Valet for my Boss

Looks cool. I like the grain pattern on the lid!

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

That’s pretty dang nice Blake. Nice box joints. Love the mahogany & walnut combination. And you’re right, I think you made out like a bandit.

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

Very cool on so many levels. I’m glad to hear of your collaborative process with Todd on this, and it’s an extremely handsome and functional piece. That sculpted lid/tab is so sweet! I really like the off-center location of the tab and the way you worked the color disparity in the walnut into a sense of movement. I have been stuck for months in a creative and weather-induced coma (hard to get psyched about woodworking in a sub-freezing workshop). Got to make something with ideas based from you two fellas work together. Thanks Guys!
Wowzers…

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

Great work Blake. I like everything about it.

-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN

thats a class act blake . as your projects usually are . you also picked a great go to guy . keep up the great work

-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes

Great job Blake! I suspect your boss is thinking that he got the better end of the deal now ;)

-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!

Thanks for all the nice comments, everyone! You are all too kind.

I just delivered it to my boss and he was ecstatic. I wish I didn’t have to give it away, I really like this one. But knowing how much he appreciated it helped me let go. I might make another one for myself.

I guess you could say this is my belated “Not just any box” entry.

-- Dust collectors suck.

Great Job Blake, Looks awesome.

You should keep that job forever Blake. Nice work on the project.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Blake, WOW! What can I say? Great interpretation of a valet. I am so humbled that you asked for my input but it is your interpretation and skill that brought it to life.

Great choices on the options we talked about. You know what else is great about it? The way that you placed the grain, handle, and knot of the black walnut. That really says a lot for your sense of design and balance.

Very clean and tight work. Nice mix of wood, but not overdone. The simplicity is it’s sophistication.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Incredible. And incredibly executed. Very nice!

Very nice Blake. But to be honest I am not sure who got the better deal here. The walnut is gorgeous.

Thanks for the post.

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

Hi Blake,

The valet is awesome. The walnut top and mahogany make a great combo. I love the top detail along with the box joints. Flawlessly executed.

-- bfd, Folsom, CA

Blake that looks great. The lid and the placement of the handleand the knot in the wood just makes it look really cool. Far betterthen those found in stores or online.

CtL

-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."

Blake, I’m blown away by this piece! It is awesome in every way…. functionality, construction, and beauty. This sucker has it all. Looks like you have scored well in the tool department, too.

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

This is a very cool little project.

-- Bob A in NJ

That is just awesome. Isn’t it great when you know your customer well enough to cooperate like that?!

Well done Blake!

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Yeah Buddy, that is a dandy!!! Great lay out and final design. Your best yet.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

Your (boss’) valet is so great! Just stunning. That walnut is something else. Like a waterfall, flowing through the handle. I’m favoriting this one! It’ll go alongside the companion project, which is one of my favorite little boxes.

Can you tell me about installing the brass rod for the hinge. I like the idea of that and have wanted to try it out. Do you bore teh hole a wee bit tight or dead on? Also, what do you use to affix the rod in the lid? Super glue? Epoxy?

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

LOVE IT – The lid really sets it apart from commercial boxes, very nicely made. Good Photographs as well. I think you had a fair deal – what a great way to increase you tool collection.

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

Great valet. The lid is awesome – the flow of the handle and the use of grain really makes this a first class piece of work.

apploauding!!
Gorgeous box .. and the “LJ teamwork” makes me smile :)

I too really like the lines of the wood making their way to the beautiful little handle.
Well done
well done

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Great looking valet Blake. The walnut is beautiful and I appreciate the shaping on the lid. I wish I had a boss that supported my work – heck, I’d be happy just to have a boss I’d met. Got a new Chief on the 14th of January and to date, I’ve not seen or even talked to him – but that is a good thing :-)) Working Night Shift may not be that bad after all.

Great looking Valet – Todd’s advise really paid off.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

Blake, excellent on all levels, collaboration, craftsmanship, design, ...ah, did I leave anything out?? :>) All joints are excellent, wood species look great together, that handle is perfect…OK I’ve run out of words…lol. You did an outstanding job all the way around, way to go!

