The Fruitcake Box

[Stytooner]

That box looks more edible than it's contents.

Good job on that. Is this still the SAME brick of fruit cake?

[crokett]

I like fruitcake after marinating it in brandy.

Funny thing, I like fruitcake after marinating me in brandy.

Great job Thom. That box is way too pretty to waste on a fruitcake.

[Thom2]

Does all box elder wood look like this ? I've been very curious about this wood because we have 7 of these large trees in the yard and some of them really need to come down. Not to mention the particular bug they attract by the hundreds.

I don't know a whole lot about it, but it's my understanding that this wood is quite rare. The coloring is actually created by a fungus that attacks the tree. In the little bit of looking around that I've done, I have yet to find this stuff for sale in anything other than pen blanks.

The trees in your yard could very well have this coloring, if they have to come down anyway, it'd probably be worth a look. I understand that these trees are kinda closely related to Maple, and aside from the color, some of the figure I've seen in these pieces is also pretty spectacular.


THANKS EVERYONE, I'm especially pleased with the way this project turned out, I really feel good about it and I think this thing just looks spectacular, especially after wet sanding with 400, 8 more coats of lacquer, rubbed out with steel wool and swirl polish remover ..... this thing is P-U-R-D-Y

now I'm just not sure that I really want to give it away ........

[Stytooner]

Keep the box. Put a ribbon around the brick and give it back.

[boblon]

Perfect and imaginative solution to your quest.

And a great looking box.

This sure will up the ante for next year. That fruitcake may be around (and around, and around) for a while

BobL.

[cobob]

There is a theory amongst biblical scholars that there was a fourth wiseman, forgotten in time, who had brought a fruitcake as his offering ... & it's been passed around ever since ..regifted if you will..similar to the loaves & fishes.
If the wiseman had put that fruitcake into as nice a box as this, he would have been immortalized in psalm & song.

[stav]

Wow, who knew you could make such a nice looking box out of fruit cake!

I think I'll go to the local grocery, buy a few cakes and try resawing them on the band saw. Did you need a special blade for that?

[DonHo]

The design and your work are great and the wood is even better. If you'll post your address, I'll send you a fruitcake
DonHo

[Black wallnut]

Thom, you sure are making me look like the slacker with all these finished projects! Looks nice BTW.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

That's pretty cool. I remember seeing it when I came by your shop a while back, along with copies of the articles and plan from Wood Magazine posted on the wall in 3' x 5' posters. Turned out real nice.

[wareagle]

Great job and great idea.

[cabinetman]

Ingenious box. It's the only way to give fruitcake. Nicely done, I would put chisels in it instead. Not to take away from the fine craftsmanship, but I couldn't resist this cartoon.



A THING OF BEAUTY IS A JOY FOREVER - John Keats

[Wood_workur]

all that for a fruit cake? he is gonna thank you for that box.

[ChrisD]

I think this is only the second time that I have seen box elder. The first was in FWW a couple of years ago. The example used in the article does not hold a candle to this fruitcake box, though. Nice work.