| Project by jamison00 | posted 432 days ago | 1184 views | 24 times favorited | 28 comments | ![]() |
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This was my first major project, which when I look back, am shocked that it turned out as nice as it did. I found a fantastic piece of Quilted Maple at a place in Oregon just off of I-5. I believe the town was Jefferson; the lumber mill was family owned and the folks were happy to show me around and help me pick out a great board. I wish I could remember their name, but maybe someone else can post it if they know. Anyway, its made of Quilted Maple, and Mahogany stained a dark strawberry red. I recall building this thing in my apartment in Chicago. We had a dining room that we weren’t using, so it became my workshop. It was way before I had any idea of the mess involved with seriously milling a lot of wood. A few days later, my roommate confronted me about the thin layer of sawdust covering every inch of the kitchen. I spent I fair amount of time cleaning up the mess, and made the unfortunate decision that this would be my last major project at that residence.
-- James






























28 comments so far
brianinpa
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1365 posts in 616 days
posted 432 days ago
That is a wonderful piece. The top hides its beauty. It looks like it is a simple box until it is opened.
-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.
Dusty56
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3458 posts in 581 days
posted 432 days ago
My Goodness , that is certainly a stunning piece of eye candy !!! Is that your own design ? Everything appears to be flawless including the finish : ) Adding to my favorites …thanks for posting this GEM ….I bret Ma was proud to receive such a beautiful gift !!!
-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .
childress
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162 posts in 434 days
posted 432 days ago
THAT….is badass! I love it. Man, I hate it when someone makes something so cool that I want to make it myself, but then I would feel guilty because I basically copied somebody elses work. Don’t worry, I won’t copy….I promise:)
-- Childress Woodworks
SPalm
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945 posts in 775 days
posted 432 days ago
Hello James.
That is a fine piece. Well done sir. It does show well.
I assume the beveled center section is what keeps the top locked. Very clever.
(Why the cut out in the left hand tray? To allow a finger hold for removal?)
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
CharlieM1958
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7608 posts in 1111 days
posted 432 days ago
Really beautifully designed and built!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Blake
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2759 posts in 767 days
posted 432 days ago
Did you design this your self? That is SO cool. I love the way the top opens and locks. Brilliant! I wish you would do more.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
jamison00
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16 posts in 433 days
posted 432 days ago
Thanks very much everyone.
To Steve—Yes, you’re correct about the design of the lid. The cut out in the hand tray is actually to allow space to operate a vertically mounted bolt lock. When the bolt is down and the lid is closed, the drawer cannot be opened.
To Childress—Man, thanks very much, and certainly go ahead and copy. I’d like to say I completely designed this from scratch but I think I took inspiration from quite a few places. My good friend Roger says that good design is 30% inspiration, 70% theft. Maybe theft is a little strong, but the truth is imitation is the biggest form flattery, so thanks again dude.
-- James
Napaman
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3483 posts in 970 days
posted 432 days ago
great story on the first workshop—-my roommate would have evicted me (my wife) had I tried to do wood working in the diningroom…
BRILLIANT PIECE…how long ago was this?
-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...
trifern
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7894 posts in 660 days
posted 432 days ago
Great project with some unbelievable timber. Simply gorgeous…
-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.
Tom Adamski
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309 posts in 664 days
posted 432 days ago
James…
Exquisite!!! Your craftsmanship is supurb.
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
Douglas Bordner
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3424 posts in 956 days
posted 431 days ago
Absolutely one of my favorite boxes of all time. And this area of woodworking is my area of focus. I follow some heavy-weight box guys both here and on the net (not the least among them being Phillip Weber (www.weberboxes.com), William McDowell (www.teknodeco.com) and the prolific author/artisan Doug Stowe (www.dougstowe.com). I think that you have some heavy mojo here partner!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
davidtheboxmaker
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372 posts in 698 days
posted 431 days ago
Wow. That’s a superb piece of work. Great design very well executed. You certainly got a great piece of wood to work with. I’d be using that supplier again.
Dennis Zongker
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1014 posts in 485 days
posted 431 days ago
Now that’s a box!!! Great job.
-- Dennis Zongker
ryno101
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247 posts in 557 days
posted 431 days ago
That is beautiful… I love the design of the lid, with the center piece dovetailed into the wings, and the top compartments that fit into the wings. Really nice.
It’s an inspiration that you were able to get that level of precision in your first major project. Did you use hand tools for the milling, or did you have a jointer/planer in that first workshop?
Excellent… Fantastic design, flawless execution.
-- Ryno
Douglas Krueger
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379 posts in 616 days
posted 431 days ago
Jamison,
If that had been my first piece, there is a good change I would have quit while ahead. A uniquely designed closure system and the gorgeous wood makes it stand out in a crowd. Can’t wait to see your second project.
Expect some flattery coming your way as the eldest daughter has requested a jewelery box for xmas and your designs will be incorporated.
Where did you get the hardware for it, that sort of thing is next to impossible to find in Thailand so I need to order early to get it here on time.
-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles
TreeBones
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1559 posts in 916 days
posted 431 days ago
Beautiful box, well worth the sawdust clean up. Your mom is very lucky. Great wood, I firmly support the small sawmill operators and will look for them the next time I go through Jefferson.
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3 http://www.portablesawmill.biz/concrete/
ND2ELK
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6155 posts in 667 days
posted 431 days ago
Exquisite detail and design! If you are not still doing this type of work, you should be. Thanks for posting.
God bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
jeanmarc
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1751 posts in 609 days
posted 431 days ago
hat is a wonderful piece.Thanks for posting.
-- jeanmarc manosque france
woodworm
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8184 posts in 483 days
posted 431 days ago
This is really beautiful. Unique in design. I added your project to my favorites.
IMHO..you should continue making it for $. Try to have a dedicated workshop.
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
hasbeen99
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130 posts in 432 days
posted 431 days ago
Wow! Excellent choice of contrasting woods—I’m sure the pics don’t do it justice. The design is fantastic.
-- "The only thing that counts is faith, expressing itself in love." --Galatians 5:6
craven
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54 posts in 465 days
posted 431 days ago
Wow!! Let me add to the heap of well deserved praise. Excellent design and execution!!!! Craven
-- let the chips fly!
miles125
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1419 posts in 898 days
posted 431 days ago
Those colors just WORK! Very nice box.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
stanley_clifton
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120 posts in 596 days
posted 430 days ago
Beautiful timber, nice and clever design, great execution. Love it. Get on to that second piece immediately and show us all how to do it.
-- Stanley generally struggling
woodyone
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234 posts in 484 days
posted 428 days ago
The middle lock is very clever, well done.
Woody.
-- Woody, UK
majeagle1
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426 posts in 389 days
posted 367 days ago
Wow, absolutely stunning! Talk about creativitiy ! I love the combinatio of wood, quilted maple is really beautiful. I have to ask, how did you cuttout the drawer front? I looked for a seam and didn’t see one, the only thing I can imagine is to scroll saw/............ well, I don’t know.
I also added to my favorites.
-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/
PurpLev
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2733 posts in 541 days
posted 217 days ago
beautiful piece!
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Andy
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570 posts in 801 days
posted 161 days ago
I really like the design and the wood combo.That quilted Maple is stunning! You are gutzy to take on a project like this and especially in an apt.This is very very nice!!!
-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon
a1Jim
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16679 posts in 470 days
posted 161 days ago
ooooo woooow oooo coool neat really fine, very impressive, love the design and wood great work
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon