A keepsake / heritage box in oak and ash - Sshhh!

The joinery on this box is about the subtlest I’ve ever seen.
Great hinges too. Fabulous! Fantastic!

-- Gary, Florida

Running the corners thru a router is an excellent idea Stewart. Here we all play the trial and error game setting up a box jig and then you come along with not only an easy cleanup, but also an artistic one! I’ll remember this.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

Beautiful, Stewart. It’s funny how we sometimes stumble accidentally over a great design idea, as you did with the corners here. The hinges and the hasp are outstanding as well!

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

Wow, Wooden hinges and latch!! That’s really a neat combination of wood and wood. Not bad for a Yorkie!!LOL

-- Thos. Angle

Fine job. Nice ‘cover up’. I like it.

The latch seems to just drip over the edge. Cool.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

That’s a really nice box, Stewart. That little pin on the hinge is amazing. You do nice work.

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

Extraordinary! I love the wood hinges and the hasp…beautiful craftsmanship. Nice save on the joinery..you turned a mistake into an unusual and beautiful edge treatment!

-- David, South Windsor, CT "I love the smell of sawdust in the morning"

Very nice box, Stewart!

-- I love this site !

Wonderful piece and wonderful “retooling” Stewart. I love seeing quick thinking on your feet like this that actually enhances the piece. Just terrific.

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

Stewart. A great box. I keep thinking about the loss of the latch pin. I think it needs a leather lanyard to keep it with the chest forever.

Steward did you see my blog on the shaker cabinet that I made for the joinery challenge, and the unique way that I made wooden hinge pins. You might give that a go also.

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

Stewart I love the whole box, but that hasp took my breath away. More wonders from Voigtlander. I’d try and gently “borrow” the idea but wouldn’t have a clue how. Outstanding

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

Stewart that save on the corners was really “thinking outside the box” well done. I like your wooden hinges, but I am really intrigued with your hasp/closure feature. How did you install the part that flips up and down to the stationary part?

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

The handmade wooden hinges and clasp give the box a personality. Beautiful craftsmanship as always, Stewart.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

Thank you so very much Jocks. This praise from skilled craftsmen such as you all really knocks me out. The thing about giving things to family is that you can visit the item and continue to enjoy.

Bill – I did much of the work when the two components were more or less just rectangles of ash. I cut out the slot in the fixed piece on the bandsaw and then hand worked a curve at the back of that slot with chisel. Drilling the hole for the hinge pin is easier before the shaping is done. Final shaping I did with bandsaw and sanding belt and drums.

Douglas – I hope you got your breath back!

Karson – Yes that thought did cross my mind – forever is a long time to expect the pin to stay with the chest, especially as the new grandchild starts to toddle.

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

Stewart, hopefully your grandchild will not be about the box during the “explore everything with the mouth” stage of growth. This is from my fears borne of aspiration/swallowing risk with small parts. I was a pediatric/NICU nurse for many years before giving it up…just my two pence.

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

Thanks Douglas; I’m already thinking along Karson’s lanyard idea with that fear in mind

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

I love this box! That hasp is too cool.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Stewart, I’m just abouit to mill some wood for a box today and you project is inspiring me.
I am curious about the hinges? They seem to disappear into the lid some how.
How did you attach yours?
The inset of the finger joint is rather unique as well.
Good job Stewart.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Hello Bob. You’re doing more than I am today! It was too cold and miserable this morning to take the ten paces to the ‘shop. I’ll try harder tomorrow.

I think the following pic will clearly show my way with these hinges. As I mentioned above, I set the hinges to half their depth in the back of the box, but they’re mounted on the inside surface of the lid frame. You can also see the way I built up the hinges from strips.

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

Douglas and Karson – I took your fears on board and did this slight mod today. I bought a yard of leather thong some years ago thinking it would one day come in useful. Well, I’ve just used two inches. I found it straight away even though it was filed under ‘pen blanks’!

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

Thanks very much for the explanation and the close up shots .
Your attention to minutia and your craftsmanship are and inspiration Stewart.

Don’t know if I will show mine now. <g>

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

If you look closely at the photographs Bob, you’ll see where I digitally remove the nails! <g>

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

you do some amazing work stewart ! im not capable of carrying your lunch box ! i take great pleasure in looking at your projects thanks for posting them

Not so mrtrim! I just looked at some of your work and I couldn’t begin to create something like, say, your entertainment centres. I suppose having the time to faff around with what I do comes with retirement.

BTW, my wife said she’s in tears over your statement<g>

Thanks to you too; head swelling by the minute – Stewart

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

Stewart, thanks for posting all the follow up materials. Your wife should be proud of your work and your standing in the international on-line woodworking community, both here and in the Flickr Wooden Box group. You are a meticulous craftsman with a unique design eye. If Mr. Trim has your lunchbox covered, I’d carry your brolly.

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

Stewart. Thanks for the pictures on the leather strap to keep little pieces from becoming lost little pieces.

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

a beautiful box, beautiful wood (good add on with the leather bit too) such a fantastic keepsake.

-- 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/

Our beautiful baby granddaughter came into the world on Monday afternoon. She and mother (and father!) are doing well. We presented the box today and they were delighted, although little Amelia didn’t show too much interest!

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

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE DETAILS !!! THANK YOU FOR THE CLOSE-UPS ON THE DELICATE PIECES / PARTS …. YOU CREATED A VERY NICE KEEPSAKE FOR THE WEE ONE . CONGRATULATIONS GRANDFATHER : )

-- 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 .

Thanks Dusty56 for your comments on this and my other offerings. Thanks, too for your congratulations. I’m enjoying every minute with the little one. She’s a delight

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