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This is a box I built for my brand new baby nephew (born May 1, 2011). He is the first child of my only brother and I wanted to do something special. I discovered woodworking about 6 months ago and this is my first real project.

The box was made from some short walnut scraps sold on sale at my lumberyard. I think if I had had a little more experience, I would have chosen different (likely straighter) grain for the sides of the box. The dovetails are handcut with a super cheap saw and my homemade 1:8 dovetail marking gauge. I took full advantage of the sawdust/glue combo to hide gaps. Actually, after doing the inlay and seeing how wood-like the gaps were after adding a drop of CA glue, I did this for all the sawdust-filled gaps around my dovetails. It made for a LOT of CA glue sanding, but I thought it looked better afterwards. The top is two pieces glued together then run through my planer. I tried to slide my boards around to find color and grain pattern that looked relatively matched. The bottom is attached by brad nails and features wedged through-tenon feet that are pretty much a straight rip-off of Rob Bois' Bible-box project (which this project was obviously heavily influenced by). The hinges were bought at my local woodcraft. The inlay was cut out of hard maple using a cheap Ryobi scroll saw. Finish is BLO followed by a few coats of pastewax buffed to shine.

This box was incredibly fun to build and a MAJOR learning opportunity for me. I made several mistakes most of which I think I was able to conceal, but you can be the judge. Thank you to all the LJ out there for this amazing community. I draw a great deal of inspiration from the projects I see on this site.

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Comments

· Registered
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1,833 Posts
Great job, love the color and the inlay looks great. One to be proud of no doubt!
 

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810 Posts
Beautiful box.
 

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49 Posts
You started woodworking 6 months ago? Wow, I am impressed. Great job. Looking forward to your next project. Don't forget to sign and date it on the bottom for future generations.
 

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544 Posts
This is a very, very nice box Hugh. Job well done….
The wood combination is really nice, design clean and classic and the inlay is beautiful!

If this is one of your first boxes…... WOW !

Welcome to LJ's….......
 

· Registered
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337 Posts
Great first project, you did a really slick job on the inlay.hand cut dovetails on your first box, very impressive.
 

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3,645 Posts
Very nice box!
Job will done
Arlin
 

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1 Posts
Great box I'm very impressed, the inlay looks very nice and the dovetails are amazing. I wish mine looked that good. Love the grain pattern on the front. Thank you for sharing.
 

· In Loving Memory
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2,704 Posts
Fantastic first box, wish mine had looked that good. Terrific job, as a turner, believe me, I know the value of CA glue and sawdust. It's saved more than one of my projects.
 

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1,487 Posts
nice work
 

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After only six months in woodworking I was still building pine board shelves. You've done a great job here.
 

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100 Posts
That is just BEAUTIFUL, for a first, well, for a second, third….... fine construction, beautiful wood, and excellent work on the inlay, Welcome to lj's, it's great to have You here sharing Your talents and thoughts
 
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