| Project by RobH | posted 276 days ago | 686 views | 7 times favorited | 24 comments | ![]() |
In trying to figure out what to enter for the “Not Just Any Box” category, I was trying to figure out something to do that was out of the ordinary or unique in some way. Then, my father reminded me of the box that I made him a few years ago for Christmas. So, I figured I would enter it.
The box looks unassuming from the outside. The sides are made out of air dried black walnut and the top, bottom, and knob are made out of red oak. When opened up it reveals a lever used to crack nuts. The lever mechanism is made of black walnut. In the areas of the lever that require strength, it is sandwiched between two pieces of brass. The box not only contains the nut cracker in it, but is also holds the nuts in store for their ultimate demise.
What makes this box “Not Just Any Box” to me is twofold. The first not just any box to me is the reason for which I made it. When I see it I remember Christmas time as a little boy when dad and I used to get out a kettle full of nuts and sit and crack them with a hammer and eat them. That is a really special memory to me. I made it for dad for us to sit around and crack nuts with and remember the days of my youth.
The other thing that makes this box special is the wood from which it is made. All of the wood came from my grandfather’s farm. I loved that farm as a kid, and I still do. When he passed away, the farm got divided up. Dad ended up with everything except what the old house was on. The Tennessee Valley Authority wanted to run an electrical line across the farm. As part of the deal, an old walnut tree that was down by the creek I played in as a kid was dragged up into the edge of the field to be cut into boards. The oak used in the box was from an old barn that was on the farm. My grandfather used to hang tobacco in that barn every year to dry. The top and bottom were actually made from a piece of siding from that barn. I incorporated a nail hole into the top to add character and I wood-burned the oak lead and acorn on the outside of the top. This and few pieces of lumber that I and my uncle have are all that is left of that old barn. Dad had to tear it down because it was unsafe. We are quite sure that barn lumber is at least 100 years old. The most interesting thing about it is that it was always used to hang tobacco. When I plane the lumber from the tiers in that barn it smells like a fine cigar.
The box is finished with a simple few coats of amber shellac.
To this day, this box sits proudly on my parents hearth and holds nuts ready to be cracked at a moments notice.
I hope you enjoy the entry as well as the story. It was a fun project to make. It is a fun project to use because of the memories it brings back. Just looking at it makes me smile and remember so many things.
Thanks for looking.
-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA
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24 comments so far
odie
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705 posts in 322 days
posted 276 days ago
With out a doubt this my favorite box and story since I have been a LumberJock. Thank you so much for sharing.
-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke".
Karson
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12889 posts in 882 days
posted 276 days ago
Great Box and the history of it. A nice job on the construction and purpose.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
DAN
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3201 posts in 464 days
posted 276 days ago
very well written posting. fun to read.
nice simple oak top … very appealing figure and the leaves and acorn look like they belong there !
good luck in the contest
-- ..... art for lifes sake
TreeBones
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1409 posts in 505 days
posted 276 days ago
Great all the way around, special wood with history, my favorite kind of work. Well done.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
Lee A. Jesberger
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2750 posts in 461 days
posted 276 days ago
Hi Rob;
I have to say this. I tried not to.
That’s just nuts. LOL
Great story, I’m sure the sentimental value to both you and your father is immense.
Beautiful box.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Lboy
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117 posts in 563 days
posted 276 days ago
Cool idea. The box looks great! Thanks for the story, I think we all like to make things for loved one’s.
mot
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4837 posts in 518 days
posted 276 days ago
Now that was well worth the click! Great, Rob!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
cajunpen
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5348 posts in 547 days
posted 276 days ago
Rob, I like the box and wish you well in the contest. I personally think that with the memories attached to the box and the fact that it give you and your dad so much pleasure, it’s already a winner – so congratulatons.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
MsDebbieP
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11909 posts in 642 days
posted 276 days ago
definitely “not just any box”. How very special.
I enjoyed listening to the memories. Tugged at my heat strings.
And the box is awesome. Bravo. Bravo. Bravo.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
miles125
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920 posts in 487 days
posted 276 days ago
Great story and a fantastic box!
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
rikkor
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7604 posts in 356 days
posted 276 days ago
I love these postings where the wood has a story to tell. Very nice box, too.
-- Maplewood, MN
Krisztian
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83 posts in 381 days
posted 276 days ago
Very nie box and great story.
-- Krisztian (from Hungary) VA
CharlieM1958
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4170 posts in 700 days
posted 276 days ago
Great story and a unique, beautiful box!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
GaryK
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8482 posts in 470 days
posted 276 days ago
That one very nice box and story!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
John Gray
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690 posts in 367 days
posted 276 days ago
Great post!!!! Could you please more on the construction of the nut cracker mechanism?
-- Only the Shadow knows....................
RobH
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289 posts in 531 days
posted 276 days ago
John,
I would love to post more. However, I have since lost the plan, and this was long enough ago that I cannot remember much about it. Here is a link to the magazine that the article was in Not Such a Nutty Idea. If I could find and/or remember more, I would, but I cannot.
Sorry,
-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA
Douglas Bordner
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2550 posts in 545 days
posted 276 days ago
Excellent box and write up. Any scent/memory tie-ups cement the emotional component for me. The woodburning is an excellent touch. Top-notch, Rob!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Blake
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2000 posts in 356 days
posted 276 days ago
Great box! Excellent craftsmanship and use of the brass. It is very unique. I’ve never seen anything like it. Beautiful job and a great story to go with it.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com
Don
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2586 posts in 658 days
posted 261 days ago
Wow! What an interesting idea. John, I just love small wooden boxes, particularly ones with new features. I als love Pistachio Nuts – would be interesting if you came up with a Pistachio Box.
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/
CoolDavion
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125 posts in 306 days
posted 261 days ago
I was at my library looking through the box books.
There was a book from the Wood Magazine folks had the plans in it. Sorry, I can’t rember the title, but your local library might have it also.
lobbster
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23 posts in 342 days
posted 258 days ago
Definately “not just any box.” I like it.
-- lobbster, Oregon, www.michaellobby.com
jcees
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465 posts in 281 days
posted 213 days ago
A beautiful wooden box full of beautiful memories and nuts too! It is this in a nutshell [pun intended] that wood is but a medium by which the world builds itself. But to us lumberjocks and those that know us and the work of our hands, it is the stuff by which we measure our lives in the nail holes, the knots, the grain, the species, the smell of the sawdust and curl of the shavings, the history and most of all in the working of it.
We conjure wooden things to look at, to hold, to shelter us, to sit on, hang a hat on or to merely adorn or to corral the flotsam of our goings and comings on shelves, in cubbies and cabinets. When we can attest to what has been and imbue what we make with our hearts and hands with provenance, we make touchstones. Places where memories flourish and stories survive. In these simple gifts we cherish and share with our kin and kindred and make taught the ties that lead us to each other, to our past and to our future. And it is in these that we can know that we are all blessed for having come this way. Thank you, Rob.
always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
Dusty56
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1159 posts in 170 days
posted 87 days ago
My ex wife was always a nut cracker ! LOL This is an awesome box and a wonderful story about the history behind the woods and how the box came to be ….Really enjoyed it ..thank you
-- Dusty56@comcast.net
cobbler
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94 posts in 272 days
posted 5 days ago
Great box & story. It reminded me how I feel when my dad and I get together.
Thanks for sharing it with us.
-- ''Carry on my wayward son''