| Project by sgtq | posted 664 days ago | 866 views | 1 time favorited | 8 comments |  |
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Ok, “My First Box” has been posted by everyone and I didnt want to post the same thing but as I found out building and finishing your first box makes it pretty special to at least yourself. I have to admit this task actually scared me a little bit, I’ve never cut dovetails, used anything but biscuit joinery, dimensioned or came close to imagining a box could be so complicated. I used a Porter Cable dovetail machine and while I’m sure for an experienced dovetailer and even maybe me now its a wonderful machine, but since these were my first it took me literally 5 hours of pracitice cuts and countless scraps to get the dovetails acceptable and I still had some problems as you can probably see in the pics. The Wood is Black Walnut (with a beautiful blond streak on each side of the box and slightly showing on the front) The top and bottom is BB ply, the joinery is half blind dovetails. The hardware is just some brass hinges and a clasp I had in my everything drawer, and the finish is 3 coats of tung oil, (I intend on polishing the box in 2 weeks with automotive wax, also a first for me). I am a horrible photographer so forgive the pictures. The last photo is just what I have in the box right now but not necessarily what it was intended for, I actually dont know what I was making it for besides the challenge. Thanks for looking.
-- There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton
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8 comments so far
vipond33
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1331 posts in 695 days
#1 posted 664 days ago
An admirable first effort. I wouldn’t want anyone to see how many times I tried and discarded either. Too many hinges? Maybe. Might have run the dovetails to the side instead. The blonde on blonde is special. Keep it up.
-- gene@toronto.ontario.canada : dovetail free since '53, critiques always welcome.
Bluepine38
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2162 posts in 1282 days
#2 posted 663 days ago
Very nice first box, I have made numerous boxes for utilitarian purposes over the years, but have yet to
make my first dovetail, I guess I will have to try it soon. I like the looks of that JA NINE in the box, have
not heard of Jimenez Arms before, how does it shoot? My favorite right now is a Sig 226. Thank you for
sharing, I hope you continue to enjoy your shop and woodworking.
-- As ever, Gus-the 74 yr young apprentice carpenter
WoodenFrog
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2379 posts in 1110 days
#3 posted 663 days ago
I like it! Great work on it! alot better than my first box…well my only box!
I too like the light sapwood along with the dark heartwood!
Keep it up! Thanks for sharing.
-- Robert B. Sabina, Ohio.....
sgtq
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304 posts in 873 days
#4 posted 663 days ago
@Bluepine, a little history about Jimenez Arms, they used to be bryco and than jennings arms they are most famous for making the P-38 and Jennings J-22, they had some problems at start up in 2004 with safety regulations and that has given them kind of a bad name, but with that comes a highly affordable pistol that in my opinion shoots amazingly well, its accurate and I have never personally had any problems with it, Like I said you wont see any what I call “Gun Snobs” shooting it but its worth the price you can get one for. To everyone else thank you for your comments.
-- There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton
itsmic
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1417 posts in 1315 days
#5 posted 663 days ago
That’s a Beauty, and for a first it is very impressive, nice joints with a neat design, good looking wood, extra hinges will make this sturdy and last a life time, thanks for sharing
-- It's Mic Keep working and sharing
George
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80 posts in 800 days
#6 posted 663 days ago
beautiful! Call it the “Box with a Bite”!
-- I did measure it twice, it's still too short.
Michael1
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405 posts in 857 days
#7 posted 663 days ago
Very nice work and good selection of wood. I like the blond streak in the sides. Very nice dovetails. Some might say the dovetails are on the wrong side of the joint but I say I like a design that breaks the rules. Hope to see more of your projects on the future. I also really like the hall table on your profile of previous projects.
-- Michael Mills, North Carolina, http://www.scicaskets.com
sgtq
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304 posts in 873 days
#8 posted 663 days ago
@Michael, Thanks for the compliments and I actually wanted the dovetails to show from the front of the box, I love they way they look in a project, and I figured if I spent 5 hours just to get some acceptable ones than I wanted to see them.
-- There is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America. ~William J. Clinton
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