Jap. Style Box - 2nd Attempts

Looks like more than an attempt to me. I don’t know if it’s just the picture, but the one on the left in the
center picture doesn’t look square to me.

The other looks great though.

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

Just a camera angle thing as far as the lid being square. The lids are not attached to the box. It looks out of square because the box is hiding part of the top b/c of the angle of the photo. The front right corner is off by an 1/8” or so. I didn’t notice the shift as I tightened the clamps.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Ryan,

In my guesstimation the darker legs are due to the wood grain being more open as a byproduct of the sculpting. This creates a more porous surface when it comes to absorbing the oil finish.

Then again, it could have been the way you were holding your mouth while applying the oil.

-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles

Hi Jeff,

These are very nice looking boxes. You are becoming an expert in these. I am sure you have two more happy customers. The cherry box looks fine to me but some complementary wood, such as maple, would have added some visual interest to it. I think that because it is monochromatic you tend to favor the other one.

I wish I could help you with your observation about the legs but why they absorbed more of the oil and poly I really don’t know. Normally sanding to a higher grit will help even out the natural adsorption by the end grain. But in any case it does add some visual interest to the box.

Nice job.

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

Hi Jeff, very nice boxes, the curves add interest and draw the viewers eye. I like the complementary woods option the best. Tell me though, how are the side panels joined to the legs? Many thanks Colin

-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"

Great looking boxes, Jeff. A little better than an attempt I think.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

These are a couple of nice boxes. Good work.

-- Maplewood, MN

Very nice boxes Jeff. Great job!

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

Colin, The corners are glued butt joints. This is obviously the weakest of all joints, but I felt it would be adequate given the use. If you look at Ryan’s original, he went a different way. He mitered the sides initially and then cut away a square to accept the legs. This not only would be stronger, it would have eliminated my alignment issue as well. I’ll confess since you asked, there are two brads used on the walnut box (I know, the shame!). I wanted to use small biscuits and will next time, but the smallest I had in the shop at the time was 10’s. The brads helped to hold the sides while clamping. Ironically, the box with the 2 brads is out of square. The woodworking god’s must be punishing me for cheating. :)

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Thanks Dig-Dug. I’ll buy your explanation. It seems feasible. I also wondered if the end grain distributed more stain throughout by absorbong the oils deeper into the wood via it’s natural strawlike makeup.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

USCJeff,

I like the darker color on the end grain!

You might be able to control absorption a little better by applying some shellac on the end grain prior to applying anything else. As an alternative, you might try also going to a higher grit; this may reduce the darkening some, but not entirely.

I believe the contrast is a nice bonus!

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

Are you sure the legs are really darker, or do they just appear to be darker because the light hits the grain from a different angle? I’ve seen that effect before.

They are very nice boxes. For the record, I like the all-cherry one best.

After reading Gary’s comment I went back and looked. It may be an optical illusion, but the box on the left (the box NOT the lid) really does look trapezoidal.

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

Jeff,

Your sister and mother will be very pleased and proud. You did a good job on each and they are pieces that will long be remembered.

Mark

-- Mark

Nice Work Mark :)

The reason the legs are darker is because you are looking mostly at end-grain. As you cut the scallops out of the leg, you are actually exposing the end-grain on an angle. Some time in bright sunlight will cause the colours to even out though.

Cheers,

Ryan

-- If you can't set a good example, at least serve as a horrible warning... www.rarewoodcreations.com

Yeah Charlie, definitely a trapezoid on the left box. You can really tell since the front sides attach to the legs at slightly different spots. Gotta remember to recheck after tightening the clamps next time. I think I’ll make some small right angle braces for the future or perhaps choose a better joinery method.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Don’t feel bad. I make a lot of boxes, and I don’t think one has been dead square yet. <g>

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

Jeff,

Try turning the box vertical and see how the posts look then. I’ve seen stiles and rails from the same board look different due to the orientation. Apparently the relflective properties of the grain change with the orientation.

-- Greg, CT

Very Nice Jeff. I really like this style! I especially like the cherry.

Thanks for posting.

-- Martin, Kansas