| Project by Kerry | posted 659 days ago | 1283 views | 9 times favorited | 42 comments | ![]() |
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This is a box I made for my son’s teachers aid. He’s had the same lady as an aid for the last 5 years, but this year she took a different position at the school and we wanted to give her something to thank her for all her help.
It’s black walnut with an oak panel in the lid. The front is a steam bent lamination. The inlay in the lid was made up from African blackwood and maple, and the stringing on the sides and front of the box are also maple, as is the little tray inside. The corners of the box are splined miters and the tray corners are dovetailed. The frame for the lid is put together with bridle joints, and the lid has a ‘tenon’ around it’s circumference that floats in a slot cut around the inside of the frame, and also overlaps the top of the frame.
This box was kind of a pain to build – several things went wrong but in the end it all turned out well enough.
Thanks for looking.
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada































42 comments so far
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 659 days ago
Nice looking box. Great inlays!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
mrtrim
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1700 posts in 758 days
posted 659 days ago
great design ! nice work kerry
Bob42
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284 posts in 668 days
posted 659 days ago
Great job!!
I would love to have the plans for that if you have them.
-- Bob K. East Northport, NY
CharlieM1958
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7459 posts in 1096 days
posted 659 days ago
That’s gorgeous, Kerry. Great job!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 683 days
posted 659 days ago
The bow front is really distinctive. No wonder you experienced problems – worth it though, that’s an excellent box.
Critterman
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545 posts in 688 days
posted 659 days ago
Very nice, like the bow front and the top
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
Colin
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185 posts in 799 days
posted 659 days ago
Very, very nice.
-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"
Ethan
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751 posts in 1052 days
posted 659 days ago
The greater the challenge, the greater the experience – in my book. Great job on the inlay in the lid.
-- Ethan, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 659 days ago
Are you going to enter it into the competition?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Kerry
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129 posts in 668 days
posted 659 days ago
Thanks,
Bob 42 – I’m afraid I didn’t really draw up much for plans – just some sketches and a couple of scale line drawings on graph paper – you’re welcome to those if you like.
GaryK – sure, I’ll enter this. No time for the 2×4 challenge though.
Cheers,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
Bob A in NJ
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519 posts in 877 days
posted 659 days ago
Wow, very nice!
-- Bob A in NJ
MsDebbieP
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14090 posts in 1039 days
posted 659 days ago
how very special. She must have really made an impact.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
wood4me
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4 posts in 671 days
posted 659 days ago
Couldn’t agree more: “How very special”. Something so pretty to look at, and so functional, will surely be treasured for life.
-- wood4me
Billp
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318 posts in 1078 days
posted 659 days ago
Nice touch Kerry, I love the bent lamination. Nice overall tone to the box.
-- Billp
Dominic Vanacora
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504 posts in 747 days
posted 659 days ago
When I see work of this level it diffcult for me to put in words the appreciaton of skills you and others have to do this level of workmenship. I know its not art but it requires more than just skill or talents. I hope you sign your works, this will never leave the family you have given it to. Thanks for sharing your talants and abilities with others.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
Blake
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2715 posts in 752 days
posted 659 days ago
This is truly amazing. The beautiful details you put into your pieces are what make them stand out from the rest. I’m in awe of your talent and eye for design.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
Scott Bryan
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20040 posts in 700 days
posted 659 days ago
This box is excellent. I just wish that my work that “went wrong” could look this good. It is funny how we tend to focus more on our mistakes that on our successes.
This box is a success. It is a prime example of craftmanship.
By the way how did you finish it out? What did you line the box with?
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
wwnovice
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77 posts in 1064 days
posted 659 days ago
Awesome work, Kerry. I especially like the bent wood lamination and inlay work.
-- John
Karson
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25271 posts in 1278 days
posted 659 days ago
Great box. nice job. The aid should know of your great appreciation.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
SPalm
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921 posts in 760 days
posted 659 days ago
Wow. Lot of love went into that box.
The stringing on the bow front must have been something to figure out. How did you do it?
I am impressed.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
Ryan Shervill
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238 posts in 690 days
posted 659 days ago
Hi Kerry., I saw this box on the Canadian Wood Working site…very nice! I am curious though….the compass rose: Is it veneers or thicker sock? How did you inlay it? Are you concerned about wood movement in the top affecting it?
Ryan
-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 840 days
posted 659 days ago
Very well done.
-- Thos. Angle
Chris
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1452 posts in 869 days
posted 659 days ago
Just Beautiful! Amazing attention to detail.
-- Chris
rikkor
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11338 posts in 752 days
posted 659 days ago
Exquisite!
TomFran
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2501 posts in 872 days
posted 658 days ago
Outstanding design and execution! Beautiful box.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 942 days
posted 658 days ago
Beautiful, great thinking outside the box.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Jeff
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996 posts in 972 days
posted 658 days ago
Wow! Looks like all the ‘pain to build’ was worth it. Beautiful work.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Kerry
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129 posts in 668 days
posted 658 days ago
Thank you all again for the nice comments.
MSDebbieP – She was a big help to us over the years, and a constant in our son’s school life. We were very fortunate.
sbryan55 – it’s finished with BLO, then shellac and finally rubbed with steel wool and wax.
SPalm – The stringing was done by making a groove with a scratch stock and inlaying the strips of maple. I cut 1/16 (or so) strips of maple off the edge of a board on the tablesaw, then cut those into strips on the bandsaw. The corners were a challenge though; I had to use an exacto knife and some flat washers as guides to make those grooves. Next time I think I’ll purchase a couple of gouges and use those.
Ryan – Thanks – I’m a big fan of your boxes – just stunning pieces of art. The compass rose is fairly thick – nearly 3/32. Wood movement over the 3’’ or so shouldn’t be too dramatic (I hope) so I’m not that concerned. The recipient doesn’t live far from me though so I should hear about it if it ever comes loose. :-)I’ve done a few other inlays and so far so good. I cut the pieces individually then edge glued them together. Once it had dried, I traced the outline on the top, cut to the line with an exacto knife and used a chisel to clean out the waste before gluing in the inlay.
Cheers,
Kerry
-- Alberta, Canada
Copperjock
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120 posts in 676 days
posted 658 days ago
What a great box. It’s projects like this that really get me excited about woodworking. Thanks.
-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!
shaun
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361 posts in 783 days
posted 657 days ago
”it all turned out well enough” he says. Pretty modest there Kerry. That is a fantastic box that goes way beyound “well enough”
-- I've cut that board three times and it's still too short!
mot
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4901 posts in 914 days
posted 657 days ago
Kerry, just an impressive piece. Do you have more detail of the construction. What do you think went wrong. It sure came out nice!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
YorkshireStewart
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779 posts in 779 days
posted 657 days ago
You certainly didn’t set out to make life easy with this little beauty! Simply stunning.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
toyguy
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699 posts in 715 days
posted 656 days ago
Truely a nice piece. Your design is nothing less than great.
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
lobbster
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24 posts in 739 days
posted 655 days ago
Beautiful box. There is nothing that makes a piece stand out more than a little curve. I like your attention to detail, your inlay appears flawless.
-- lobbster, Oregon, www.michaellobby.com
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6990 posts in 1177 days
posted 653 days ago
A great application of an arched raised panel.
A beautiful gift that she will cherish for many years.
-- -** 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
Don
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2590 posts in 1055 days
posted 652 days ago
Kerry – this is one beautiful box and I just love small wooden boxes. Thanks for raising the bar – this is the one to beat!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
CedarFreakCarl
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562 posts in 932 days
posted 645 days ago
That’s a masterpiece Kerry. Wonderful inlays and color combinations. Beautiful!
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 592 days
posted 571 days ago
WOW… the inlay on this is fantastic. It looks like it must have taken some time to inlay the top and string the front… great job, thanks for the eye candy!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
jeanmarc
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1750 posts in 594 days
posted 472 days ago
great design
-- jeanmarc manosque france
Dusty56
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3392 posts in 566 days
posted 244 days ago
This just came up on the project merry go round …It is beautiful and the craftsmanship and finish are excellent !
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
mcoyfrog
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735 posts in 472 days
posted 96 days ago
Way cool I dig it
-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug
Jason34
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53 posts in 386 days
posted 37 days ago
Gorgeous. I love the inlay in the curved front.
-- Jason - Colorado Springs