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5K views 46 replies 21 participants last post by  jmartel 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey all -
We have threads for all sorts of things here but lately I've noticed some really nice boxes being built and thought that we needed a box specific thread. Show everyone what you are working on. Design process, build photos, finished product whatever!

To get things started here are two of my favourite builds.

This first one I built a few years ago as a birthday present for my wife. It is spalted birch and walnut. Sometimes I think it is a bit too busy now with all that spalting but I still really like it. It was my first original designed project.

Table Wood Rectangle Natural material Hardwood


The lid is pierced and lightly carved and just lifts off. Inside you'll find a sliding till with dovetailed corners.

Rectangle Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain


Finally the legs are curved on two sides and the box sides are mortised and tenoned into the walnut posts. The bottom of the box and the interior are lined with felt.

Natural material Wood Rectangle Wood stain Hardwood


My second box is one I just finished recently and is a pen presentation box. Cool story, a flooring restoration contractor contacted me to see if I could make some pens out of some flooring. He was working on a house that had 100 year old QSWO floors that had been installed by the client's grandfather. Part of it had been damaged and had to be removed. The client wanted something made from the removed floor for a memento (I'm not sure why but the house ended up being torn down so that made the desire for the memento even stronger). I agreed to make the pens but told the contractor that he'd lose the quarter sawn face as soon as the pen was turned. He immediately saw the problem and asked if I had any ideas to showcase the grain. I came up with this presentation box.

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring


The corners are mitred together to make a grain match all the way round the box.

Table Wood Rectangle Wood stain Plank


Inside you'll find the two pens that I made from the same boards.

Rectangle Wood Wood stain Box Hardwood


This box was fumed with ammonia and finished with shellac.

Anyway, show us all your boxes and tell their stories.
 

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#2 ·
That's a damned nice example of fumed white oak, right there! I've made a bunch of boxes, but haven't published many of them (or much else, honestly, because my camera skills are ********************e). I now have a stabilized cell phone camera, and will likely post more pics in the near future. I think that a dedicated box forum would be a good thing. That'll have to be run by the management, of course.
 
#4 · (Edited by Moderator)
I ve made a few. I really enjoy nice boxes. Haven t done any in a while, though.

- jmartel
Wow that marquetry work is fantastic, especially the whales. I'm planning some veneer work on my next box but that won't be for a little while yet. I was planning on using hide glue and hammer veneering it. How'd you do yours?
 
#5 ·
You would only hammer veneer it if you are doing solid sheets of veneer. No marquetry. Just use a metal plate that you heat up beforehand when clamping the veneer down. Keeps the glue warmer longer while you apply clamps.
 
#9 ·
That mini toolbox looks great. I've built a full-sized one (in my projects) and love it but a mini is definitely on my to-do list.
 
#11 ·
Afraid the ones I do aren't quite as fancy..
Table Wood Rectangle Drawer Cabinetry


And the back view.
Wood Rectangle Hardwood Wood stain Box


And maybe something like these..
Wood Rectangle Comfort Hardwood Wood stain


And another view..
Furniture Table Drawer Rectangle Wood


Try one more..
Table Wood Rectangle Chair Coffee table


And open the lid..
Window Wood Natural material Wood stain Hardwood


First one was out of Cherry, second one out of Maple…
 

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#12 ·
They don't all have to be fancy Bandit. It only needs to be as good as it needs to be. The maple box, is that all frame and panel?
 
#13 ·
I really like boxes, they are pure potential, but have only made a few. Here is one of my favorites. Sorry for the terrible quality pic.

Rectangle Wood Plant Natural material Wood stain



EDIT: weird that the widget isn t working. If you Click them the projects will show up still though.
- jmartel
I think you can fix it by clicking edit and resaving, IIRC, it has something to do with a server glitch from some years back.
 

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#14 ·
Brown Rectangle Wood Tableware Hardwood


Rectangle Wood Hardwood Wood stain Electric blue


This was an (almost) one day box build I did during the box swap. It was made quickly to help out a friend. I really like making boxes. They are by far my favorite projects to do. My philosophy is boxes are the basis for all wood working. If you can make boxes, that skill will translate into all your work. Joinery, measurements, finishes and assembly. Besides, they are useful and just plain fun!
 

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#15 · (Edited by Moderator)
For a band saw box, I would probably use a 1/8" blade, for intricate work .. I use 3/4" stock on all my small boxes. my 5"x5 1/2" have mitered corners and my 7"x9" & 7"x11" have locking mitered corners. I currently have on my staining bench 5 of my 7"x9" red oak boxes. And on my work bench 5 of my 6 1/2"x7" mahogany w/pine corner posts. The first picture is a memorial box from a year ago.
Furniture Wood Rectangle Table Tree


Furniture Rectangle Wood Natural material Hardwood


This is a 16"x16"x24" paneled pine toy box w/a aromatic cedar lid. This one I made recently.
 

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#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've been wanting to make some more boxes. Only one worth showing is not a fancy show box but was a fun puzzle box that uses a magic wand with a rare earth magnet to unlock it .

 
#21 ·
Brown Rectangle Wood Tableware Hardwood


Rectangle Wood Hardwood Wood stain Electric blue


This was an (almost) one day box build I did during the box swap. It was made quickly to help out a friend. I really like making boxes. They are by far my favorite projects to do. My philosophy is boxes are the basis for all wood working. If you can make boxes, that skill will translate into all your work. Joinery, measurements, finishes and assembly. Besides, they are useful and just plain fun!

- jeffswildwood
This is a very fine box!!

I saw the Schwarz on the Woodwright Shop on tv. He said every piece of furniture is a box or a shelf.
 

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#25 ·
There is one little tip I can pass along on gluing up a box…
I mill a Tongue & Groove joint at the corners….helps when trying to glue up the four sides, by keeping things in alignment…
Gas Engineering Auto part Motor vehicle Machine


Doesn't need to be too big…
Saw Wood Machine tool Tool Workbench


Just enough to align the joint…
Product Drawer Wood Cabinetry Wood stain


Groove the longer front and back…
Wood Rectangle Flooring Art Hardwood


Tongue on the ends, almost makes the corner post look like a square post.
Wood Musical instrument accessory String instrument accessory Hardwood Varnish


A gouge to make the place for your fingers to raise the lid..
Photograph Wood Rectangle Drawer Hardwood


And the lid..
Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor Wood stain


Walnut & Cherry….lid is all Walnut. Raised panel sides are Cherry.
 

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