Early Christmas Presents

[SwingKing]

For your consideration...four boxes made from QSWO that have taken me forever to make.

The design is from a WOOD magazine from a few years ago. I've always liked the look, so I decided to make a few for presents. These are the first display boxes I've made as well as the first time I've built something from a plan. I learned a lot from making these, most about how to fix stupid mistakes.

The finish ranges from a simple BLO/shellac finish to Jeff Jewett's answer to fuming by using dye, shellac, gel stain, and wipe-on poly to simulate that Stickley look.

Overall, I'm very happy how they turned out but I'm also very happy that they are finally done. I've been working on these for waaaaay too long.

-- Ken



Medium Reddish Brown/Medium Brown (2:1) dye + walnut gel stain


Dark Mission Brown dye + walnut gel stain


BLO + shellac


BLO + shellac + dark brown wax

[crokett]

Those are gorgeous. Did you make the stained glass inserts also or were those purchased.

[cabinetman]

Those look great...nice work. How about an inside pic. Is that a tile insert?
.

[cgallery]

Great looking boxes. I especially like the finish on #2 and #4.

What kind of joinery was used between the sides and the corners or legs? Can we see an inside view?

[SwingKing]

Here's a pic of the interior. The inserts are ceramic Motawi tiles from http://www.artsandcraftsman.com/. The trickiest part of the construction was cutting the lid. I ended up adding a right side miter slot so I could have vertical and horizontal finger boards when making the beveled cuts on the 2.5" wide lid pieces.

[Whaler]

Great job on the boxes.

[Uncle Cracker]

Very nice!

[pelligrini]

I've been working on these for waaaaay too long.

Were these intended for a Christmas past? I've been thinking about getting some presents done early. I'll probably end up waiting until January again.

They do look good. I really like the dark dye and the BLO & wax I might have to try out that last one. How did you apply it? in a custom mix, or in an order?

I ended up with a similar look on an older table I was refinishing. It was white oak covered in a dark stain. After I sanded most of the stain off the grain really popped out from the stain still left in the pores.

[gad5264]

Absolutely STUNNING, the recipients should be very happy.

[gjat]

What's not to be happy about? They all look great. I was going to make something similar with some Ipe I got and have had an eye out for nice tile inserts or using some veneer.

What would you do different that you're not pleased with?

[kevincan]

Those are great looking gifts.

I made one of these last Xmas for my MIL. The hardest part for me was the miters on the lid. For some reason I was not paying attention when I cut them and cut them to short.

Thanks for the link on the tiles. They have some neat designs. I bought 2 sets of hinges when I built the first one so I may have to try another one.

[SARGE..g-47]

Excellent work and they look great, Ken. I have only built one set to date but will do some more this summer when I finish a desk-hutch. Yep.. the first are kinda tricky but I also learned a lot about small box building in the process. Fortunately for me.. Ed Salle just up the road pops out around 3 boxes.. flag cases.. or humidors a week and it quite a boxmaker so... I can lean on him if I encounter a question on how to.

Well done...

[HarmsWay]

Those are very nice boxes!

[chopnhack]

WOW, Ken that finish on the dark mission brown looks like a rich walnut burl. You have done a great job!

[GPA61]

Wow, those look great. Nice job!!!