hey Don, I understand you can’t make me a box this year. I will look forward to receiving my vase – they are very beautiful! Let me know if you’ve misplaced my address and I’ll email it right over.
-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 855 days
posted 746 days ago
Me too, Don. Don’t fergit me now!! They are really wonderful and we hope your leg gets better. While your recuperating why not write a very good book on ” Small Wooden Boxes”? You could keep the knee elevated and we would all have some excellent reading.
-- Thos. Angle
Dorje
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1768 posts in 889 days
posted 746 days ago
Very pretty turnings!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
DAN
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6438 posts in 875 days
posted 746 days ago
Think you are as good at turning as you are at boxin’ ...... All three are beautiful, but the white one is my favorite. Especially in the third photo. It really stands out as a special piece.
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 956 days
posted 746 days ago
I have certainly enjoyed all three sets of pictures of your round, skinny-necked small lidless wooden boxes.
I just love them.
Continued good wishes on your return to full mobility, illustrious Box Elder!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Jojo
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580 posts in 864 days
posted 746 days ago
Welcome back Don! It’s been a while since your last post and I was wondering where you’d gone. I didn’t know you had a bad knee but I hope is healing well cause we have small-box withdrawal syndrome here.
When I first looked at the picture of the Shellawax Cream I first thought you did use Vegemite to finish the vases but then I realized the paste looked way too whitish to be it. :o)
Nice vases by the way… err I mean round, skinny-necked small lidless wooden boxes. Damn Douglas why those upside-down Canucks have to make things so complicated? ;o)
Tell us Don, did your last friend-customer eventually loved the great box you made for her?
-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin
jockmike2
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7297 posts in 1139 days
posted 746 days ago
I just love small wooden vases, have I ever told you that Don and those are exceptional. Very nice. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
cajunpen
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5970 posts in 958 days
posted 746 days ago
Very well done Don. I think that it would still qualify as a small box – if you think about it, it’s made of wood and intended to hold something – in this case a flower. So, nice turned box.
Did you hollow them out, or drill them out for the vials?
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
MsDebbieP
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14161 posts in 1053 days
posted 746 days ago
stunning, Don.. simply stunning.
Best of luck with your knee recovery. I’m glad to hear that you are taking it easy.
(I like the book idea.)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
miles125
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1419 posts in 898 days
posted 746 days ago
Techinically those could be cylindrical tall boxes with out the lids. Great job!
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
furnitologist
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190 posts in 905 days
posted 746 days ago
Hi Don:
Didn’t know you were on injured reserve….......everyone keeps telling you to give up the Rugby…... but NO!!!!
COOL turnings…...........is the “Huon Pine” like N. American pine or like maple????
ThreeJs
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82 posts in 832 days
posted 746 days ago
Well done. I like those al ot.
-- David, Charlotte NC (http://beechcreeknaturals.etsy.com)
Calgirl
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188 posts in 788 days
posted 746 days ago
I have never seen Tasmanian Blackwood before, and I love it. Folks who recieve those vases are going to be delighted. Hope the knee heals well.
-- Forget the health food, I need all the preservatives I can get !
Karson
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25795 posts in 1293 days
posted 746 days ago
Don some great small boxes. Welcome to the shop if only for a while.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
David
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1982 posts in 1031 days
posted 746 days ago
Don -
These are beauiful turnings! I really like the wood species you get to play with.
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
TomFran
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2509 posts in 887 days
posted 746 days ago
Don, Those are really nice and the wood is beautiful!
Hope that knee heals real well for you.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
CharlieM1958
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7602 posts in 1111 days
posted 746 days ago
I just love small wooden boxes, Don. Only someone of your imagination and talent would have thought of creating some in this unique and useful shape!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
snowdog
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808 posts in 875 days
posted 746 days ago
Great idea. And much better than pencil holders <grin> if you ask me :) I hope the knee if getting better.
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
relic
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342 posts in 829 days
posted 746 days ago
Great Idea for a quick gift. They look fantastic.
-- Andy Stark
Don
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2590 posts in 1069 days
posted 745 days ago
Well, thank you everyone; its good to be back. I appreciate the sentiment of calling my bud vases ‘turned boxes’, but I think, strictly speaking, a turned box has a lid. Never-the-less, the scale is right for me and these are a joy to turn – a lovely way to spend an hour.
Now I will answer a few questions and make a couple of comments.
The book idea – I love writing and, as you all know, I just love small wooden boxes, and I love making them, too. But I have never thought of combining the two. I’ve done a fair amount of Internet research. Based on what I know is out there, I call myself an average woodworker. When I scan the pages of Tony Lydgate’s books on the subject, The Art of Making Elegant Boxes, The Art of Making Elegant Jewelry Boxes, The Art of Making Small Wood Boxes, or John Bennett’s Making Little Boxes From Wood, or Peter LLoyd’s Making Heirloom Boxes, or Doug Stowe’s Making Boxes, I am humbled. So a book on box making is probably not something I will undertake.
Quote Jojo: ”…I first thought you did use Vegemite to finish the vases…” What a great idea, Jojo, I’ll give that a try – I always knew that there had to be a good use for the foul stuff. LOL
Quote Cajunpen: ”Did you hollow them out, or drill them out for the vials?” The latter, Bill.
Quote furnitologist: …is the “Huon Pine” like N. American pine or like maple???? Neil, Huon Pine has no equivalent on earth. It’s nothing like Pine as you know it. Here's a paper on this unique timber. Neil, you just have to get some – you would be amazed at its properties for furniture making.
Thanks again.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
schroeder
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511 posts in 1018 days
posted 745 days ago
beautiful work Don, as always! – welcome back! heal quick!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
Bob A in NJ
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521 posts in 891 days
posted 745 days ago
These are wonderful, very nice shape. I have to make a few. What are the dimensions?
-- Bob A in NJ
Jeff
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997 posts in 986 days
posted 745 days ago
Don, everyone else has covered my thoughts from “small turned boxes” to comments on the beauty of the different species. So, best of luck with your recovery and thanks for sharing these.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
furnitologist
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190 posts in 905 days
posted 745 days ago
Hey Don….............Thanks for those links….........tree has some odd behaviors…INTERESTING!!!
Lee A. Jesberger
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3710 posts in 872 days
posted 745 days ago
Hi Don;
Sorry to hear your having knee problems.
Your turnings, like “your small wodden boxes” look great!
I’m certain your family will appreciate them.
Beautiful work, Don.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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7034 posts in 1192 days
posted 742 days ago
Beautiful work as usual, from you!
I’ve been away from LJ’s lately, so I hadn’t heard of your knee problem. Both Barb, & I wish you a speedy recovery.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
dennis mitchell
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3791 posts in 1207 days
posted 680 days ago
Ya but..you might be just the guy to write a book about the box builders.
Good work as always!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
GaryK
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9521 posts in 881 days
posted 680 days ago
I thought that you just loved small boxes?
What are these doing here?
Looks good anyway!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dusty56
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3457 posts in 580 days
posted 489 days ago
gorgeous turnings …thanks for the “foul stuff” link , it was very entertaining : ) I have tried the Marmite here in the USA courtesy of a friend ….I haven’t been back for seconds yet though …hahahaa
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .