CHRISTMAS PRESENTS

So, it’s November 2007 just after Thankgiving. I was kicking back reading a copy of WOOD Mag. and saw a jewelry box I liked. The wife says, hey I would like one of those. Ok no problem. Then I started thinking, why not make one for all the girls in my life. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 & 9. Sure lets make nine of theses little boxes. They would make great Chirstmas gifts.

Here it is the end of March and I’m done. Now I have taken about two months off. Just to keep from going nuts.

I have learned a few things from this labor of love. even though I did add up all the bf for the job it didn’t click that there was going to be 272 pieces to make these boxes. Plus six jigs. It is also important to pick woods that are user friendly. I used Curly Maple that loves to chip out in the planner and Purpleheart that the router eats for lunch. The real learning came after I was well into the project and I read the fine print. Do you know that a pair of small box hinges cost $25.00? I saw that and did the math and came up with plans b and c. “b” set the lid back so the back edge of the lid stops the rotation just past 90*. “c” was use $10.00 worth of chain. “C” won. That saved me about $230.00.

Long story short it took longer then four weeks to make the nine boxes. I will say they came out great and all the ladies love them. The husbands on the other hand, not so happy with me. Now all the wives want some new blig to put in the new boxes. Oh well better to have the ladies liking you then the guys I always say.

Here are a few picture for you viewing plesaure. I HOPE SIX PICTURE

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10869355@N07/

-- GOD CREATED THE EARTH WITH TREES, GOD CREATED MAN WITH BRAINS TO MAKE A SAW. THE REST IS UP TO US. LETS MAKE SOME SAW DUST.