Project Information
Thanks, to all who take time to look at projects. I always enjoy reading and replying to questions and comments from you out there in Lumberland. There is a list of tutorials on specific techniques at the end of this posting. I will respond to all who "have your say" in the next 24 hours. So check back for feedback.
Pictured: A small jewelry keeper (8" x 6" x 6 1/2"). The top, tray and internal rails are made from a Mango tree that grew in a friend's yard in Florida. The sides are from a White Ash tree that grew in Southern Indiana. The corner splines are from a Black Walnut tree that grew in the Knobs area of Southern Indiana.
The tray has a cloth liner and White Ash corner splines. The dividers are made from recycled wooden Venetian blinds.
This is the third and final box commissioned in this size and format for a customer who wanted these to give to relatives as gifts. To my eye, the color tones in the White Ash and walnut help to bring out similar colors in the Mango.
Focus, Wood Swaps: Lumberjock Tim, who lives in Florida, suggested that it might be fun to swap some local woods. Tim and I each sent some wood on the same day, and it was like Christmas waiting to see what would come in the mail. (Hence the posting title "Mangoed Mail") It might be fun for others out there in Lumberland to try. We certainly had fun swapping wood.
Shipping: Tim and I found that the United States Post Offices have a great deal. For just $12.35 you can send a 14 x 12 x 3 inch package of almost any weight to anywhere in the United States. It arrives in 2 or 3 days, the cardboard container is free, and tracking is free. No worries!
This Flat Rate Package is a great size for box sides, box tops, and small pieces of exotic wood. Planed down to 3/4 inches or so there is enough room to put the parts for 3 wooden boxes into one $12.35 Flat Rate cardboard package. As you can see, Tim sent me a fabulous piece of Mango to make this top.
See Below: For further tips on making boxes there are tutorials arranged by topics below. Just scroll and click.
Tutorials: For methods used to make a box like that pictured above just click on the blue links below. They are arranged by topic. The top topic on the list is new.
Combining Wood Colors:
Adding finger indents:
Mortising and installing hinges:
Cutting off the box top:
Adding splines to a box:
Making splines with a simple jig:
Making a jig to cut spline slots:
Measuring for spline slot cuts:
$5 band clamps:
Installing an attached top: like that pictured above.
Jig for 45ing corners:
Organizing a glue-up table:
Finishing tips:
Tips on making trays: for inside boxes:
Pictured: A small jewelry keeper (8" x 6" x 6 1/2"). The top, tray and internal rails are made from a Mango tree that grew in a friend's yard in Florida. The sides are from a White Ash tree that grew in Southern Indiana. The corner splines are from a Black Walnut tree that grew in the Knobs area of Southern Indiana.
The tray has a cloth liner and White Ash corner splines. The dividers are made from recycled wooden Venetian blinds.
This is the third and final box commissioned in this size and format for a customer who wanted these to give to relatives as gifts. To my eye, the color tones in the White Ash and walnut help to bring out similar colors in the Mango.
Focus, Wood Swaps: Lumberjock Tim, who lives in Florida, suggested that it might be fun to swap some local woods. Tim and I each sent some wood on the same day, and it was like Christmas waiting to see what would come in the mail. (Hence the posting title "Mangoed Mail") It might be fun for others out there in Lumberland to try. We certainly had fun swapping wood.
Shipping: Tim and I found that the United States Post Offices have a great deal. For just $12.35 you can send a 14 x 12 x 3 inch package of almost any weight to anywhere in the United States. It arrives in 2 or 3 days, the cardboard container is free, and tracking is free. No worries!
This Flat Rate Package is a great size for box sides, box tops, and small pieces of exotic wood. Planed down to 3/4 inches or so there is enough room to put the parts for 3 wooden boxes into one $12.35 Flat Rate cardboard package. As you can see, Tim sent me a fabulous piece of Mango to make this top.
See Below: For further tips on making boxes there are tutorials arranged by topics below. Just scroll and click.
Tutorials: For methods used to make a box like that pictured above just click on the blue links below. They are arranged by topic. The top topic on the list is new.
Combining Wood Colors:
Adding finger indents:
Mortising and installing hinges:
Cutting off the box top:
Adding splines to a box:
Making splines with a simple jig:
Making a jig to cut spline slots:
Measuring for spline slot cuts:
$5 band clamps:
Installing an attached top: like that pictured above.
Jig for 45ing corners:
Organizing a glue-up table:
Finishing tips:
Tips on making trays: for inside boxes: