Project Information
Pictured: A walnut and oak box designed to hold all the tools needed to accurately cut cloth or leather to fit inside boxes. It is about 2 1/2'L x 2'W x 3''H. On the top is a self-healing, ruled, rubber mat designed to let you use a rotary cutting wheel and wide plastic ruler to cut cloth accurately. These tools were actually designed to cut out pieces of cloth for making quilts and are available at sewing centers and cloth stores. The steel rule is used to get accurate measurements of the cloth size needed.
The goal is to add a cloth liner to the box or tray inside the box.
The Box
The Slot: The wide, see-through ruler slides inside and is inserted into a slot much like the one used to insert floppy discs into a dated computer. The finger indents above and below this end of the box let you get a grip on the end of the wide ruler and pull it out. These wide rulers are useful for two reasons. First you can get your fingers out of the way when you are using the rotary cutter. Second, you can align the marks on the ruler with the grid on the mat and get a perfectly straight, square cut on the cloth.
The Drawer: This is cloth lined over a plywood cutout of the tools. The cutouts are slightly over sized to leave room for the cloth. This drawer holds the rotary cutter and the scissors.
The Handle: This lets me move an awkwardly-sized box easily, and set the it out of the way and on the floor when I am not using it. The handle is made of some plumbing fittings painted black. (Note: I included further construction details in answer to Joe's question below.)
If all has gone well, it should look something like this.
Critique: This simple box helps me keep my tools for making box liners organized and in one place. Time spent wandering around the shop looking for tools to do the job is time wasted, and is frustrating. If you have everything you need at hand and ready, the work goes more smoothly and pleasantly. A rotary cutter, mat, wide ruler, and scissors are a necessity if you are going to get cloth or leather to fit exactly inside a box or tray. I like to use a wide variety of cloth and colors to pick up the look of my jewelry boxes. It helps sales and attracts the eye. Most Lumber Jocks prefer the look of all wood, many customers don't, and softer surfaces keep scratches off jewelry.
Thanks: As always thanks to all of you in Lumber Land who take time to look at this project. A special thanks to those who go to the trouble to make comments and suggestions. Your support in making this a "Top Three" is a real boost and keeps me going on my projects and postings thanks again to all in Lumber Land.
The goal is to add a cloth liner to the box or tray inside the box.
The Box
The Slot: The wide, see-through ruler slides inside and is inserted into a slot much like the one used to insert floppy discs into a dated computer. The finger indents above and below this end of the box let you get a grip on the end of the wide ruler and pull it out. These wide rulers are useful for two reasons. First you can get your fingers out of the way when you are using the rotary cutter. Second, you can align the marks on the ruler with the grid on the mat and get a perfectly straight, square cut on the cloth.
The Drawer: This is cloth lined over a plywood cutout of the tools. The cutouts are slightly over sized to leave room for the cloth. This drawer holds the rotary cutter and the scissors.
The Handle: This lets me move an awkwardly-sized box easily, and set the it out of the way and on the floor when I am not using it. The handle is made of some plumbing fittings painted black. (Note: I included further construction details in answer to Joe's question below.)
If all has gone well, it should look something like this.
Critique: This simple box helps me keep my tools for making box liners organized and in one place. Time spent wandering around the shop looking for tools to do the job is time wasted, and is frustrating. If you have everything you need at hand and ready, the work goes more smoothly and pleasantly. A rotary cutter, mat, wide ruler, and scissors are a necessity if you are going to get cloth or leather to fit exactly inside a box or tray. I like to use a wide variety of cloth and colors to pick up the look of my jewelry boxes. It helps sales and attracts the eye. Most Lumber Jocks prefer the look of all wood, many customers don't, and softer surfaces keep scratches off jewelry.
Thanks: As always thanks to all of you in Lumber Land who take time to look at this project. A special thanks to those who go to the trouble to make comments and suggestions. Your support in making this a "Top Three" is a real boost and keeps me going on my projects and postings thanks again to all in Lumber Land.