| Project by GaryK | posted 686 days ago | 1636 views | 3 times favorited | 39 comments | ![]() |
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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
mot
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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)
Blake
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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
Abe Low
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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
Copperjock
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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!
cajunpen
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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/
rikkor
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11335 posts in 772 days
posted 686 days ago
Man, that is a nice box. Thanks for posting the process, too.
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 703 days
posted 686 days ago
That’s a very fine box, and thanks for showing the dowelling and corner inserts.
Russel
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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
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 777 days
posted 686 days ago
exellent box gary , well thought out design and execution . you are a real craftsman .
Andy
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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
TomFran
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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
Karson
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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 †
brunob
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1476 posts in 1067 days
posted 686 days ago
Excellent. Gives me ideas.
-- Bruce from Central New York
CharlieM1958
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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"
MsDebbieP
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14162 posts in 1058 days
posted 686 days ago
stunning… and personal challenges as well!! Well done.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
molarman
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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
Paul
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607 posts in 990 days
posted 686 days ago
I’m running out of adjectives for this box contest!
Great work!
-- Paul, Texas
Thos. Angle
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4013 posts in 860 days
posted 686 days ago
Excellent, Gary, very creative and innovative as well. Nice.
-- Thos. Angle
Mark
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313 posts in 1031 days
posted 686 days ago
A wonderful box. I hope those were not blood drops on your bench.
Mark
-- Mark
jockmike2
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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
Colin
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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"
GaryK
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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.
GaryK
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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.
Grumpy
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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
TreeBones
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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/
miles125
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1434 posts in 903 days
posted 685 days ago
Innovative and beautiful. Nice job Gary!
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
Jiri Parkman
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603 posts in 710 days
posted 684 days ago
Very nice. Thanks for sharing.
-- Jiri
GaryK
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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.
JC
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127 posts in 695 days
posted 684 days ago
Great idea! Beautiful project!
-- JC - Central PA - www.affyx.com
Chris
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1469 posts in 888 days
posted 684 days ago
Very Innovative Gary! It gives me all sorts of ideas..
-- Chris
DAN
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6454 posts in 880 days
posted 684 days ago
nice work … interesting design
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Lee A. Jesberger
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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
YorkshireStewart
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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
GaryK
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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.
Don
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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/
Dick, & Barb Cain
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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
TomK
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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
scottb
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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/
GaryK
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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.