-- Jim Hallada, Newport News, VA, soon to be Chesterfield, VA

Can’t say much more than what has already been said. Great design and execution on the valet.
Really like the pillowed lid, makes me want to touch it (inviting).

-- Still learning everything

Thanks everyone. The success of this box has inspired me to take the tightness and “machined” look possible from the Incra jig, and combine it with a more fluid, free-form and organic look of hand shaping in future projects. I think it makes a great combination and balance.

Dorje: Using the brass pin for the hinge is the easiest method I’ve used, and this was the first time I’ve done this. Here are some tips:

• Get brass rod from hardware store. It’s easy to find. I used 3/16”

• Secure the lid in place somehow (I put blocks of wood underneath it so it was just the right height and then used double stick tape)

• Locate the placement of the hole

• If the hole is too close to the back, the lid will have more of a tendency to bind. So make sure there is enough of a round-over on the back/top of the lid, or enough clearance, or put the pin more forward.

• Make a simple small jig to make sure both holes are exactly in the same place. This is just a small block of wood with the hole pre-drilled in it. Give it tiny “fences” that keep it against the corner in the same location on both sides.

• Use a drill bit identical in size to the brass rod

• On the drill press, drill through the pre-drilled hole in the “hole placement jig.” (Drill through the box sides and into the secured lid)

• Mark your drill bit with masking tape for depth so it goes in just a hair further than the length of your brass rods

• Cut your pins off the brass rod with a hack saw, slightly round over one edge on grinder or belt sander.

• pins go into lid about 3/4” to 1”.

• Dry fit for test of lid opening/closing but do not push pins in all the way (you will never get them out). If it’s too snug you might have to do some sanding on upper/rear edge of lid.

• “Scuff” inner half of pins with sandpaper

• Mix epoxy and drip it into holes in the lid. Too much epoxy will squeeze out and glue lid shut forever. (Pins are epoxied to inside of lid, not box sides.

• Gently tap pins through box into lid. Do not tap them all the way flush, leave them just a hair proud.

• Sand sides of box with random orbit sander until brass pin is flush with sides.

• Do final sanding and finishing as normal.

-- Dust collectors suck.

nice job Blake!

-- life can always be weaved into a song.

This is really great. I like the allowance for recharging the electronics. Nice touch. Overall maybe you didn’t get the best of your boss…

-- Maplewood, MN

Thanks for the detailed description of the process! I’ll print this out and keep as a reference. It’s a technique I’ve wanted to try, so really appreciate the feedback you’ve given here!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Nicely done Blake! I love the fact that the piece has such specific function and dimensions and that within that fairly rigid framework you found a place for your artistic expression, the lid. The contrast of machined and “freeform” work, to my eye, is what makes this piece such a success. Todd’s sketch offered a great starting point but we could all interpret it quite differently and you made a masterpiece of it! Thanks for walking us through the details too!

-- Fritz Oakland, Ca http://www.muegenburg.com (dedicated to my other hobby)

Blake,

Great design. I’m sure your boss will love it. Good design and very well executed construction.

Keep up the good work!

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

Nice Boxes Blake…I’m not so sure you got the better end of the deal…you’re selling yourself short.

-- Steffen

Very good piece of work with lot of thinking put in the process. Extra photos and other details are welcome.
Sharad

-- patanjali

Nice work blake love the rounded lid

you know what blake? i know you do! anyway that valet box is really slick. you’re right about the pillow top on the lid and organic is a great descriptive word for it. i love the way the grain flows right into the handle. great placement on that! you really did a great job on this one and it shows. your work is really moving into a well refined esthetic and you’re getting a personal style going.

-- Greg, CT

WOW! That is a really nice piece. Everything about that box/valet is impeccable. I am favoriting this and adding you as a buddy so that I can see all of your future projects. Great job and again, that is incredible.

-- Joe, Indiana, http://www.crookedshack.com