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Leaf Box

Project by Blake posted 585 days ago 1541 views 30 times favorited 47 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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.

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

View Douglas Bordner's profile

Douglas Bordner

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.

View Jeff's profile

Jeff

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

View USCJeff's profile

USCJeff

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

View Damian Penney's profile

Damian Penney

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

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

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.

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

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

View Grumpy's profile

Grumpy

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

View Douglas Krueger's profile

Douglas Krueger

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

View Scott Bryan's profile (online now)

Scott Bryan

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.

View Colin's profile

Colin

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"

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

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)

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11338 posts in 752 days


posted 585 days ago

Blake, that is an absolute beauty. Nice work. Now I have tool envy again.

View dlcarver's profile

dlcarver

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

View shiney5757's profile

shiney5757

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

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

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

View brunob's profile

brunob

1465 posts in 1047 days


posted 585 days ago

Beautiful. I’m going to add that to my favorites.

-- Bruce from Central New York

View Paul D's profile

Paul D

2125 posts in 626 days


posted 585 days ago

Cool box Blake. I really like the Zebrawood top.

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

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"

View fredf's profile

fredf

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

View Peter O's profile

Peter O

1005 posts in 752 days


posted 584 days ago

Wow, that is really cool and beautiful!

-- http://www.north40custom.com -- http://north40studios.etsy.com --

View Marco Cecala's profile

Marco Cecala

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.

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

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) †

View trifern's profile

trifern

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.

View DannyBoy's profile

DannyBoy

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/

View blackcherry's profile

blackcherry

711 posts in 701 days


posted 584 days ago

Nice design and craftmanship…Blkcherry

View bfd's profile

bfd

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

View jude's profile

jude

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.

View CedarFreakCarl's profile

CedarFreakCarl

562 posts in 932 days


posted 584 days ago

Excellent, Blake! as usual….....

-- Carl Rast, Pelion, SC

View RobS's profile

RobS

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

View DAN 's profile

DAN

6396 posts in 861 days


posted 584 days ago

top shelf !

-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View GMoney's profile

GMoney

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

View SPalm's profile

SPalm

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

View kenn's profile

kenn

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

View Nils's profile

Nils

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

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1700 posts in 758 days


posted 584 days ago

great looking box blake

View Bradford's profile

Bradford

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.

View Copperjock's profile

Copperjock

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!

View davidtheboxmaker's profile

davidtheboxmaker

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.

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View Gary's profile

Gary

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

View Todd A. Clippinger's profile

Todd A. Clippinger

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

View Blake's profile

Blake

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

View WoodRx's profile

WoodRx

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!

View Don's profile

Don

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/

View gator9t9's profile

gator9t9

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."

View Dennis Zongker's profile

Dennis Zongker

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
Click for details

-- Dennis Zongker

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