Another Bandsaw Box

[smorris]

Those are very nice. I just started making bandsaw baxes myself and am finding it to be a lot of fun. Still need to get a spindle sander before I sand myself to death though.

[Stan]

Stan I like your two recent works, the dolphin and bear.

May I suggest you consider adding a further dimension to this type of work by heavily rounding over the outline shape edges.

To achieve this I use a wood rasp or grinding bit (attached to a pedestal drill or a Dremmel). For example if the thickness of your dolphin box (cabinet) is 3/4" then you could afford to roll over that edge to leave slightly less than 1/4" surround of the drawer and similarly round the outer edges of the cabinet towards the centre line of the box.

Tony,
Thanks much for the hint, will definitely give the next box a workover to that look. I'm sure it would give it much more of a 3-dimensional look.

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

First let me say how relieved I am that you’re not offended, critiques can be nasty business. When viewing some else’s projects I find it easier to say “well done” or “good job” or something along those lines but sometimes that’s not the truth and sometimes the truth hurts especially when one has spent so much time and effort on a project only to have some one else shoot it down with a nasty critique.

I was recently received a private message, on a different forum for doing just that … telling someone what a marvelous job they had done when in fact I felt they needed a little tweak here and there but omitted that in my reply. Some one who new me better sent me a private message saying that I was not helping that person out by omitting the truth. So … that being said you are were my first critique and I’m glad all is still well.

I agree with Tony in the rounding over of the outer edges of the box. To avoid a box looking like it was cut out block of wood, after all it was and you’re trying to get away from that. You can sand and shape like crazy on the outside of the box … rounding off corners and giving it shape … getting away from the blocky look. I know some that go as far as to taking a router with a round over bit to the outside edges and corners of the box and the drawer cavity. Another area that often is missed is the outside face of the drawers and the corresponding opening edges that hold the drawer, the drawer cavity … these areas can also benefit from heaving sanding and rounding over, on some box’s, not all, it depends on the design.

I see your drawers fit nice and tight in the dolphin box … this is an area where I need work as I often sand too much in side the box to the extent that it affects the fit of the drawer and I have too much of a gap. Just and Idea on the dolphin box … you might want to sand heavily the out side shape of the dolphin but leave the wave just the way it is … or reverse it … sand the wave heavily but not the dolphin. Just some ideas, these types of boxes are very personal and one person’s ideas may not suit all and it is easier the critique some on else’s work rather than your own. I find that some times I get to involved in a box and can’t see the forest for the trees and some one else has to point out what I missed.

I like your idea for the pulls on both boxes … original and especially suited the bear box and I don’t think I’d change any thing on the pulls on the bear box. On the dolphin box I’m might taper or slender the shape of the pull more to one side or the other or possibly both sides, or even stretch out the dolphin to a gentler curve. But now I am splitting hairs and starting to nit pick, so I’ll leave it at that.

Thanks for listening

Brian

[Tony Ward]

Re sanding drawers and the interior section of the cabinet.

My response is don't ! Provided your bandsawing skills are adequate it should not be necessary to sand the drawers and cabinet interior. I will sand the interior of the drawer to demonstrate the fine timber.

Sanding the sides and rear of the drawer and the interior of the cabinet will result in an un-necessary loss of timber, the consequential loss will impact on the overall appearance of the finished work. In my view the space about the drawer should always be no more than the kerf of the bandsaw blade, .i.e. 3-4mm.

[mater]

That is beautiful work.

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

Re sanding drawers and the interior section of the cabinet.

My response is don't ! Provided your bandsawing skills are adequate it should not be necessary to sand the drawers and cabinet interior. I will sand the interior of the drawer to demonstrate the fine timber.

Sanding the sides and rear of the drawer and the interior of the cabinet will result in an un-necessary loss of timber, the consequential loss will impact on the overall appearance of the finished work. In my view the space about the drawer should always be no more than the kerf of the bandsaw blade, .i.e. 3-4mm.

Hi Tony

Sorry for the late response … Never really thought about your method, until now, might be something to reconsider. I learned from the book by Lois Ventura and she advocates sanding the inside of the drawers and I must admit that most folks that have my boxes admire that the inside of the box is as smooth and finished to the same extent as the out side, granted I’m sacrificing a tight fitting drawer for a smooth finish on the inside. I don’t care how good any one’s band saw skill are you will not get a smooth finish as opposed to sanding, that being said and now that you have mentioned it … I think you’re on to something here … thanks for a different perspective.

Brian

[Tony Ward]

Brian

Over the past five years or so I've sold about 1k of boxes. No one I can recall has ever commented, either favourably or otherwise, on finish of the inside of the drawers. Therefore I wonder why I spend so much time sanding the inside of the drawer? (finish with an 800 grit paper).

Regarding the outside of the drawer. I agree there will always be some machine marks. The minimum amount of machine marks will reduce the sanding time. Some times I will use a 1,500 wet n dry on an oiled drawer, a very light application, to provide a smoother running drawer.