A Boxguy Can't Change His Stripes

These are way cool Al ,great job.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Thanks for detailing this procedure… it looks great… and unique…

-- Al H. - small shop, small projects...

High style, beautiful box Al. But the trays are the star of the show. I love the stripes and the way it trails over the top corner. I’m a little slow sometimes but after readin your directions about 4 times it fell into place. I’m gonna have to try that. Thanks

-- J.C.Sellers

I love the flair, at first I thought it was my eyesight. or the camera until I did a little reading. Once again the color is soft and warm and easy on the eye’s, I like that! The strip gives it a nice “attention to detail” feeling. For a 4 year old it looks like it’s been well cared for. It’s beautiful Al. Very nice work!
I hope your hip problem is solved soon! Get well my friend!
Tony

-- Tony C , My high school shop teacher said "You can do it"... Now I can't stop!

Hi Al, The shape is beautifully subtile. You give so much life trough the wood with your finishes, the trays also look really nice with the stripes.
I was wondering something. Sometimes it’s so hard to see where little bits of glue residue are, that even after sanding i start oiling, to see that there still were places where sandust or glue blocks the oil. How do you manage this?

-- -Thomas -

hey there al, this one really surprised me as i knew you were healing from hip surgery, i was thinking, man nothing holds this guy back, but i was fooled, but i love this box, the whole thing is really right on…very nice…now quit trying to fool us old wood workers, enjoy some healing time, this will be time for you to draw out some new designs and prepare to blow us away as you always do…grizz

-- GRIZZMAN ...[''''']

First Set of Responses:

Jim, thanks for the kind words. I am glad you liked this project.

Dusty, always nice to hear from you. This design does have some nice features. Some I have used again…some are unique to this box. The flair was nice, but took a ton of sanding. I may return to the stripe idea. I made a couple of boxes with stripes running across the top

Jim, I apologize that I had to do with words what would have been easier seen in photos. I just didn’t have any photos on hand and have to be away from the shop for a bit. Glad you were able to sort it out. Thanks for being patient with the explanation. Is there some part that I can make more clear?

Tony, Thanks for the thoughtful comments about the shape of this box. It is eye catching and the stripes are a nice surprise when you look inside.

On another note, I got my new metal hip and left the hospital 36 hours later. When we got home I walked in the house, climbed the stairs and went to bed. It wasn’t pretty, but I could do it. One week out and I don’t need to use a cane. This has all be a surprise to me. Of course I am sore, but I don’t have the pain I had before the new hip.

Thomas, thanks for noticing the subtle curves on this box. Now, about those glue spots. They are the bane of boxmaking. First, use thicker glue. It is much less messy to work with. I use Tightbond Molding and Trim Glue. Store it upside down. This is my set up for gluing boxes.

Now that we have talked about the glue itself, let me divide the solution. First, for inside the box. Second for the outside of the box.

Inside: since you have to final sand the inside before you assemble the box why not take the time to oil and put one urethane coat on the inside of the board you are going to use for the sides of the box? This is a sure way to avoid glue stain. Any glue will be on top of the finish. Most glue can be removed usually by scraping or you can coat over it with no stain. I have built up a stock of 20 or 30 boards of various woods that are final sanded, dadoed, and have a coat of finish. It is really nice to just pick up one of these and start making a box. They seem to fly together. I take a day to plane, size, dado, sand, and coat boards 10 or 12 at a time. All your 45ed corners will be clean-sawn and will hold glue well.

Don’t want to wait? I have gotten better at wiping the inside of the 45s with my finger to minimize squeeze-out. For glued on tops, I keep a small bladed screwdriver handy. If there is squeeze-out when I tighten the band clamp I wait about 10-15 min. until the glue gets half set and is tacky. I then carefully scrape the inside joint with the screwdriver blade. Start in about 2 inches and draw upwardly. Wipe the blade clean. Then go to 3 inches and draw upwardly. Wipe the blade clean. Don’t wipe it with a wet towel. It spreads the glue around and makes a mess.

Outside: After glue-up I start using my random orbital sanders. It seems harsh, but I will use 80-100 grit and a light touch on the outside to start with. It saves time overall because it removes any accidental glue touches, and cleans away glue left from splines. It also removes any tool marks left by routing corners or saws. Think of this grit as a carving grit to shape and sculpt the edges and corners. Then move through 120, 220, 600. Use good light. If there are any glue spots you see…back up a grit and re-sand.

Lastly, if you apply finish and see a spot. Man up. Let the finish dry, take the box back to the shop and sand the spot away by hand or with an orbital sander. Do better on the next coat.

Grizz, thanks for the concern. Doc says to keep moving. I have been walking and doing my prescribed exercises. One week out and I have ditched the cane and am doing fine. I still don’t trust myself to work around tools yet…so I thought a posting or two would be fun and help me keep my hand it the game. My next post is one I have been saving back. I think you’ll like it. You take care as well. Keep boxing and keep posting.

-- Big Al in IN

Al,

I really like your method of inserting the stripe. I hope to try it some day. (One more item on my to-do list!)

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

L/W

-- Jesus is the ONLY reason for ANY season.

Another fine performance, Al.Nicely done.

-- From such crooked wood as that which man is made of, nothing straight can be fashioned. Immanuel Kant

glad you got the box back, to photo it for all to see!

nice work as always, I cant wait to finish my shop upgrades and make some more boxes. as always your work is inspirational.

-- The Box Whisperer

You are the boxguy, Al. The way you did those inner trays is really flashy and very kool. Actually, everything you do is very kool. I appreciate your “how-to” do a lot of the things that you do.

-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Kentuk55@bellsouth.net

Nice. Let me reassure you that the new hip will be a vast improvement over all that pain. I celebrated the 2 year anniversary of my new hip last November. My biggest issue with it: airport security delays. Just remember to do what your PT tells you to do, and get strong.

-- Whatever

Nice job Boxguy:
As always I look forward to your tutorials as I am sure the box makers among us do. again TNX

-- Bruce. a mind is like a book it is only useful when open.

Al, really cool box. Love the stripes. I’ve made a couple little things with stripes, but never around corners like that. Impressive.

Oh, and I LOVE this comment:
Lastly, if you apply finish and see a spot. Man up. Let the finish dry, take the box back to the shop and sand the spot away by hand or with an orbital sander. Do better on the next coat.

So true. How many times I’ve put the first coat of finish on something, seen a bad spot, and sat there trying to convince myself it wouldn’t matter. It always does! I laughed at that comment.

-- -- Don from PA