LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Precision Taper Jig  |  Makita Makita Recon LCT203W 10.8 Volt Lithium Ion Impact Driver 2 Pc Kit

A Concave sided box

Project by GaryK posted 686 days ago 1636 views 3 times favorited 39 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here is a small box I just finished.
My wife asked me to make her a box to store all the keepsakes for our baby.
I did something new I have never tried before. Actually a lot things.

I started with 1 1/2” thick stock to allow machining of the sides. I then added another touch by inserting
dowels through a series of holes drilled from top to botom. They would later be exposed when I machined
the sides. I also added Maple slices in the corners.

You can see what I am talking about in this picture:

Here it is with all the dowels and slices in place.

I used Walnut for this box so that it would not require any stain, which would darken the dowels.
The inlay and banding on the top and the frame for the mirror is holly. The top is also a solid piece of wood.

I also used a new finish for me. It’s Arm-R-Seal wipe on finish, al la David Marks.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.


39 comments so far

View mot's profile (online now)

mot

4903 posts in 934 days


posted 686 days ago

Jeez, Gary, that’s a cool idea! Nice job!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View Blake's profile

Blake

2760 posts in 771 days


posted 686 days ago

I’ve never seen that done before. That is sooooooooo cool! Did you come up with that design?

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

View Abe Low's profile

Abe Low

67 posts in 743 days


posted 686 days ago

A great project and example of thinking outside the box.

-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA

View Copperjock's profile

Copperjock

120 posts in 696 days


posted 686 days ago

That is awesome. Great design, the dowels really make it stand apart.
Thanks for the mirror inside, reminds me of a music/jewelry box my mother
had when I was a kid.

-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!

View cajunpen's profile

cajunpen

5968 posts in 963 days


posted 686 days ago

Every time I think I see a winner in the box contest I see yet another possible winner. This is an outstanding box Gary and you can count on me trying to copy this one. This may be my newest favorite box. BTW, is that a drop of blood on your work bench? Glad you didn’t spill it on the box :-))

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

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 772 days


posted 686 days ago

Man, that is a nice box. Thanks for posting the process, too.

View davidtheboxmaker's profile

davidtheboxmaker

372 posts in 703 days


posted 686 days ago

That’s a very fine box, and thanks for showing the dowelling and corner inserts.

View Russel's profile

Russel

2063 posts in 836 days


posted 686 days ago

That’s one beautiful box. The shaping of the sides combined with the dowels are just striking. A very unique design.

-- Working at Woodworking www.VillageLaneFurniture.com

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1698 posts in 777 days


posted 686 days ago

exellent box gary , well thought out design and execution . you are a real craftsman .

View Andy's profile

Andy

571 posts in 805 days


posted 686 days ago

Very nice concept Gary! Your photo show just how much thought and workmanship went into this.I salute you.

-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2515 posts in 891 days


posted 686 days ago

Very unique design and great craftsmanship. Super job Gary! Your wife has to be pleased with it.

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

View Karson's profile

Karson

25805 posts in 1298 days


posted 686 days ago

Garu. A very nice design for you box. The inserted dowels are a great addition and well though out before hand. Thats one of those things that after cutting, you say, “I need something to decorate the sides!”

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

View brunob's profile

brunob

1476 posts in 1067 days


posted 686 days ago

Excellent. Gives me ideas.

-- Bruce from Central New York

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7666 posts in 1116 days


posted 686 days ago

Another great idea from you, Gary. Thanks for coming clean on the construction, or I think most, like me, would have been wondering how the heck you did it. Wonderful!

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

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14162 posts in 1058 days


posted 686 days ago

stunning… and personal challenges as well!! Well done.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View molarman's profile

molarman

37 posts in 715 days


posted 686 days ago

That is waaaay cool. Those maple accents are a great idea. Why can’t I ever think of something like that? It kinda has a “flying-saucerish” look to it. :) Great job !!!

-- Woodworking is not a destination....it's a joinery !!! http://smilesrus.com/pages/woodgallery.html

View Paul's profile

Paul

607 posts in 990 days


posted 686 days ago

I’m running out of adjectives for this box contest!

Great work!

-- Paul, Texas

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4013 posts in 860 days


posted 686 days ago

Excellent, Gary, very creative and innovative as well. Nice.

-- Thos. Angle

View Mark's profile

Mark

313 posts in 1031 days


posted 686 days ago

A wonderful box. I hope those were not blood drops on your bench.

Mark

-- Mark

View jockmike2's profile

jockmike2

7334 posts in 1144 days


posted 686 days ago

Great job Gary, beautiful new design, you have upped the ante, so to speak, for everyone. mike

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

View Colin's profile

Colin

186 posts in 818 days


posted 686 days ago

Excellent Gary, very unusual and interesting construction, the standard gets higher by the day!

-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 686 days ago

Thanks everying for you comments. I really appreciate them.

Blake – Yes, that is my design. I have a few more rolling around in my head. I’m going for things that I have
never seen done before.

Everyone – That’s dye on the table not blood, thankfully!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 685 days ago

I forget to mention, for a great deal on mirrors you can go to Wal-Mart and get 6 sq. feet of wall
mirrors for just $8, and another couple of dollars for a glass cutter and you have enough mirrors to
last quite a while.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

14932 posts in 748 days


posted 685 days ago

Very well done Gary. I like the elongated effect of the dowels, very clever.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

View TreeBones's profile

TreeBones

1557 posts in 920 days


posted 685 days ago

Very beautiful Gary, first class.

-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/

View miles125's profile

miles125

1434 posts in 903 days


posted 685 days ago

Innovative and beautiful. Nice job Gary!

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

View Jiri Parkman's profile

Jiri Parkman

603 posts in 710 days


posted 684 days ago

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

-- Jiri

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 684 days ago

Bill, if you are looking to make one for yourself, I’ll give you a hint on cutting the concave sides.
I used the tablesaw.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View JC's profile

JC

127 posts in 695 days


posted 684 days ago

Great idea! Beautiful project!

-- JC - Central PA - www.affyx.com

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1469 posts in 888 days


posted 684 days ago

Very Innovative Gary! It gives me all sorts of ideas..

-- Chris

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6454 posts in 880 days


posted 684 days ago

nice work … interesting design

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 877 days


posted 684 days ago

Gary,

Fantastic idea. Fine execution of it as well.

Thanks for sharing it. (I guess I’ll go throw my box out now) lol

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

784 posts in 798 days


posted 684 days ago

That’s a great idea Gary. I particularly like the way the lid projects beyond the box, and the dowels are a terrific feature.

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

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 683 days ago

Thanks again for all your comments.

Yorkie – The lid was sized to keep things in proportion.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Don's profile

Don

2590 posts in 1074 days


posted 679 days ago

Nice work, Garry – you know how much I just love small wooden boxes.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile

Dick, & Barb Cain

7043 posts in 1197 days


posted 679 days ago

Very nice Gary,

I bet it was a surprise to see what shape the dowels would take after the machining.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

View TomK 's profile

TomK

504 posts in 772 days


posted 678 days ago

I love it Gary! Bring it to the LJ get together if you will. I’d like to take a closer look at it. That’s a great idea using the dowels.

-- If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait until it's free! PJ O'Rourke

View scottb's profile

scottb

3402 posts in 1224 days


posted 678 days ago

I would have never thought of that design element with the dowels, but I figured it out (or at least hoped you did it that way) the moment I saw it. brilliant creative solution!

-- 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/

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9536 posts in 885 days


posted 678 days ago

Tom – Yea I’ll bring it to the get together. I’ll also bring the “strange sided box”

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

You must be signed in to post the comments.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase