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Bow Front Box

Project by Kerry posted 659 days ago 1283 views 9 times favorited 42 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

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.

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1700 posts in 758 days


posted 659 days ago

great design ! nice work kerry

View Bob42's profile

Bob42

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

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7459 posts in 1096 days


posted 659 days ago

That’s gorgeous, Kerry. Great job!

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

View davidtheboxmaker's profile

davidtheboxmaker

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.

View Critterman's profile

Critterman

545 posts in 688 days


posted 659 days ago

Very nice, like the bow front and the top

-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA

View Colin's profile

Colin

185 posts in 799 days


posted 659 days ago

Very, very nice.

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

View Ethan's profile

Ethan

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/

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

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.

View Kerry's profile

Kerry

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

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

519 posts in 877 days


posted 659 days ago

Wow, very nice!

-- Bob A in NJ

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

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)

View wood4me's profile

wood4me

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

View Billp's profile

Billp

318 posts in 1078 days


posted 659 days ago

Nice touch Kerry, I love the bent lamination. Nice overall tone to the box.

-- Billp

View Dominic Vanacora's profile

Dominic Vanacora

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.

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

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.

View wwnovice's profile

wwnovice

77 posts in 1064 days


posted 659 days ago

Awesome work, Kerry. I especially like the bent wood lamination and inlay work.

-- John

View Karson's profile

Karson

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 †

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

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

View Ryan Shervill's profile

Ryan Shervill

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

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 840 days


posted 659 days ago

Very well done.

-- Thos. Angle

View Chris 's profile

Chris

1452 posts in 869 days


posted 659 days ago

Just Beautiful! Amazing attention to detail.

-- Chris

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 752 days


posted 659 days ago

Exquisite!

View TomFran's profile

TomFran

2501 posts in 872 days


posted 658 days ago

Outstanding design and execution! Beautiful box.

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

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

3415 posts in 942 days


posted 658 days ago

Beautiful, great thinking outside the box.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

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

View Kerry's profile

Kerry

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

View Copperjock's profile

Copperjock

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!

View shaun's profile

shaun

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!

View mot's profile

mot

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)

View YorkshireStewart's profile

YorkshireStewart

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

View toyguy's profile

toyguy

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/

View lobbster's profile

lobbster

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

View Dick, & Barb Cain's profile (online now)

Dick, & Barb Cain

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

View Don's profile

Don

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/

View CedarFreakCarl's profile

CedarFreakCarl

562 posts in 932 days


posted 645 days ago

That’s a masterpiece Kerry. Wonderful inlays and color combinations. Beautiful!

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

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) †

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1750 posts in 594 days


posted 472 days ago

great design

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

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 .

View mcoyfrog's profile

mcoyfrog

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

View Jason34's profile

Jason34

53 posts in 386 days


posted 37 days ago

Gorgeous. I love the inlay in the curved front.

-- Jason - Colorado Springs

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