| Project by snewOevaD | posted 399 days ago | 920 views | 3 times favorited | 10 comments |  |
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This is a design I got out of the book, Basic Box Making by Doug Stow pg23.
this is highly figured white oak that I inherited from my Dad’s stash of wood.
The finish is “Natural” Danish Oil with spray on lacquer as a top coat.
Things I’ve learned from this project:
1. Rit dye won’t soak into dowels, Not even if they are only 1/8 inch thick.
.....A. Spend the money, buy some ebony, and make your own dowels.
2. Highly figured wood cracks very easily when driving nails. I pre-drilled, but some of the holes were deeper than others, and some of the copper tacks were actually thicker than others. Also, the order I nailed tacks in, and the amount of support under the piece mattered too. ....A I actually made four boxes, and the first one has a cracked lid. This happened while nailing on the Leather hinges. My four-and-a-half year old now has a box to call his own. The box you see is Number 2, and 3 and four haven’t been hinged yet, pictures to follow.
3. Lacquer will make sharpie marker run. On one of the four, I used sharpie to make the pins in the corner black all the way through. one of them ran a little when the Lacquer was sprayed on.
4. when using Filler to fill porous wood, just resign to the fact that they don’t make that color. I had to use the really light color, Dark Walnut, and the Red Oak colors mixed together in differing amounts until I had the color just right.
5. Most of the pores will lose all of the filler when using a random orbit sander. (even really fin sandpaper) I need to learn how to fill pores in wood, or be more patient with lots of coats of clear during finishing, or both.
Thanks for Looking, if you have any suggestions, I’m all ears.
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10 comments so far
3peaceful1s
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8 posts in 406 days
#1 posted 399 days ago
I am really new at this but to fill holes and cracks, I use the wood shavings from the wood I am using and I mix it with wood glue until it is a paste and I fill with that. It has worked well so far. :) Good Luck, nice box and very helpful tips you learned :) Maybe I can avoid some of that. Thanks
robert triplett
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1306 posts in 1276 days
#2 posted 399 days ago
This seemed like a great learning experience. Doug Stowe’s book was very helpful for me when starting to make boxes. The wood is beautiful. I haven’t tried leather hinges.
-- Robert, so much inspiration here, and so little time!
TDog
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194 posts in 401 days
#3 posted 399 days ago
That figured grain looks great. It’s amazing how much you learn each time you do a woodworking project. The second and third models are a lot more fun…and I find myself always needing more wood, hardware, etc when I think I am close to being finished.
Looks great. Can’t wait to buy some figured wood and make something nice like that.
-- "So many projects...so little time..." Psalm 23
doncutlip
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2808 posts in 1727 days
#4 posted 399 days ago
Gorgeous wood, fine project, interesting hinges
-- Don, Royersford, PA
gfadvm
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6654 posts in 862 days
#5 posted 399 days ago
That is some really beautiful wood and a nice box. I’m not too fond of the hinges though (try some wooden ones instead). What type grain filler did you use? I have had very good results with TimberMate and have been able to match most woods. A little shellac over the Sharpie will keep it from running when you lacquer over it. How about india ink or ebony stain on the dowels? Just my thoughts.
-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm
snewOevaD
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26 posts in 956 days
#6 posted 398 days ago
gfadvm… Thanks for the tips, I appreciate it. I’d like to try some wood hinges, but I’m not quite confident enough yet… maybe box 6 or 7 I also want to try Shellac, so I may do that on the next box. will try TimberMate too.
I love this web site, so many great ideas out there.
bill merritt
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199 posts in 1461 days
#7 posted 398 days ago
Another thing you might try is a pinned top. Like Andy’s boxes, I have done a few and they work just fine. Would look great with that wood.
-- Bill Merritt -Augusta Ga. woodworker
Dave Haynes
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188 posts in 1525 days
#8 posted 398 days ago
All of the issues you had with these boxes are problems in the real world. But…........that’s what I love about woodworking….........you learn something along the way and it makes you a better craftsman in the process. The final effect is what counts and you sure got it right!
-- Dave Haynes, Indiana, http://www.oldaveswoodshop.com
gfadvm
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6654 posts in 862 days
#9 posted 398 days ago
Try the Patron style hinges as your first wooden hinges. They are REALLY easy, work well, and look good.
-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm
snewOevaD
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26 posts in 956 days
#10 posted 397 days ago
I had to look up what a Patron style hinge was… I’ll definitely try them. Maybe even on my next box. I need to make a box for my soon to be adopted Niece. Maybe some inset Patron style hinges will be the way to go. It might be time to blog a build, and get ideas as I go along. Looks like I’m going wood shopping.
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