Another Valentine's Day Box

Ahhhh, nice box. I’ve never worked with bloodwood before. How is it to work?

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

Nice looking box! Bloodwood is pretty cool, huh?

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

This is a really nice looking box. I assume that you haven’t reaped the benefits of your labor yet since it is a Valentine’s Day gift. I am sure that your valentine will be appreciative of the time and effort that went into the project.

By the way I really like the contrast between the walnut and bloodwood. The two wood compliment each other.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Very nice. I gotta try this.

Really nice Leon, that should make her happy!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

Just Beautiful! The bloodwood really sets it off…....like I said, just beautiful!

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

Way cool box!

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

Very nice. I am inspired.
Note to self: Try to find some bloodwood.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

sure is pretty!

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

mot, bloodwood is very hard. Harder that purpleheart, mesquite and jaotba but it cuts well with a bandsaw and router bits. I’ve also turned several items from bloodwood and it is great. It is very hard to work by hand. Doing some hand filing to touch up the v at the top of the heart took forever. You can get some tearout with a courser file. I also had a problem with power sanding, it tends to burn (not literally just gets very dark). I’ve also had this problem with purpleheart.

It takes the “Tung Oil Finish” very well. This heart has 5 coats with a little 0000 steel wool between coats.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Some one will “love” this one!

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

Very nice, & a great gift.

-- -** 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

WARNING:
If you are working with bloodwood you should let people know. After working with it for a while you will look like you have been butchering hogs. An unsuspecting person might think you had slashed an artery.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "

Gorgeous! Nice choice of warm-toned woods.

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

Bloodwood is a must have for a heart – looks very nice.

Leon,

Here is my critique to this project:

What I like:

1. A simple form without pretense. I really like the fact that you did not overdecorate this box. It sends a clean message
2. The wood selection is really good. It really goes with the intended message

What I did not like:

1. I think you still have some saw marks on the interior side wall. It is hard to tell from the picture but I think I see a saw line. I might be wrong about it though.

By the way, your picture is much better for this box. Now, if you could use a neutral background, the piece would look even more gorgeous. I’ll probably post a blog entry about some simple things you can do to take better pictures of your work.

Thanks again for having the courage to put up your work for criticism.
Alin

-- -- Alin Dobra, Gainesville, Florida

Great job. The only bloodwood I’ve used is for pen making. It really beautiful.

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

Very cool, and the choice of wood is a great contrast! I love the top, nice job routing the profile. I want to make a band saw box soon.

-- --Chuck

The box is great- What did you do to get the shape of the heart, I would like to try this project and also give it as a gift

-- Czajka1

”For a pattern I used a chocolate heart I’d bought for my wife.”

I’ll scan it (tonight or this weekend) and post an image you can use since it is “off season” for chocolate Valentine’s Hearts.

-- Leon -- Houston, TX - " I create all my own designs and it looks like it "