| Project by Sgt_Lobo | posted 270 days ago | 630 views | 3 times favorited | 25 comments | ![]() |
Well, I originally posted these as a blog series but things have been hectic around here, so I wasn’t able to finish bloging the creation of these boxes. Luckily I have had the time to finish the boxes though…
Two boxes, first time I’ve done boxes like these, and the first time I was able to find and utilize wood that didn’t come from Lowes or Home Depot. I must say, these were a pleasure to build. I really like doing the keyed corners and will probably create many more boxes this way.
Anyhow, the first box for my step-father is made from walnut and zebrawood. I finished it with 8 coats of Formby’s low gloss tung oil.
The second box for my mom is made from padauk and bubinga. I finished it with several coats of Watco danish oil and then 3 coats of minwax paste finish wax.
I have never used any of the oil finishes before these projects. I learned that I really like the tung oil and that I’m not too fond of the danish oil. I think the danish oil is hard to predict the kind of results you are going to get. It takes forever to dry and then still you might get some spots that are too dry and others that are too oily. Maybe it’s just my lack of experience. The tung oil on the other hand was about as easy as any finish I’ve ever used. It really made the grain on the walnut pop out and the varnish mixed in made for a good protective finish.
Anyhow, here are a couple more pictures. Thanks for taking the time to look!
None of these pictures really do the Padauk and Bubinga box any justice. The purple of the Bubinga really compliments the reddish tones in the Padauk.
-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community





























25 comments so far
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
2533 posts in 550 days
posted 270 days ago
Man these are looking nice!
I can see your woodworking skills are coming right along. I am glad to see you got away from the box store wood.
Boxes like these are harder than most people realize. There are a lot of parts, they are small, and the lid has to line up with the bottom. You did very well on all accounts. I am sure that they will be well received.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
mrtrim
home | projects | blog
1524 posts in 331 days
posted 270 days ago
very nice work lobo . i was gonna pick my favorite but i gave up they are both too sweet to choose . well done
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
Krisztian
home | projects | blog
83 posts in 350 days
posted 270 days ago
I like these boxes. Nice work.
-- Krisztian (from Hungary) VA
Sgt_Lobo
home | projects | blog
87 posts in 309 days
posted 270 days ago
Hey Todd, thanks for always being here to critique my work. My skills are improving dramatically thanks to this site and people like yourself!
Thanks for the kind words mtrim. I actually have a favorite and it is the walnut and zebrawood. I think I might make another for myself sometime ‘cept maybe I’ll try walnut and cocobolo…
-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL
Dorje
home | projects | blog
1738 posts in 448 days
posted 270 days ago
good looking boxes – you done well!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Cathy Krumrei
home | projects | blog
238 posts in 637 days
posted 270 days ago
Boy..they are beautiful! I like the style you did on them.
Krum
-- Cathy Krumrei (Krum) http://www.TheCarversCorner.com
cajunpen
home | projects | blog
5352 posts in 517 days
posted 269 days ago
Outstanding looking boxes Lobo. Your folks should be very happy with them.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
YorkshireStewart
home | projects | blog
625 posts in 352 days
posted 269 days ago
There’s immense pleasure for both the giver and recipient when a gift is handmade, and especially when it’s a box! I think. These are beautifully done Lobo. Those lid joints are unbeatable. Thanks for showing.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
rikkor
home | projects | blog
7197 posts in 325 days
posted 269 days ago
The keys really work nice. Those are two fine boxes.
-- Maplewood, MN
miles125
home | projects | blog
899 posts in 456 days
posted 269 days ago
Those look great lobo. Nice reading how much you enjoyed making them. Thats what woodworking is all about.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Thos. Angle
home | projects | blog
3244 posts in 413 days
posted 269 days ago
Nice work,Sarge. glad you had fun on them. I can see your skills improving with each post . Congratulations.
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Sgt_Lobo
home | projects | blog
87 posts in 309 days
posted 269 days ago
Thanks again everyone for the nice comments. I have learned a lot about various woodworking techniques making these small boxes. Hopefully I’ll be able to take the skills I have picked up and use them on bigger and better projects in the future.
-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
3987 posts in 669 days
posted 269 days ago
Sarge, you are a quick study at box-making. These are great!
