Frame/Panel Keepsake Box

Absolutely gorgeous box. That is one lucky sister.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

You didn’t go for the simple approach with that box did you Martin? There must be more than fifty components to shape and fit. A delightful result! Just two more sisters to please?

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems

that is a ridiculously amazing box!!!! Its so beautiful. I’m sure that when your sister wakes up to that box everyday all she can do is smile. Thanks for the post!

Excellent job Martin. You will probably make the other sisters envious.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Very nice box. Must go close to taking out the award for a box with the most parts. It works though!

-- Bob

Lovely box enjoy your timber contrast.dont worry about making small errors being able to cover them is what counts (as you have done) after all only you and the box know about them.Keep up the good work.

-- john,kiwi woody

very nice…i love the combination of woods…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

You’ve built a great looking box Martin, but for me, I love the keys in the miter joints. I can’t speak for everyone else, but I’d love to hear how you went about building this project….. maybe a blog or something…. (hint, hint)....... Thanks for the post.
JJ

-- JJ...... I guess you could say I'm a 54 year old "juniorjock". — Make things with wood.

Very striking design and great craftsmanship.

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

Martin,

You have designed and built a gorgeous box. You chose a nice combination of woods as well.

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.

Beautiful box! Great design and craftsmanship. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Totally impressive work of art !!! I must admit though that after looking at the first pic before reading the story , that with those crosses on it , I thought it may have been a box for crematory ashes of a loved one….oooops , my bad !!! The finish is incredible and I wish I could see it in person…..thanks for posting this : )

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

Wonderful job Martin … I especially love the crosses on the lid and the knob …

-- Lip's Dysfuncational Firewood Farm, South Bend, IN

Great job Martin. I’m with juniorjock – how about a blog on this one. I’ve recently taken delivery of some of the special bubinga from Rockler and am thinking of making a panel style box to show it off, so I’ve been looking very closely at your box. Thanks for the post.

looks fantastic

-- making sawdust....

Thanks to each of you for your interest and comments.

Dusty56 – I had to laugh reading yours…because now that you mentioned it…it does kind of look like a box for crematory ashes.

juniorjock & dantheboxmaker – OK Ive started working on the text for a blog and I have a few more pictures I’ll try to include. I’m pretty new on this site but I’ll try it and see what happens. If anyone has any pointers for “first time bloggers” I’d be happy to hear from you.

-- Martin, Kansas

Pointers (passed on to odie from Karson)

1. Use pictures (they do say 1000 words)

2. Use your word processor to get it perfect, then copy and paste it to your blog page. That way you can take you time getting it right instead of one long visit to your blog page.

3. Can I steal your box design ??? It’s bueatiful

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

Nice work. I like this one.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

This box is really nice.

How did you do the inlay on the top? Did you rout it out using a pattern and an inlay bushing or cut and fit by hand. If you are posting a blog, I would be really curious to understand that part.

-- Shawn, I ask in order to learn

SPHinTampa: Thanks for your comment. I just finished my blog and posted it then saw your comment here. I didn’t include this part in the blog. The inlays I do are typically done without patterns, templates, etc. I start with the inlay (ebony crosses in this case) I drew the pattern on the ebony and cut it out using a scroll saw. The ebony was about 3/16 inch thick when I started…so it’s more than just a veneer. Once all the edges of the inlay are smoothed with files/sanding I traced the inlay onto the maple panel using a very fine, sharp knife. I do this initially very lightly to ensure no slipping. Then I go over it again with firmer pressure to establish the outline in the maple. At that point I remove the inlay from the top (I usually use small pieces of double sided tape to keep in place for tracing). Then I freehand cut the recess interior using a trim router with a 1/8 inch bit, being very careful to keep inside the outline. The depth is about 1/8 inch deep so when the inlay is glued in place it’s slightly higher than the maple surface. Once the routing is done I resort to small chisels and flexcut gouges to clean out the remaining recess material from it’s perimeter. Much if this is done using a chisel or flexcut gouge pushing down vertically right on the outline…using whatever chisel or gouge best fits the coutour of the shape of the outline. The next step is dry fitting and making any minor adjustments to either the inlay or the recess until the inlay seats properly. I glue and clamp in place. For something this small I used CA glue and I always mix sawdust from the darker colored wood with the glue to hide any gaps that may be present. Once the glue is cured all that remains is to plane and/or sand smooth to the maple surface.

-- Martin, Kansas

Odie, thanks for the tips (and thanks to Karson). It looks like it worked! I used Word initially… that was/is a good idea….and yes…feel free to “steal” this design.

-- Martin, Kansas

Love the exploded view. I’ll have to remmeber to take those shots. They say so much about how things went down. Well done.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Very busy but it works oh sooooo good

-- Wood and Glass they kick (well you know) Have a great day - Dug

Another winner, Martin! As noted the easy path is not your path, and we are the more fortunate for that.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.