A box for my wood collection

Gary: A great collection. Great looking box.

I might have a few variety’s that you don’t have. Send you your mail address.

Karson

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Great box Gary. I’m always interested in the details of construction for boxes so, if you want to post more, I’ll sure read it and enjoy it.

Do the three groupings in your list have a meaning? How did you do the small grid? How many samples do I need to send to get you to alphabatize the wood samples, or is there another logic being used? ;-)

Jim

-- Jim

I got lots of different kinds plywood and particle board you can have. I noticed you don’t have that on your list. Just kidding.

-- Greatness is not found in possessions, power, position, or prestige. It is discovered in goodness, humility, service, and love.

Awesome box Gary! I didn’t see purpleheart or Giant Sequioa on your list. PM me if you want samples.

-- --Chuck

Very nice box Gary. Would be great to trade a few pieces of Aussie wood but customs might be a bit of a hurdle.

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

Beautiful Box!! I can’t wait to read your blog on how you constructed the box.

Exquite detail and design on your box. Please do Blog on box. Thanks for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Gary,

This is simply beautiful. I really appreciate the “engineering” effort that went into this. I particularly like the maple accents in the box and the crisp edge profile. You know that there will be an overwhelming chorus of yea votes on the blog and I am sure you will be deluged with wood offers. I don’t think that any of us have a collection of wood as extensive as Karson’s but I do have some brazillian cherry, cherry, sassafras and coffee tree that aren’t on your list. If you would like me to send you some pieces just let me know.

The empty slots are just begging to be filled. :)

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

Gary, what more could I add. I look through the posting SEVERAL times a day looking for some thing else. Well here it is. That, as everyone else has said, is a beautiful box. But mere words can’t describe what it makes me feel when I see something that. I think lumberjocks should give you a prize for “Most successful empowerment posts”. Truly another inspiring project. Young (at heart) woodworkers need to see projects like this to see what is out in the world of woods. I believe lumberjocks needs to add a thesaurus to the page to help describe the emotions, thoughts and words that come to mind. Thanks for another “Ginormous” Project.

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

Dat der is a bee-you-tee-full box, and quite a collection of samples. The detail is fantastic and unique. You have an eye for the uncommon and special in design and execution. Remarkably well done. I guess the real question is, have you used all those woods?

-- If at first you don't succeed, try again. Then quit. No use being a darn fool about it.

Wow! The box alone is awesome. The wood collection is a great idea and a fantastic way to organize it. You have take your craft to a whole new level.

-- Dave _-^-_ Baltimore, MD

That’s awfully close to the best work you have shown us Gary.
I really like the detail.
Please do blog the technique.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

Gary, this a beautiful piece of work. Also quite a collection. Most of them I have never heard of.
Thanks for posting.
Dave

-- Dave Leitem,Butler,Pa.,http://dlcarver.etsy.com

Great job on the box Gary. I would be interesting in reading your blog on it.

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA

Some of us really do have too much time on our hands. <g>

Absolutely beautiful box, Gary! It’s great to have your own identification kit rather than having to rely on photos or the internet.

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

That is a Beautiful box. Great Job!!

-- -- Remember, a chip on the shoulder is a sure sign of a woodturner.

That is a great idea, to be be able to have something to show customers when they come in and know very little or nothing about wood. you can always pull this out and show them samples.
Great design too.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

Nice job Gary,
I actually am planning to build something small for a bottle cap collection. I don’t think it will come out anywhere near this nice, but it’s cool to see how people build things to display their collections.

That’s cool Gary. Do you label the samples on the ends?

-- North Texas

Beautiful box Gary, love the detail you put in with the different wood choices and the interesting scallop like shaping of the box. Another fine piece of work!

Curious about one of the woods you have a sample of, and that is Dogwood. I have cut Dogwood with my chainsaw before and found it to be a very hard wood. There is a dead Dogwood in the yard behind me. Thought about cutting it down and experimenting a bit. I am limited in my knowledge and experience with woodworking. I have done a tabletop in Purpleheart. I thought Dogwood might be similar in hardness and workability to the Purpleheart. Any thoughts or comments on working with Dogwood?
Thanks, I always enjoy looking at your work.

-- The Christian Home is the Master's workshop, where the processes of character molding are silently, lovingly, faithfully, and successfully carried on.

Gary, that’s a great box and I for one would certainly like to see a blog showing how to make it. There’s lots of features there as well as the maple inserts. Great job.

Gary, Your just to darn good! Beautiful work and good idea on the wood samples. I would be interested in knowing more on this and will be looking forward to your blog.
Thanks for the post.
Jim

-- A duck that brags on his own pond, soon swims alone.

Nice work!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- There is no such thing as a mistake....just a design modification

Great box. I love the top.

-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.

Very nice Gary!!... I’m never dissapointed… Please do the blog, I’m very interested!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)

Wow! Count my vote in for the blog. I’d love to see how you went about that box. As someone above said, you really do have an eye for including just the right details. And your execution of those details looks to be perfection itself. Bravo.

