Chunky Slab-Lid Boxes

A lovely honest design that shows off the wood so well. Attractive chamfer around the top and I do like the dovetail keys. If it ever snows here, I doubt I’ll take the ten paces to the shop!

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.

Nice ‘chunky’ box. I like it. The keys really do kick it up.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Is that design in a book somewhere?
I am sure I have seen it before.

Bob

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

When I first saw the pics in thumbnail form I thought the boxes might be too chunky. But on closer inspection, your approach to the lid and the spline make these boxes right on. I really, really like that large, single spline. More great work Dek.

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

Dekker – it looks great.

Bob#2 the design looks like the one in David Freedman’s book. That’s where I took my pecan box from and this looks similar. Dekker has added dovetail keys which I think makes this box look so much better than plan keys or no keys at all.

Dekker – why no shop time coming up?

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

Decker Great little box. Not all boxes have to be big enough to put all your goodies in. A simple, one item box is just great.

I have never thought about a slab of wood for the top. A great idea.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Beautiful box Dekker. I really like your top and finger slot.

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

The joinery is excellent! I have never tried dovetail keys before. I really like that look.

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

Bob#2/Betsy yes, the plan was from a book, but I don’t recall which. I had photocopied the pages I needed when I first saw them (months ago?) and just pulled out the pages for the project. The copies are what I work from in the shop. I guess I should mark the source on my copies!

The dovetail keys were an excuse to buy a tiny dovetail bit and it was a learning experience to cut the key itself to the right width. Lesson learned? Do NOT cut the key channel the full depth of the bit… When you later cut/shape the key, you use the same bit to make the slopes, and then adjust the key’s width by reducing its height… Unfortunately, if you’ve cut the channel the full depth of the bit, you can’t afford to lose any of the key blank’s height! Not sure if it is explained clearly, however I’m sure I’ll remember not to do that again… took two tries to get it right!

Betsy: No shop time coming up because the snow has started to fall up here… I’m working in an unheated garage, and my quartz heater can only do so much. A secondary reason is that my baby girl keeps my wife busy all day, and I’d like to spend some time with them… Maybe in the new year, the baby will let me work outside more!

And thanks for the comments everyone.

-- Dekker - http://www.WoodworkDetails.com/Blog/MNagy/

Taking a look at you blog, and seeing the finished product, it shows that you are a stickler for precision. Really nice work! I have not yet raised my level of patience to these heights, but I’m working on it.

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

Neat little box. Also shows there no such thing as wood scraps!

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

Karson and I will attest to that, Miles.
Nice little box Dekker. The dovetail keys do set it off nicely. I hate miters, so I think you have done splendidly, and I like the finger relief in the front and the chamfer. It lightens up the chunkiness.

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

I don’t know if you have ever seen this jig before. I bought one 10 years ago and have never used it. It would make the cutting and keys for your box very simple.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Perfect.

-- Jiri

Love the dovetail keys.

-- Maplewood, MN

This is one of these designs that makes the box look simple – in truth you’ve done some really good work to achieve the clean simple lines.
Think I might try and make something along these lines.

Very nicely done, Dekker. I am making a box for my wife and I think I might “steal” the chamfered edges on the top from your box. I like that design. I also like the top that fits in the rabbets around the top, although I might just make a form-fitting top. I like your execution of this box!

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards