| Project by Blake | posted 585 days ago | 1541 views | 30 times favorited | 47 comments | ![]() |
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This box is the result of some successful experimenting with my new Ridgid Oscillating Spindle Sander. I have really wanted to incorporate more curves into my work for a more natural feel, and the Ridgid is such a cool machine for doing that. I love how you can use it to slowly “nibble” away at a line until the curves are perfectly smooth.
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I started by laminating two pieces of 3/4” curly maple together. Then I used a forstner bit, scroll saw, and Ridgid O.S.S to cut out and shape the inside (I didn’t want the entry cut of a bandsawn box).
Then I cut the bottom off, added the thin walnut “floor” and glued the bottom back on. Next I rough cut the outside shape with the bandsaw and finished shaping the curves on the Ridgid O.S.S.
The edges of the walnut “floor” show up as a thin line around the outside of the box near the bottom.
To make the lid I used Zebra wood and oriented the grain of the two halves to resemble leaf veins. I cut the curve on the bandsaw and refined it on the Ridgid O.S.S. until they fit together perfectly. Then I glued them together with epoxy (which adheres well to endgrain and fills the small gaps) with a thin strip of maple cold-bent between them.
I shaped another piece of maple for the underside “insert” to keep the lid snugly in place. This maple lid insert (seen in the last photo) also strengthens the lid since it is under stress from the maple strip.
I rough cut the lid to shape on the bandsaw. Then, with the lid on the box and the box upside-down, I smoothed the edges of the lid on the Ridgid O.S.S. until it was a perfect match to the box sides.
It is about 8” long, 3” across and 2” tall. Oiled with boiled linseed oil. It is very light and has a delicate feel.
This box was so much fun to make. It represents the first time for a long time that I did something in the shop just for fun, and just for me (the kitchen cabinets are finally done!)
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com































47 comments so far
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 942 days
posted 585 days ago
That’s one handsome little box. Great work, Blake.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Jeff
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996 posts in 972 days
posted 585 days ago
Sweet box Blake. Very clever use of the Zebra wood for the lid.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
USCJeff
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899 posts in 946 days
posted 585 days ago
Love it. I’ve eyeballed the Rigid ever since my Brother in Law got one. He swears by it and Rigid has a great warranty. So many tools . . .
-- Jeff, South Carolina
Damian Penney
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1022 posts in 869 days
posted 585 days ago
That’s really nice Blake, great contrasts.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
GaryK
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9496 posts in 866 days
posted 585 days ago
That is a fantastic box Blake. I’m jealous.
I just picked up one of those Rigid OSS’s last week. I like it so far.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dorje
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1768 posts in 875 days
posted 585 days ago
What a gorgeous box! Great choices in wood…
I had the urge to run out and get one of those sanders this last weekend, but was able to restrain myself.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 729 days
posted 585 days ago
Thats a beautiful job Blake. Very clever use of machinery & tools & great design.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Douglas Krueger
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379 posts in 601 days
posted 585 days ago
Beautiful woods and thinking ‘outside the box’, the idea of natural curves has always appealed to me as well, now if I can only find a Ridgid OSS in Asia.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
Scott Bryan
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20051 posts in 700 days
posted 585 days ago
Blake,
This is a beautiful box. Your choice of woods is excellent and thanks for the description of the process. I really appreciate seeing that in a post. It takes a little more effort but it gives a clearer view of the construction process.
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.
Colin
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185 posts in 799 days
posted 585 days ago
Very nice Blake, I like the way the grain flows from the centre curve like a real leaf. excellent work.
-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"
MsDebbieP
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14090 posts in 1039 days
posted 585 days ago
well thought out box and gorgeous results.
Love the lines (curves) the design of the lid, the extra “wow” on the bottom..
awesome job.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
rikkor
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11338 posts in 752 days
posted 585 days ago
Blake, that is an absolute beauty. Nice work. Now I have tool envy again.
dlcarver
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259 posts in 608 days
posted 585 days ago
Fantastic job Blake. I guessed the Zebra wood before I read the write up. I love it…. and I love boxes. Funny how design works….. here , your design matches the machine. A lot of times my design matches my scrap wood….... just so I can use it up and not waste it. Thanks for posting !
GREAT JOB !!!
Dave
PS. What does one of these babies run $$$$$ ? There is times I could use one myself.
-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com
shiney5757
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79 posts in 649 days
posted 585 days ago
Nice shape good use of the wood,also you must be a dab hand @ the photography, very clear pics.
thanks for the story too.
-- I cut it twice & it was still too short
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 840 days
posted 585 days ago
I am absolutely impressed, Blake. The design should be award winning. Excellent story to go with it. Ya done good, Bud.
-- Thos. Angle
brunob
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1465 posts in 1047 days
posted 585 days ago
Beautiful. I’m going to add that to my favorites.
-- Bruce from Central New York
Paul D
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2125 posts in 626 days
posted 585 days ago
Cool box Blake. I really like the Zebrawood top.
-- Paul D, Atlanta GA
CharlieM1958
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7459 posts in 1096 days
posted 585 days ago
Gorgeous, Blake! And best of all, I have the same sander so I can try this myself.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
fredf
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315 posts in 588 days
posted 585 days ago
Thanks for sharing, is a mighty pretty box!
I am adding to my idea list
fred
-- Fred, Springfield, Ma
Peter O
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1005 posts in 752 days
posted 584 days ago
Wow, that is really cool and beautiful!
-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --
Marco Cecala
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90 posts in 911 days
posted 584 days ago
Great execution, very natural lines. I also have a Ridgid sander, but my model is different. You got the artisan version, my “wood hack” model won’t cut curves like that.
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 592 days
posted 584 days ago
Blake, That’s awesome… very creative…
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †
trifern
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7890 posts in 645 days
posted 584 days ago
Absolutely beautiful.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
DannyBoy
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439 posts in 743 days
posted 584 days ago
I need to get me one of those band saws and a nice shaper… Very nice project, bu the way. The leaf’s grain is spectacular.
-- He said wood...http://hickbyassociation.blogspot.com/
blackcherry
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711 posts in 701 days
posted 584 days ago
Nice design and craftmanship…Blkcherry
bfd
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413 posts in 685 days
posted 584 days ago
Blake, this is incredible. Absolutely beautiful. Functional art at its best!
-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com
jude
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148 posts in 827 days
posted 584 days ago
nice job – it’s really beautiful and creative.
-- life can always be weaved into a song.
CedarFreakCarl
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562 posts in 932 days
posted 584 days ago
Excellent, Blake! as usual….....
-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC
RobS
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1231 posts in 1184 days
posted 584 days ago
Nice work Blake, in fact, it’s almost unbe-leaf-able. Ha LOL. Seriously though, beautiful box.
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
DAN
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6396 posts in 861 days
posted 584 days ago
top shelf !
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Blake
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2715 posts in 752 days
posted 584 days ago
Wow! I couldn’t believe it, I posted this late last night and when I woke up this morning there were 29 comments! Thanks everyone! I appreciate the feedback.
dlcarver: they are about $200 bones.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
GMoney
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147 posts in 681 days
posted 584 days ago
Blake,
That is absolutely beautiful. Great job with the photography as well. It’s a fantastic idea very well executed.
-- Greg, CT
SPalm
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921 posts in 760 days
posted 584 days ago
Yea Blake. Good Job!
I was just wondering when you were going to post again. Now I see.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
kenn
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217 posts in 598 days
posted 584 days ago
Really nice work. It even impressed my son, who is sick of his Dad’s lumberjocks “hey, look at this cool project”. He and I wanted to look at this more. Thanks.
-- Every cloud has a silver lining
Nils
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138 posts in 742 days
posted 584 days ago
Wow! Your box is just beautiful. Fantastic shape, and beautiful combination of woods. And a beautiful finish to boot.
-- Nils Davis, Menlo Park, CA
mrtrim
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1700 posts in 758 days
posted 584 days ago
great looking box blake
Bradford
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783 posts in 701 days
posted 584 days ago
it’ll do blake, it’ll do… fantastic job.
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
Copperjock
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120 posts in 676 days
posted 584 days ago
Great project Blake, did you use your new sander for the finish sanding also?
-- All the test cuts in the world won't stop you from cutting the outside when you meant to cut the inside. doh!
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 683 days
posted 584 days ago
Blake
That is a great box. The maple centre piece to the leaf really is an outstanding piece of design and workmanship well done.
I’m currently hollowing boxes from the solid using templates and a router, which works fine, but the noise levels and vibration are pretty high. The sander seems a better way to go.
Blake
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2715 posts in 752 days
posted 583 days ago
Copper: most of the finish sanding but the last time around was by hand. It does get pretty smooth with the O.S.S.
David: I thought about using a router and template but this just seemed easier. They are good if you are going to make a lot of them, though. I will use a router and template next time for the curves in the top leaf to get them dead on. There are small gaps which filled up with epoxy in this one (you can barely notice.)
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
Gary
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437 posts in 1202 days
posted 583 days ago
That’s one lovely box Blake. The fun is easy to see in this one!
-- Gary, Florida
Todd A. Clippinger
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5588 posts in 977 days
posted 579 days ago
Blake,
I truly think that this piece is breath taking. I feel privileged to see you grow as a technician and artist.
Very well done.
My wife just caught a look at it while I had it on the screen and immediately wanted one.
MAN YOU ARE GOOD!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
Blake
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2715 posts in 752 days
posted 576 days ago
Thanks so much, Todd! I will be making more of these to possibly sell at a local gallery. Let me know if you want me to send you one.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
WoodRx
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20 posts in 576 days
posted 576 days ago
Very elegant design… Zebrawood really gave it a natural look… my wife also LOVED it… GREAT JOB!!!
-- Learn something everyday!
Don
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2590 posts in 1055 days
posted 568 days ago
Blake, it’s been quite some time since I’ve looked at all the beautiful small boxes that have found their way to this site.
But this one is just exquisite! As you all know – I just love small boxes and Blakes offering makes it obvious why!
-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.hilsbiblechurch.org/
gator9t9
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295 posts in 582 days
posted 563 days ago
Yes that is very pretty …..Great job ..
so what does she put in that little leaf box ?
-- Mike in Bonney Lake " If you are real real real good your whole life, You 'll be buried in a curly maple coffin when you die."
Dennis Zongker
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1005 posts in 470 days
posted 210 days ago
Hi Blake, I really love this box. I need to find 20 boxes for the back end of a book, I’m writing. Please let me know if you would be interested. If you go to this link it will give you the information. Thank you.
—Dennis Zongker

-- Dennis Zongker