Kerry

-- Alberta, Canada

Gary, I love your “Box Wood Wood Box.” As for the construction method, I think I’ve got it figured out, because it looks like the same technique you used here:

You are so clever and inventive. This box is brilliant and beautiful. You are coming up with some great designs to put that unique technique to use.

You are going to quickly run out of space for samples though! There are lots of species out there. One thing you might try is using a fine point white-out pen (I’ve seen them in some art stores) for writing on the dark species. The contrast would make the lettering stand out. But this is an awesome idea—collecting wood species.

Jeez, this is cool man (as always)... Great job.

-- Dust collectors suck.

Thanks for all your great comments.

Outputter – The wood is organized by color. Light to Dark. I had to do it someway.

Blake – Same principal but different technique. I have been look for a white ink pen. Thanks.

I will post a blog later today about how I built the box.

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

once again Gary you’ve left all of us dumbstruck! great job and keep up the amazing work!

Ah ha! I think I get it. You cut the coves on the tablesaw, then flip the board and cut grooves the length of the board, deep enough that they emerge from the coves. Close?

Kerry

-- Alberta, Canada

Kerry – Check my blog on it. All is reveiled.

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

Wow truely amazing work! I wont even begin to try and figure this one out. I will be looking at the blog shortly. Great job!!!

-- The tragedy of life does not lie in not reaching your goals, the tragedy of life lies in not having goals to reach for.

I had the inside track on the construction of this one and I’m still just blown away at the complexity and creativity of your design. I can definitely see why you wanted a 3D model of this. Your work rises beyond craftsman, beyond artisan, to true artist Gary. All that and your willingness to share makes you one of the true standouts of this community. I wish you were closer…i’d like to shake your hand.

-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org

Your technique is absolutely amazing. We loved your blog as well. What we can’t figure out is: Does Texas have 30-hour days and 8-day weeks? (since everything IS bigger in Texas) . . . Or where do you find the time to make such incredible creations and make 6600+ posts. You must use your time more efficiently than most!

We love how you exposed both sides of the canarywood top. The inside looks as special as the outside. We love how you contrasted the woods.

We didn’t notice any wormy red oak on your list. That’s our primary wood here! Since you’ve already gotten a great offer for particleboard and plywood, the only other we could offer would be pegboard (1/8” AND 1/4”) . . . and possibly bass and butternut. Wisconsin has white oak, too, but I don’t know if it’s any different than your southern white oak. Let us know if you’re interested.

-- child of the King, Ephesians 5:22

Gary

Got some elm, yellowheart and spanish cedar scraps for your collection.

Regards

DAN

-- a legend in my own mind ...

Good idea and very well done. Many years ago I brought a set of sample woods and they are still in the cardboard box they were shipped in. I have always wanted to make a box for them along with an info sheet. It wooks like there are about 132 slots. Is that what you wanted or is that just the way it worked out for the size of the box and the size of the samples? It sounds like it will not be long uptill you are going to fill up those slots from other LumberJocks.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

Gary,

I had to come back for another look at this.

Something has been bothering me about this post. I just couldn’t figure out what it was. While mowing the grass last night, in an epiphany of sorts, it occurred to me that you didn’t mention how you finished it!!!!

I was so enamored with the appearance of the box that I completely forgot about the finish, which is uncharacteristic of me. So how did you finish it?

And, out of curiosity, what are its dimensions?

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

I like the whole thing, the idea the design and execution. Very neat (shoot me a p.m., I could probably fill a couple slots ?)

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

Awesome box, Great idea for showing your wood collection . I would agree with the others I would enjoy you doing a blog about your construction of the box. One of my favorite things on L.J.’s is the way people use there god given ability to “Think outside the box”( No pun intended but should be!)
The thought process of how to make this, and what it’s purpose is for and why you wanted too etc. I think is the whole idea of showing your wood in a beautiful hand constructed box made by you brings the art into the project to a whole different level.
I love that!
Great work
PEACE!!!

-- Allison, Northeastern Ca. Remember, Amateurs built the Ark, Professionals built the Titanic!

For those of you who haven’t seen it yet, here is the blog on how I did it.

http://lumberjocks.com/jocks/GaryK/blog/4527

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

Beautiful work Gary and very nice selection of wood .

-- John in Cranbrook http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2

Gary:

I’ve got a box full of wood for you.

Curly Beech, White Pine, Aromatic red cedar, Goncals Alves, Snakewood, Lignam Vitae, Spalted maple, Desert Ironwood, Paduke, Butternut, Blackwood, Ambrosia maple, River Willow, Hickory, Cedar Cypress, Aromatic Red cedar, Osage Orange, Sapale firgured, Zircote, Pink Ivory, Sasafrass, Mineral Popular, Zebrano (Zebra Wood), Palm, Redheart, Kingwood, Chechem, Spruce, Macacubba, Cypress, cherry, Curly Cherry, Western Cedar, Smokewood Bush.

A little history on some of the woods. The Smokewood bush was from a bush in my front yard, It had a couple of dead branches and when I cut it off it had the most beautiful yellow streaked wood. I true beauty. The tips of the branches have a furry cluster of something that makes it look like smoke.

