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It has been a long time since I've posted a project but I have been doing a lot of woodworking. And along with good friend and woodworking buddy Ellen 35, we put our handiwork in 5 craft fairs last year. This project represents some new work and new twists on a past project…

Thanks to the posting of the bow box project published in the American Woodworker magazine by LJ buddy Lenny, I was inspired to try the project myself last year. I was happy with the results back then and I wanted to now try my own modifications. I increased the size and depth of the box, made the top a raised panel, used a router bit to cut the groove for the hinge, and cut the box apart with my bandsaw instead of the table saw.

Just before starting this project, Ellen & I decided to try our hand at making our own inlay banding. We found out why they charge so much for the store-bought banding! It was a lot of work but we had fun and got a few different designs completed. The "barber pole" design caught my eye as a good one to use to make the ribbon and bow for this project. I ripped a few strips for the 3/16" ribbon and left a 2" wide by 3/4" thick chunk to cut out the bow pieces. The inlay was made from maple, walnut and mahogany and the body of the box is maple. After final sanding, the project was sealed with dewaxed shellac followed by 2 coats of water-based poly.

Thanks for looking and comments are welcome.

Gallery

Comments

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I can attest to the challenge that making the inlay banding presents!
This box looks great! You really have to touch it to believe that the bow is wood. it looks very realistic.
Very nice work.
Ellen
 

· In Loving Memory
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That is just amazing! The edge banding ribbon is pretty special and your craftsmanship appears flawless. Also a perfect wood combination IMHO.
 

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That came out Beautifully Lorna!!
Very, very Well Done my Friend!!
 

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Looks real nice Lorna. I can see where making that ribbon is a lot of work…not to mention all the twists and turns it makes.
 

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Awesome job!
 

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wow Lorna, you really nailed this one, its really fantastic looking, its one fine dandy box, and it even has a ribbon to keep all things in the box..very very nice…
 

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time to practice your 'high five'
dance and jump lorna

very nice work
 

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Yes, I had to look real close, I was sure it was a nice box with a cloth ribbon on it.
Great work! Keep posting Lorna. I'd love to see more
 

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WOW! Fantastic work! Love it!
 

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This is a beautiful box. I can't imagine the work that goes into that banding for the bow. impressive!!
 

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Lorna, nice work. I like the extra effort on the banding of the ribbon. I don't know if the raised panel is a plus or minus, but it does add interest to the design. This represents a lot of work and is really eye grabbing. Nice mortise on the hinge. Did you use this method?

That looks like an interesting hinge. What is it and who makes it? Did you make some internal works such as a tray to go with this excellent exterior design?

Keep boxing and keep posting.
 

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As Dick Enberg (Sportcaster) might say: "OH MY!!" This is a beautiful rendition Lorna. I applaud your application of artistic license. Regarding the banding, you put in the time and you reaped the benefits. It's gorgeous. I will be sending an e-mail to you as I have several questions. I've made a number of these boxes since my original post and I have at least six more to make for "customers". I too increased the size of the boxes. Again, fantastic job Lorna. This is definitely a Daily Top 3 in my opinion.
 

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That bow is the best yet!

What sources did you use in the learning process for the banding? I have been wanting to make some, but my last attempt failed miserably.
 

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Wow! now that's a gift wrapped box.
 

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What a great job! This is a realy beauty! Congrats and nice inlay you guys made.
 

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Just a beautiful box! The banding you made is great. You made the difficult look easy.
 

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Absolutely beautiful. I have made 2 ribbon boxes but nothing that nice. I would love to know how you did the "barber pole" design on the ribbon. Please keep up the good work as it is truly an inspiration for me try different things.
 

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I have absolutely no idea how you did the bow. You should make a video.that's so impressive!
 

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Thank you all for your positive comments! I'm truly grateful and overwhelmed that my project made it to the top 3 today. And I certainly appreciate all the information & inspiration I get from this LJ site.

Ellen & I used the internet to get blogs on making inlay banding and we are going to be making some more of this banding. This time we'll take some pictures and post a blog at a later date. It would be hard to explain the procedure without pictures to show.
 
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