| Project by Woodhacker | posted 4 days ago | 303 views | 3 times favorited | 14 comments |  |
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This is the second in a series of six of this style of box that I’m working on. This box, like the first I posted yesterday is derived from the plan found in Woodsmith Vol. 29 No. 174. This box was a birthday gift for the wife of one of my nephews. Her name is Brandy. I’m trying to make each of these unique and special, so this one has a “B” inlaid into the lid.
The box is basically the same construction I used in the first one I posted (at http://lumberjocks.com/projects/7441 ). The top, front and back are all curly maple. The sides on this box are Caribbean Rosewood. Until recently, I’d never even heard of this wood but saw it online at www.hardwoodemporium.com and decided to order some. I love this wood. It has a typical rosewood aroma, a very tight close grain and finishes very smooth. Very colorful too.
The inlay in the top is also Caribbean Rosewood. The base is hickory, but it’s covered inside with non-stretchable burgundy felt, since burgandy is her favorite color.
This box is finished with 9 coats of poly/oil blend with a final 1500 grit sanding. This was sufficient to fill all the grain pores…which is something I strive for when trying to create a very smooth finish. It always seems that sanding a recently cured finish softens it somewhat, so after the 1500 grit sanding I let it sit for several days before hand rubbing this one out with behlens buffer’s polish. For me this seems to be a key to getting a glass-smooth finish.
-- Martin, Kansas
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14 comments so far
GaryK
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7026 posts in 323 days
posted 4 days ago
Great looking box! I really like those bookmatched ends.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
trifern
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725 posts in 101 days
posted 4 days ago
Very nicely designed box and an excellent choice of wood. Thanks for the post.
-- Depend on the rabbit's foot if you will, but remember it didn't work for the rabbit.
Douglas Bordner
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2109 posts in 398 days
posted 4 days ago
Oddly I am working up a line of M&T boxes myself at the current moment, but they are stinkers compared to the work you have put out in this and the Dragon Box posts. Excellent work here. I think there is not a hint of woodhacking in evidence.
I just noticed that you are from my hometown of Topeka, KS (Topeka High School, class of ‘72). Nice to make your acquaintance.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
Scott Bryan
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6476 posts in 156 days
posted 4 days ago
Martin,
This is a beautiful box. You did a good job on the construction and wood selection. Nice finishing routine, as well. Too often we get to the finishing steps and then try to rush through this part in order to get the project completed.
Nice job and 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.
Les Hastings
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352 posts in 107 days
posted 4 days ago
Another excellent box Martin, keep up the great work!
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
dozer15
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11 posts in 56 days
posted 4 days ago
Great looking box i really like the design. I might have to find that issue of woodsmith.
-- i cut it twice and it is still to short
Dick Cain
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4159 posts in 634 days
posted 4 days ago
Beautiful!
I love the grain figure of the two woods.
Great craftsmanship.
-- Dick Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
jjohn
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317 posts in 48 days
posted 4 days ago
I gotta get some of that rose wood for myself. Beautiful work. Love the finish.
-- JJohn
TedM
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102 posts in 67 days
posted 4 days ago
Very nice combination of woods. They meld very well. Great job!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com
Todd A. Clippinger
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2047 posts in 434 days
posted 4 days ago
WOW!
Great work!
-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com
jockmike2
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2906 posts in 581 days
posted 3 days ago
Beautiful box no matter how you turn it. Nice colors and very nice inlay. I’d say your nephews will be very happy.
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
miles125
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790 posts in 340 days
posted 3 days ago
Wonderful box. I love the wood combinations.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
YorkshireStewart
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510 posts in 235 days
posted 2 days ago
Exquisite box Woodhacker & that Rosewood is a delight! I just wish I was a relative or friend of a Lumberjock with all these gifts being presented!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
USCJeff
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652 posts in 402 days
posted 19 hours ago
Nice work. How did you go about the inlay? Router Template? I like the font you chose for the “B”. I’ve done a couple “letter” inlays in the past that were really tough for me to keep accurate, so I’m interested in your method. All other aspects were great as well. And yeah, I like the rosewood variant as well.
-- Jeff, South Carolina