Benge and Horse Chestnut Box

Very nice. “Horse chestnut” is a new one on me.Guess it’s Google time

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

That is a beautiful box. I really like the lid.

I remember that the spiked shells of Horse Chestnuts were a popular weapon when I was a child.

The etymology on Wikipedia is great:
The common name “horse-chestnut” (often unhyphenated) is reported as having originated from the erroneous belief that the tree was a kind of chestnut (though in fact only distantly related), together with the observation that eating the fruit cured horses of chest complaints despite this plant being poisonous to horses.

-- I was walking down the street, something caught my eye, and dragged it 15 feet.

SWEET! Nice wood and nice work.

-- Robert, so much inspiration here, and so little time!

Love it. Great job

-- Mother Nature created it, I just assemble it. - It's not ability that we often lack, but the patience to use our ability

Elegant! What is horse-chestnut like to work with?

-- M Clark, Georgia

Bill, nice work. I like the top and sides. I especially appreciate that you took time to build a tray and dividers…Pretty stuff. You might enjoy this link to a tutorial. It is about hinges. and the mortise..

-- Big Al in IN

Gorgeous box! Like the design, the wood is beautiful and the finish.

Thanks for all the comments. The horse chestnut was easy to work with, fairly hard wood. I especially enjoy putting together woods that compliment one another. I like the way the benge picks up the dark parts of the horse chestnut top.

-- Calgary Bill

I’ve never seen ‘figured’ horse chestnut before. I have used it in past projects but you don’t see it for sale much. I liked the way it carves and finishes. I really like the overall look of your box. Great combination of woods.

-- I just got done cutting three boards and all four of them were too short. (true story)

This is the first piece of horse chestnut I’ve used. I picked it up about 8 or 9 years ago at the Calgary Woodworking Show and finally found the right place to use it. A fellow from Ontario had cut and milled some lumber and brought it to the show to sell. I also picked up a piece of mulberry and another of honey locust.

Bill

-- Calgary Bill