The River Willow almost had all of the trees cut down for wood following the Second World War. The wood is a flesh colored pink and the wood was used to make artificial limbs for the soldiers after the war.

The Desert ironwood comes from the desert of Arizona and Mexico. It is illegal to harvest the tree if it is still alive. Only dead trees can be harvested and a federal permit is required, I believe. This wood has the most beautiful shine when sanded and polished. makes beautiful pens. I have a carved Porpoise that my daughter brought back from Caba for me.

The mineral popular is from a tree that I got the whole log. The stump was jet black and the boards were 24” wide when i got them. They dried to 22 1/2” The Goncalo Alves I call a no finish wood. I just sand it and it’s own finish appears after a few days. the oils in the wood come to the surface and that is all you need.

The Cedar Cypress wood. Cedar keeps it’s leaves in the winter, Cypress does not. The cedar cypress keeps it leaves and it has a slight cedar smell, but it has the oiliness surface that is present in cypress. It’s a great outdoor wood. Was used for shingles in early Colonial America in this area.

I sent a piece of wood that the sawmill guy thought it might be Pin Oak, but it is an amorality.

I wrote about it in a topic

I also sent a piece of cork. It’s wood but the bark.

You should get ahold of BlueStingrayboots for some Mesquite and his Texas Ebony

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Gary:

I also sent you a piece that I’ve called Yellow Birch. See if it matches the one that you have. The sawmill owner thought that was what it was.

Thanks

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Thanks for drawing my attention to this masterpiece, Garry. As some may recall, I just love small wooden boxes – so it’s great to wake up this late Autumn morning in Oz to read about this beauty.

-- CanuckDon "I just love small wooden boxes!" http://www.canterburybaptist.org/

Karson – That will almost double my collection. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it.

I’ll take some pictures of the Yellow Birch side by side and post them for you.

I had a friend that worked in a lumber mill and he gave me most of the native american wood.
That’s how I knew some of the exact names like “Pacific Coast Birch”.

Thanks again

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

Really I tried to double it but there were a couple of boards that I wasn’t able to find.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Great project! Great collection! Thanks for sharing! The blog details are great.

-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"

Way cool, Gary. You made me hunt for my ancient Constantine’s veneer sampler that I have around here somewhere. They used to put them together in a box that had almost a hundred species in it. Hmmmmmm…... where did I put that thing…

always,
J.C.

P.S. I’ll check my chunks and see if I have anything you don’t or haven’t been offered yet and let you know. I do have some stuff from here in FL too. Great way to show off the chunks too. Nice work, mon ami.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

jcees – I remember when they sold those. The most you can get now is 50 samples.

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

Beautiful Box!!

-- jeanmarc manosque france

What a great looking box!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

Scott – the dimensions are 15” wide, 11” deep and 5” tall. The finish is nothing more than a satin oil poly.

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

Great idea Gary.

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

Gary:

I failed to get the box to the Posr Office today, So I went back into the shop and found three more species.

Black Locust, White Oak Burl, Chakte Viga or Paela.

Hope I don’t forget it tomorrow or I’ll have to keep looking for more wood. All of the Bing Cherry wood I’ve cut up into pen pieces. I’ll see if I can find a piece of Big Leaf Maple Burl like I used for this box for my wife.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

Gary,

What a beautiful box! I love the concept of building a box to store and keep a record set of wood samples. This is something that I will have to add to my favorites.

-- bfd, Folsom, CA

Karson – Take your time. Another week and you should have enough to fill my box! :-)

You are marking the name on the samples aren’t you?

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

GaryK, a beautiful box and a remarkable collection of wood. Sandlewood and Burma Teak are missing
Sharad

-- patanjali

Gary, this is awesome!! I especially love the edges! Is the construction method on your blog? This is exceptional!! Great job!!

-- Matt, Houston Texas

I’d like to thank Karson, Scott Bryan and BertJ for doubling the amout of wood samples listed above.
The box is now 2/3’s full.

Here is an addition to the list above.

Thanks again Guys!

Jatoba
Coffee Bean
Sassafras
Spalted Maple
Butternut
Black Locust
Pink Ivory
Zircote
Macacauba
Cork
Zebrano
Curly Cherry
Curly Beech
Cechen
Western Red Cedar
Eastern Red Cedar
Red Heart
Desert Ironwood
Cypress
Mineral Poplar
River willow
Chakte Viga
Goncalo Alves
Palm
Osage Orange
Hickory
Kingwood
Aspen
Lyptus
Ambrosia Maple
Spruce
White Pine
Lignum Vitae
Sycamore
Cherry
Blackwood
Snakewood
Smoke Wood Bush
Pin Oak

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

It has all been said before …but that is so nice ….oh man …nice job Gary ….! First thing it reminded me of was that TV show ….DEXTER …...I say that in jest of course …Wow You never cease to amaze me …

Thanks so much for the brain of GaryK

-- 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."

Gary, I’d love to see additional pictures of this box once you’ve added all the new wood samples you’ve received, I imagine it’s quite the sight to behold!

-- Looking for free wood working plans? Visit us at www.AwlFreePlans.com