Pennsylvania Spice box finished *PIC*

[bmyers]

I dunno how they say it in B.C., but here's the way we say it in Arizona.

DANG!!

That's Blue ribbon stuff there... Those must be some good spices to be kept locked...



Bill

[BadeMillsap]

STUNNING!!!! Really beautiful detail work! You should (and I am sure are) very proud!

Bade

[Copper]

I'll take two! I especially like what you use for size comparison.

[GeekMom]

Absolutely beautiful! And welcome to the forum

[John Hunter]

Very nice!

[Wood_workur]

VERY impressive. I was expecting racks for the spices, not drawers.

[gerti]

I really liked the outside. But when I saw the inside: Wow! Nicely done indeed!

[Turaj]

Wow

Nice work Brian. Very impressive!! I just kept looking at the pictures and saying wow!!

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

Thank you all for the kind words, I must say this forum relies a little more than others on humour … a good virtue. I've read some really interesting, funny, and serious replies to my post. I would like to answer questions in one post if I may.

Gary … I used the Jointech router system for the dovetails, a 1/4 inch bit with the pattern set to even dovetail. Google Jointech it should come up on the home page.

I find Aspen fine to work with … a little hairy and stringy and wipe on poly will raise the grain but I just keep knocking it back with 360 sandpaper until it gives up.

Ken … You are so right, the LOML was so disappointed when she found out that our hard work would not produce a table and showed some interested in what I could salvage for this box … about half way through the project she had already claimed it as her own.

Bigsteel15 … I only met you for a few hours but if I know you at all you can't resist tools or a deal … good luck with your resistance.

Good idea on sending the photos to Jointech.

Thank you all very much

Brian

[boblon]

Not much I can add to what the others have said, but that is a beautiful piece and I just wanted to add my kudos to the rest.

Very nicely done.

BobL.

[steve_ma]

Very Nice Work

[MoldnMaker]

You going to drink that beer? ...........oh, nice piece, great work...ect.

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

You going to drink that beer?

OH ya … that one and a few others disappeared after finishing that project. I had a hard time believing I had actually finished.

Thanks for the comments.

Brian

[ssmith1627]

I'm with the other guys. Somewhere between typing holy crapola Batman and just plain speechless. Now I know I'll never post a project in this particular forum. hahaha

Amazing work. Really. Just gorgeous.

I'm new to all this so the only question I have is what about wood movement in the top ? I remember Norm using a piece of plywood in the top for an entertainment center he built because he said otherwise it would pull apart the miters for the surrounding molding pieces at the corners.

Is that a valid concern or how did you allow for that ? Just to continue my education here....haha.

Thanks for posting. Great stuff.

Steve

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

<snip>
I'm new to all this so the only question I have is what about wood movement in the top ? I remember Norm using a piece of plywood in the top for an entertainment center he built because he said otherwise it would pull apart the miters for the surrounding molding pieces at the corners.

Is that a valid concern or how did you allow for that ? Just to continue my education here....haha.

Thanks for posting. Great stuff.

Steve

Hi Steve and thanks for the comments … I'm not a veteran wood worker, I started in 2003 so I'll try to share my limited knowledge the best I know how, and if any others reading this care to add anything or correct me, please feel free.

To me, wood movement in the top was not an issue, the top is dovetailed to the sides and the grain in the sides and top all runs the same way, no different that making a dovetailed drawer. Others that have made this box told me that in a box of this size wood movement is not a issue and I have not heard of any reports of boxes of this design with joint failure. That being said I was more worried about the cross grain construction in the crown and bottom mouldings than wood movement in the top. The crown moulding and the bottom moulding facing the front were glued directly to the box as again the grain runs the same way. The mouldings along the sides however are a different matter (cross grain). The side mouldings were only glued near the front and nailed the rest of the way towards the back. Other have reported that they glued their moulding all the way around with no problems even years latter. I didn't want to take a chance as I'm not sure of the stability of willow I chose to allow for movement. Once the box was completed in mid winter and very dry out I coated the box in Danish Oil to seal it somewhat while I worked on the drawers that would be completed months later (7 months total construction time). Once the drawers were finished, they to were given a coat of Danish Oil and set aside to cure for a time while I worked on the back of the box. Once the entire box and drawers were cured I felt a few coats of wipe on poly over the entire box, inside and out would also help against moisture problems and should seal the wood well. To finish inside the box and inside the drawers I used a 1/2"artist's (Taklon) brush to get into the corners and a haemostat (surgical clamp) holding a small wiping pad to finish the rest of the inside of the box and drawers. Wipe on poly is so forgiving if not applied to thick … it just wants to level itself and blends so well with previous strokes, whether a brush or a pad. So the now the whole box inside and out including the drawers have a uniform finish.

The raised panel in the door was also a concern for movement, so the groves in the rails and stiles were cut just a little deep to allow for movement in the panel. I inserted small cuts of screen door spline into the groves of the rails and stiles, these are supposed to act a kind off a bumper so if the wood expands it can expand evenly and crush against these bumpers and yet keep the panel cantered.

Hope that helps some.


Brian