Your comments about about the Watco Danish oil surprise me, because I find the stuff about as easy to use as falling off a log. It does take several days to dry thoroughly, and you made need extra coats, but I find the end result great, especially on walnut. Someone can correct me if I’m wrong on this, but I know the Danish oil contains some varnish, so it wil eventually dry completely to a protective coating. It is my understanding that pure oils, like tung, never fully dry, and thus leave the surface more susceptible to dirt and stains.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Sgt_Lobo
home | projects | blog
87 posts in 309 days
posted 269 days ago
Charlie – The tung oil I use is definitally not a “pure” oil. It contains a substansial amount of varnish and dries very quickly making for a very nice protective finish.
The Danish oil on the other hand, well, it didn’t go as well. I applied 3 coats of it per the directions on the container. I then let it set for 4 days. It felt dry to the touch, but did not leave any kind of protective finish. When I applied the wax, parts of the box took it fine, while other parts leached out more danish oil on my wax rag, indicating to me that after 4 days it still wasn’t completely dry.
I will try danish oil again on another project someday, but I think it will need to be a project that I have a long time to finish so I can apply many coats and give them all ample time to dry.
-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
2467 posts in 514 days
posted 269 days ago
Thumbs up, Sarge. They look great!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
3987 posts in 669 days
posted 269 days ago
One other thing you can try someday is something I do frequently… I apply danish oil because I really like the way it seems to bring out the grain, but then I come back after 3-4 days (when it feels dry to the touch) and apply wipe-on poly for a harder, more protective finish.
But now you have me curious about the tung oil with varnish, so I’m going to have to give that a try.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
TreeBones
home | projects | blog
1384 posts in 474 days
posted 269 days ago
Very nice boxes. Two years ago I made boxes for Christmas gifts and now all my family has one. Excellent work and great wood.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
Lori
home | projects | blog
53 posts in 375 days
posted 269 days ago
Great looking boxes. I am going to have to give that a try someday.
-- Lori
Blake
home | projects | blog
1876 posts in 325 days
posted 269 days ago
You have come a long way in a short amount of time, it seems. Your execution is excellent. You have mastered the ability to make a box and we will look forward to future designs.
-- Dust collectors suck.
RobG
home | projects | blog
72 posts in 273 days
posted 269 days ago
Good job on the boxes. Remember that every woodworking project is just a box or a collection of boxes that fit together. One thing that I have found when using oil finishes is I add somme thinner to the oil and it dries a lot better, especially this time of year when the shop is a little cooler. Great job and good luck on your future projects(that will most likley be some sort of box!!)
-- Woodworking is Life. Anything before or after is just waiting.--S. McQueen sort of
Todd A. Clippinger
home | projects | blog
2533 posts in 550 days
posted 269 days ago
I have used the Watco “Danish Oil” in the past and had good results with it. I did 2 folding stepstools and an entry table with it.
I used 600 grit (I think) wet/dry sandpaper to create a slurry and it filled the pores. I had to stay on it about 3 or 4 hours because of the bleed out. When it quit bleeding and dried it had a great silky finish. I did not wax it.
The table was my first one ever and I gave it as a wedding gift. At the party it ended up with beer and alcohol rings on it. The couple was devastated.
I took it back to the shop without a worry. I added some more oil and used the wet/dry sandpaper to rub out the ring. It went away quite easily but would not with a wet rag. I did a once over on the whole top just to be sure and keep the finish even. Because the top was already saturated with oil it dried very quickly this time and did not continue to bleed out.
The step stools get used and get dirty. I oil them once a year and go over them with the wet/dry sandpaper and they look like brand new when I am done. It takes about 30 minutes that I really don’t mind. I enjoy the intimate relationship that I have with one of my first projects, and it allows me to see how they are holding up.
The step stools are made of reclaimed black walnut and scraps of ash (great combo). They are beautiful.
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Sgt_Lobo
home | projects | blog
87 posts in 309 days
posted 269 days ago
Thanks guys for the advice on the danish oil. As I said before, I will try it again on future projects and will keep your tips in mind. One question Todd, when you use the sandpaper to apply the danish oil, doesn’t the “slurry” obscure the grain?
-- Sgt_Lobo -- Montgomery, AL
Chip
home | projects | blog
1058 posts in 543 days
posted 269 days ago
Your stuff is getting so much better with every project Sarge. Sharper craftsmanship, tighter design. It’s a wonderful thing to watch and thank you for sharing it with all of us.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
shaun
home | projects | blog
360 posts in 356 days
posted 268 days ago
Sweet boxes Sgt.
-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!
TopE5
home | projects | blog
284 posts in 390 days
posted 258 days ago
Damn Sgt. your getting pretty damn good in a really short time with your woodworking! These are really nice. Your display case was nice too. Did I see a Fairbanks dagger in there?