| Project by Woodhacker | posted 1784 days ago | 4045 views | 18 times favorited | 34 comments |  |
 |
This box was an experiment with double (or inlay) dovetails.
The woods used in this box are:
Front/Back – Honduras rosewood
Sides – Caribbean rosewood (this wood has incredible change in color…light-to-dark…with even the sliightest change in viewing angle, as it’s turned in your hand, the constant color change reminds me of waves on the ocean)
Top – cebil
Base – hickory
Inlay & Top Centerpiece – birdseye maple.
Feet – cocobolo
The dovetails in this box were all cut by hand. If you’d like, you can see the steps for this process at this blog which I posted several weeks back. To summarize this process, there are two unique aspects of this joinery, (1) cutting a rabbet at the inside of each end of the four sides of the box, and (2) cutting dovetails within dovetails after making the box once, cutting it apart, then doing it all over again.
The top was cut apart in three pieces such that adding two strips of maple would align with the maple inlay dovetail at each corner. This somewhat gives the appearance that the inlay dovetail maple extends across the top and down the opposing corner.
The lid has two sets of bevels on top (including the maple centerpiece) and two sets of “coffer” underneath. The coffer was for aesthetics but also to reduce the weight of the lid. This box is very heavy for its size. I bordered the initial coffer in maple to set it off.
The dimensions are 10” by 7.5”. The hinge is a piano style 95 degree stop hinge.
The lid handle is attached with a small 1/8” by 1 ½” mortise/tenon joint. The handle’s ends are trimmed at the same 1:8 ratio angle as used in the dovetails.
The finish is an initial oil coat, followed by 11 coats of satin wipe-on poly/oil blend. Sanded to 1500 grit, and hand rubbed out with Briwax.
This was a lot of fun to make and I plan to make a few other variations in the future using this joinery. The maple “inlay” dovetail is 1/8” wide in this box, as is the 45 degree bevel on most of the outside edges. Aesthetically, I think the inlay dovetail looks a little thick, but with more practice, I plan to narrow this down to 3/32”, perhaps 1/16”…we’ll see.
-- Martin, Kansas
| Pin It |
34 comments so far
PineMan
home | projects | blog
71 posts in 1790 days
#1 posted 1784 days ago
That is a great looking box. I love the dovetails.
-- I never started a project I couldn't screw up.
Benomatic
home | projects | blog
13 posts in 1802 days
#2 posted 1784 days ago
A single set of dovetails is hard enough – and you have two in one! Both better than anything I could make – great blog w/ steps: Thanks Really nice box!
-- Erica - I'll be out in the Man Cave - Bring me some meatloaf!
Davesfunwoodworking
home | projects | blog
272 posts in 2071 days
#3 posted 1784 days ago
The dovetails are great looking. I think I will have to try them. I do single dovetails but never gave 2 a thought. But that just looks cool. Great job.
-- Davesfunwoodworking
jeanmarc
home | projects | blog
1886 posts in 1912 days
#4 posted 1784 days ago
That is a great looking box.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
Douglas Bordner
home | projects | blog
3907 posts in 2259 days
#5 posted 1784 days ago
Martin,
I will leave this incredible feat to you. I’ve never even tried single handcuts before. This late in the dance, I’ll stick to my Incra jig. I still have double-doubles and eagle posts to perfect with it.
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
davidtheboxmaker
home | projects | blog
373 posts in 2001 days
#6 posted 1784 days ago
Saw the blog when you posted it. These photographs really show off the beautiful wood that you used. Fantastic box.
Colin
home | projects | blog
232 posts in 2116 days
#7 posted 1784 days ago
Very clever, really nice job, well done to you.
-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"
trifern
home | projects | blog
8131 posts in 1963 days
#8 posted 1784 days ago
Great job Martin. Your would selection is spectacular. I really like your design and execution. Thank you for sharing.
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Dick, & Barb Cain
home | projects | blog
8682 posts in 2495 days
#9 posted 1784 days ago
A beautiful, & intricate creation.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Garyb6
home | projects | blog
306 posts in 1826 days
#10 posted 1784 days ago
Nice box. I don’t think I have ever seen inlayed dovetails before. I’m too scared to even try regular dovetails at this point. Congratulations on such outstanding craftsmanship.
-- Garyb6, “True simplicity does not reveal the tremendous effort it requires.” - Somerset Maugham
spike
home | projects | blog
66 posts in 2125 days
#11 posted 1784 days ago
awesome and gorgeous.
CharlieM1958
home | projects | blog
14932 posts in 2414 days
#12 posted 1784 days ago
Fantastic craftsmanship! Thanks for the details on the how-to.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Bigbuck
home | projects | blog
1347 posts in 1859 days
#13 posted 1784 days ago
Wow, very nice
-- Glenn, New Mexico
Dominic Vanacora
home | projects | blog
507 posts in 2065 days
#14 posted 1784 days ago
I’m at a lost for words. WoW, you didn’t hold back on this one. The dovetails are hard enought but you went even belond that. Its not just the crafmenship but the creativeity you have to come up with an orginial design. It doesn’t get any better than this.
-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida...Lets be safe out there.
TedM
home | projects | blog
2002 posts in 1928 days
#15 posted 1784 days ago
Methinks the experiment was a success!
-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - Please visit http://www.woodworkersguide.com and sign up for my project updates!
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 34 comments
Have your say...