| Project by YorkshireStewart | posted 60 days ago | 529 views | 7 times favorited | 33 comments | ![]() |
I’d struggled, last year, to think of something to make for Mrs YS for Christmas. I’ve made Jewellery boxes, Sewing boxes, Jewellery boxes as well as Jewellery boxes in previous years. So I eventually decided on this. It’s a “Things That Get Left on the Coffee Table” box. i.e. pens, scissors, and bits of knitting equipment that I don’t fully understand.
From my dwindling pile of really interesting bits of wood, I chose a piece of brown oak and a piece of burr/burl oak. I love wooden hinges and this became the prototype hinge for my Winter Challenge entry.
I’d set out to make the hinge entirely from bog oak but it split and crumbled dreadfully, ending up more CA Superglue than bog oak! So I cut it off, leaving a strip and glued on a length of walnut that blended nicely. It was a good outcome (I think) as I find the separation that the bog oak provides quite attractive.
The box measures 7.75” x 4.5” x 3.5” and I used my mitre trimmer for the corner joints. I used the same technique for the hinges as I did on my competition entry.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
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33 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
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1010 posts in 101 days
posted 60 days ago
wow that is such a beautiful box. i love the look of the wood and the rough edge that was left on the front gives it a great look. the wooden hinge out of walnut is really cool too. i know that Mrs YS will love it.
-- if you haven't already check out my blog http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/teenagewoodworker/blog/3961
HokieMojo
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34 posts in 61 days
posted 60 days ago
Very nice. I’m working on my first box right now and I have to say I’m impressed when people can get the corners right like that. I have gaps. The whole thing is very nice.
DaveBaker
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21 posts in 84 days
posted 60 days ago
Excellent job, I second the comment about the hinge. The oak burl looks great also, what finish did you use?
-- Upstate New York -- Do what you love and never work a day in your life.
YorkshireStewart
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510 posts in 234 days
posted 60 days ago
Thanks folks.
Dave – The finish is just my oft-used simplistic approach – several applications of Danish Oil, worked in occasionally with fine wet/dry abrasive. Then a beeswax polish after a few days.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
GaryK
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6986 posts in 321 days
posted 60 days ago
Fantastic looking box Yorkie!
The execution is perfect and the wood selection is great!
Mrs YS should be very happy.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
CharlieM1958
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3017 posts in 551 days
posted 60 days ago
Another fantastic project, Stewart. I surely do envy your hinge-making ingenuity!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
CedarFreakCarl
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262 posts in 386 days
posted 60 days ago
Beautiful box Stewart. The wooden hinges and live edge along with that wonderful bog oak is amazing!
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
Scott Bryan
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6413 posts in 155 days
posted 60 days ago
Stewart,
The live edge was a wonderful idea. This adds an eye-catching detail to the box. Your wood selection has beautiful grain. Great post. I can well understand why you like to do these. They are habit forming.
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.
mrtrim
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1372 posts in 213 days
posted 60 days ago
another great box sir stewart !
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
mjlauro
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179 posts in 94 days
posted 60 days ago
This is a really cool box, I love the hinge.
relic
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252 posts in 269 days
posted 60 days ago
I don’t see this box sitting on the coffee table, maybe the mantle, filled with keep sakes. But thats just me.
-- Andy Stark
Betsy
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1115 posts in 229 days
posted 60 days ago
I’d be proud to have that box on my coffee table. Another winner!
-- Betsy - There is no strength where there is no struggle
Blake
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1629 posts in 207 days
posted 60 days ago
Along with agreeing with all the other comments, the one thing I really like in particular with this box is the way you laminated different woods together as a transition to the hinge (the “stripes” on the top near the hinge). You have such a unique style, Stewart. And I really like it.
-- Dust collectors suck.
Red Headed Merganser
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748 posts in 507 days
posted 60 days ago
Bog oak can be a bugger to work with, Stewart. I’m glad I’m not the only one who has troubles with it! Your modification of the original plan turned out quite well, though.
Love the burl in the front of the box. I’ve always thought you didn’t need to do anything fancy with a piece when the wood gets all fancy for ya!
-- Ethan, http://www.merganserwoodworks.com, http://greystonegreen.blogspot.com/
Douglas Bordner
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2105 posts in 397 days
posted 60 days ago
Yup, splendid choice of timber as well as the signature hinges. I like the way the live edge cuts back to concave directly over that great knot on the front of the box. And the bog oak accent is wonderful as well. Another splendid box from Die Voigtländer.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
BarryW
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149 posts in 239 days
posted 60 days ago
I’ve purchased many books on boxes…and I just love this one…the hinge is just excellent and inspirational.
You let the wood speak volumes.
-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ http://thecreekviewwoodworker.blogspot.com
Grumpy
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2896 posts in 184 days
posted 59 days ago
Great job Stew, very impressive.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
jockmike2
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2899 posts in 579 days
posted 59 days ago
Mr. Stewart that is a work of art. Just beautiful, even wooden hinges, you are a craftsman of the highest caliber. I Love how you left the front part of the lid. Its great. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
Robb
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308 posts in 267 days
posted 59 days ago
That is one beautiful box, YS. You’re some kind of craftsman! And for the record, I think you could post a pic of your “dwindling pile of really interesting bits of wood” and call that a project too laugh. Terrific work, I applaud your efforts.
-- Robb
Pathpounder
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22 posts in 226 days
posted 59 days ago
Outstanding creativity. If my wife sees this I’m in for it.
Lakey
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100 posts in 105 days
posted 59 days ago
The hinges are fantastic, as is the rest of the box. I’ve been wanting to try wooden hinges for awhile – the link in your entry that says “hinges” links instead to the miter trimmer. Did you blog the process for the hinges?
—Lakey
-- "No Board Left Behind"
zebrano
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56 posts in 62 days
posted 59 days ago
This box is a masterpiece,the real thing!
YorkshireStewart
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510 posts in 234 days
posted 59 days ago
Thanks, all, for your kind comments.
Lakey – Thanks very much for pointing that out. I’ve made a correction.
Ethan – here’s a photograph of the mess I got into with the Mk 1 hinge:
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
DAN
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2335 posts in 316 days
posted 59 days ago
beautiful work … you get your hands on some beautiful material !
-- Hey ! I was born in IOWA .... don't blame me
Dorje
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1557 posts in 330 days
posted 59 days ago
pretty fantastic!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
cajunpen
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5080 posts in 399 days
posted 59 days ago
Stewart another of your outstanding project. I really like everything about this box, especially the hinges.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rikkor
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5913 posts in 207 days
posted 59 days ago
Man, Stewart, you never cease to amaze me. This box is wonderful. You are a true craftsman.
-- Maplewood, MN
MsDebbieP
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10926 posts in 493 days
posted 58 days ago
Sweet!!
I bet this was received with a BIG smile. Love that lid
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Gary
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281 posts in 657 days
posted 58 days ago
That’s one of the nicest pieces I’ve seen in quite some time.
woodup
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96 posts in 276 days
posted 58 days ago
Always inspiring work! Thanks for sharing!
-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"
Vjer
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46 posts in 91 days
posted 56 days ago
Beautiful box. I love the oak and the raw edge of the lid. Wooden hinges are a chore to make, but add so much more to the box. I am sure the Mrs. loved it.
-- My mind is like lightning...one brilliant flash and then it's gone.
Thos. Angle
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3243 posts in 295 days
posted 55 days ago
That’s a dandy, Stewart. I was gone for 5 days and it took me 14 pages to find this. I’ll never catch up
-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon
Larry
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124 posts in 544 days
posted 53 days ago
WOW very nice – that grain is just beautiful.
-- "In dog years - I'm dead"