| Project by TonyWard | posted 652 days ago | 829 views | 1 time favorited | 25 comments | ![]() |
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Ant Farm
A three drawer bandsawn box with five storage compartments.
~ W.I.P. report
(1) The Block.

Timber:
Australian Red Cedar ~ part of a stump containing burl and with a variable moisture content.
Preparation:
The above image depicts the pencil drawing on block to define outline, drawer shapes and bandsawing direction. The drill holes are used to overcome expected difficulties with the green timber and clean saw dust build up.
Bandsawing Time:
100 minutes (approx.) to create the outline shape.
On completion of the bandsawing the shape of the box altered as the timber acclimatised to the environment.
(2) On completion of the bandsaw work.

On completing the shaping and initial sanding (80 grit) the box was immersed in a bath of Tung Oil in an endeavour to stabilise the timber.
The image shows the oiled box and the yet to be oiled carved drawers.
(3) Upper drawer:

This drawer contains a lift out box in the lower section of the drawer. The hinged box is retained in place by the use of a magnet.
(4) The centre drawer

This drawer contains two storage compartments, including a secret and hidden drawer.

The first image depicts the middle drawer opened to reveal the drawer’s partitions.
(5) The secret and hidden drawer
Access to the hidden drawer is achieved by detaching the drawer front. The drawer front is retained in place by the use of magnets and a concealed locking mechanism.
Images of the centre drawer showing the secret and hidden drawer, with the drawer front detached.
(6) The Lower drawer.

Note the presence of some the “checks” which became apparent only after the block was bandsawn.
A check is a separation that extends along the grain and results from stresses developed as the surface layers of wood loss moisture and shrink while the main body of the material underneath is fully distended.
Wood in Australia, Bootle, K.R. (Keith R.). 2nd ed.
The checks were filled with shellac.
For further information – ” Pocket Guide to Bandsawn Box Making”:
Good Health
Tony Ward
-- Bandsaw Box Plans






























25 comments so far
lazyfiremaninTN
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528 posts in 831 days
posted 652 days ago
WOW!!!!!!!!!!
-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 652 days ago
That’s pretty cool! Great blog.
Thanks for the link.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
jeffthewoodwacker
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482 posts in 682 days
posted 652 days ago
Very nice. The hidden drawer is quite the trick.
-- Those that say it can't be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.
toyguy
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699 posts in 715 days
posted 652 days ago
Well that is just awsome. You are the master at this bandsaw box stuff…..
-- Brian's Table Top Toys http://home.mountaincable.net/~bgraham/
Karson
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25271 posts in 1278 days
posted 652 days ago
Great Job Tony. A fantastic Box and construction photos.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 652 days ago
Hi
Thank you for your kind words of encouragement,
Good Health
Tony Ward
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
Greg3G
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770 posts in 963 days
posted 652 days ago
I love your wood selection, beautiful finished project. I like the way you floated the top and bottom drawers. The flow of the over all peice is outstanding.
-- Greg - Charles Town, WV
Scott Bryan
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20040 posts in 700 days
posted 652 days ago
That is an outstanding project. I could never have envisioned that project inside the block of wood. To produce something like this takes a combination of both woodworking and artistic talent.
Thanks for sharing.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
rikkor
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11338 posts in 752 days
posted 652 days ago
That is just outstanding! Hidden drawers… wow!
Russel
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2031 posts in 817 days
posted 652 days ago
Now that is impressive. The box alone is great, but then to add little surprises is over the top.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
tpastore
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90 posts in 694 days
posted 651 days ago
Excellent job Tony. Sounds like you had a similar issue with the wood having a mind of its own after you cut it. I am still curious about whether it is caused by the expansion/contraction of wood in moisture or if it is simply the internal stresses in wood being relieved when you cut it.
To make the bridges between the pods and the edge did you carve those out or did you resaw/cut/glue the part to make those?
Tim
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 651 days ago
Tim
An interesting question regarding the timber movement, we may need an expert’s input to answer that one?
The bridges holding the upper and lower drawers remain part of the cabinet. The difficulty of bandsawing and then replacement would add a number of hours to the project, therefore easier to leave them in place.
Good Health
Tony Ward
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
Don
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2590 posts in 1055 days
posted 651 days ago
Tony, Mate! All I can say is that your art continues to soar!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
Alin Dobra
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316 posts in 766 days
posted 650 days ago
Tony,
Great box and fantastic design. I am making now a bandsaw box for the 2×4 competition and I get dizzy just looking at your box knowing what bandsaw skill it requires. I knew you are going to come up with a great bandsaw box for the box competition so I stayed clear of a “pure” bandsaw box with my entry (to stand a chance).
Good luck with the contest,
Alin
-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida
mot
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4901 posts in 914 days
posted 650 days ago
An amazing box with a fantastic description of the process. Thank so much for posting this!
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 650 days ago
Thank you Don,
Thank you Alin,
Thank you mot.
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
Dick, & Barb Cain
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6989 posts in 1177 days
posted 650 days ago
Your skills, designing talent, & description of this project are amazing.
It’s going to be hard to compete against something like this. Good Luck!!
-- -** 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
MsDebbieP
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14090 posts in 1039 days
posted 649 days ago
Tony, Tony, Tony.. I think you have outdone yourself—that middle drawer is just amazing.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Hawgnutz
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522 posts in 954 days
posted 649 days ago
Fantastic box, Tony. I especially like how you overcame the check in the wood. It is teh mark of a raftsman that they are able to overcome their mistakes, or a flaw or unexpected trouble with their material. Wood and l;eather used to be living creatures, and as such, will never be the same as another piece, even from the same tree.
Your vision to see the finished product from the raw wood is amazing, too!
God Bless,
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 649 days ago
Thank you MsDebbieP,
Thank you Hawgnutz.
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
Andy
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562 posts in 786 days
posted 644 days ago
Great work as always Tony,but I really like the secret box detail on this one.And the rich color of this wood is very classy.
-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 644 days ago
Thank you Andy.
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
California Urban Lumber
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35 posts in 243 days
posted 194 days ago
This is so awesome! The way you wrote everything out is truly appreciated. Amazing Work.
-- California Urban Lumber | The Green Choice | www.calurbanlumber.com
grizzman
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454 posts in 181 days
posted 121 days ago
just saw your wood creations tony…fantastic work mate…..i love that wood…...cant wait to see what your doing next…..good job tony…
-- The Grizzone
TonyWard
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284 posts in 1206 days
posted 121 days ago
Hi
Undergoing an enforced down time, sold our house and renting whilst our new home and of course workshop is constructed. They poured the slab today, so a few months before I can get back into the workshop!
Tony Ward
-- Bandsaw Box Plans