Walnut box with spalted lid

[poolhound]

I have been getting more into smaller projects of late and built this box primarily as an experiment using some new techniques.

The main box is walnut and the top of the lid is spalted pecan. The inside walls are aromatic cedar giving it a very "red" tone. I had this piece of pockmarked spalted pecan lying around and was going to trash the piece with the hole through it but LOML really liked it and wanted the hole featured. I guess it was never going to be air tight

[cgallery]

Very nice. I like the fact that the walnut still has some sapwood on it, too. The combination of the walnut and the pecan really offers a lot of visual interest.

What did you use for finish? I learned just a while ago that spalted wood is quite a sponge for wipe-on finish.

[phrog]

Very nice. I like the pecan also. The joinery is interesting. Did you use a jig for that? Great job.
Richard

[JR]

I like it! Wonderful use of those "rustic" woods to make a well-finished product.

I wonder if youi're wrestling, as I am, with how to do lifts and/or pulls on a box like this. I've tried embedding a tab in the middle of the top, as well embedding one in the front, both with limited success. I've kind of settled on a cove along the seem in the front as a fairly fool-proof finger hold, but I'm not happy with that, either. Do you have thoughts along these lines?

JR

[cgallery]

BTW, how did you handle the cedar on the inside? Did you glue it to the walnut before cutting the miter on the sides? Or did you glue-up the sides and then miter the cedar to fit into the walnut?

[L. D. Jeffries]

Oh that is so pretty! Not to gloat but I have two pieces of spalted maple 6" x 6" by 4' that I have been saving for the past two years just waiting for some special project. Maybe this winter would be a good time to really get to thinking!

[poolhound]

Very nice. I like the fact that the walnut still has some sapwood on it, too. The combination of the walnut and the pecan really offers a lot of visual interest.

What did you use for finish? I learned just a while ago that spalted wood is quite a sponge for wipe-on finish.

This project started as I was having the issues (reported earlier) with resawing. I found this piece of offcut walnut to test my new blade. It resawed perfectly and I was then able to use it to make the box. I liked the change to the sapwood and how that blended with the lighter pecan.

As this was an experimental project I didnt use any of my "good" finishes so used up what was available in the bottom of old cans. I did first seal the surfaces with some shellac and then used some rather aged wipe on satin poly. Using the seal coats on the spalted first was a good idea.

to answer your other question the cedar was added afterwards. I used the technique of first assembling the box and then bandsawing off the lid.

[poolhound]

Very nice. I like the fact that the walnut still has some sapwood on it, too. The combination of the walnut and the pecan really offers a lot of visual interest.

What did you use for finish? I learned just a while ago that spalted wood is quite a sponge for wipe-on finish.

The joints are made by first using a small miter sled and then adding the splines after glueup with a spline jig.

[poolhound]

I like it! Wonderful use of those "rustic" woods to make a well-finished product.

I wonder if youi're wrestling, as I am, with how to do lifts and/or pulls on a box like this. I've tried embedding a tab in the middle of the top, as well embedding one in the front, both with limited success. I've kind of settled on a cove along the seem in the front as a fairly fool-proof finger hold, but I'm not happy with that, either. Do you have thoughts along these lines?

JR

LOL - I have similar issues and I was all set to make a pull/handle to fit to the top but when I consulted LOML she said it didnt need one. Great I said and that was that.

With this size box it not really needed but I will need to continue wrestling with this as I make larger boxes and units with drawers.

I will let you know what I come up with and we can struggle together

[Pappy]

Beautiful box, Jon! I hate it when people cut all the sap wood from a piece, especially walnut. To me, the contrast adds a lot of eye appeal to the finished piece.

[ragswl4]

IN a word, Spectacular!!

[Ed62]

That's a pretty box. I like the contrast.

Ed

[Norm in Fujino]

Thanks for sharing the box and description--a very nice way to use available materials.

[bigstick509]

[lrogers]

That is a very nice looking little box. The splines are a small detail that add so much to the over looks of the project.