Figured Koa Box

Beautiful box! Koa is also my favorite of all woods. My wife and I adopted two Hawaiian children when we lived there some years ago, and I have enjoyed sending various items to their biological family members back in Hawaii as gifts. Like you said, though, it is expensive, and I normally don’t make the entire item out of Koa.

Do you know of a retail Koa supplier?

-- From the fruit of their lips people are filled with good things, and the work of their hands brings them reward. - Prov 12:14

It’s beautiful!

-- Al, Culpeper VA

Great looking box. I too am lucky enough to have a small inventory of Koa and have been saving it. Not sure what for yet. The way that it looks plus the fact that I’m part Hawaiian, also makes it one of my favorite woods as well. And Mark, I believe Hearne Hardwoods carries some but it ain’t cheap. Veneers can also be found at some places. Hearne has flitches and lumber. Here are some links.

Koa Lumber

Koa Flitches

(Just scroll down to find Koa.)

-- Matt - http://breakingboardom.wordpress.com/

Randy,
Another nice one. And the Koa is, well, ...Koa. Someday I’m going to make a box out of it. It certainly looks good on this one. The lining is a nice touch.
Roger

-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)

Thanks Mark. Most larger retailers can get Koa even if they don’t carry. Although with the prices what they are for Koa I want to see before I buy. I still have one piece of 4/4 Koa 12” wide and 12’ long that was described to me as figured. It was the plainest piece of Koa I’ve ever seen. I did not send it back because the golden color was still good. The prices some folks sell Koa for on eBay are ridiculous. For veneer Certainly Wood sure has some nice figured Koa but it’s very expensive.
As you probably know from living in Hawaii, they don’t have any dry kilns on the islands so lumber is barged to the mainland for drying.
I’m doing the same thing with most of my Koa waiting for a special project.

-- Randy, Oakdale, Ca.

Beautiful stuff. Very good combination of figure and shape. I really love the two-tone look.

-- Robert - Visit my woodworking blog: http://littlegoodpieces.wordpress.com

Great looking box. It looks like something you could display fine jewelry inside. I like the long, slender look of it, too. Great work! Looking forward to seeing the next one.

Great Job. I love Koa also. In fact, my lofty goal is to use Koa as my flooring through out my entire house. I already did the master bedroom and it’s beautiful. Unfortunately, it’s about 10 grand to finish the house:(

WoW Randy! What a handsome box. I love a nice box that doesn’t try to be classy…. Yet defines classy. Now I got to do some looking around to find me some Koa!...lol

Good stuff!

-- Dan ~ Texarkana, Tx.

This is my favorite… I like the proportions a lot. Yes, Dan is right… very, very classy!

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

Good box and beautiful wood that Koa. I like the hinged lid idea. Very satisfying in its operation and uncomplicated, like metal hinges (which I can never get right). Good proportions too. Well posted.

-- Martyn -- Boxologist, Pattern Juggler and Candyman of the visually challenging. http://www.theartofboxes.com

Thanks to each of you for commenting. I often come to this site and view the work and blogs that many of you post and try to absorb as much as I can. Having worked a good deal of my life in the lumber industry and either working with or buying and selling wood, Koa is one of the best in texure, color, and working features.

-- Randy, Oakdale, Ca.