Walnut box with spalted lid

[SARGE..g-47]

Nice box Jon.. I like the over-all contrast of the woods including the cedar. You kind of threw me for a loop when you said you were experimenting with some new techniques. I looked for them and then realized you were probably referring to techniques you had never tried. That's my guess anyway.

This came out well and would make nice Xmas gifts. I'm finishing a project now and may have to lay off the next to do some Xmas gifts as you can't get started too soon but you can get started "too late" for sure.

[SARGE..g-47]

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

Box making is not my forte JR.. but this is how I handled the finger catch on the two small boxes I made last Xmas for my wife and favorite niece. Just an idea as this was done on the drill press with table cant of 30* degree's if I remember correctly which I may not.

[poolhound]

Nice box Jon.. I like the over-all contrast of the woods including the cedar. You kind of threw me for a loop when you said you were experimenting with some new techniques. I looked for them and then realized you were probably referring to techniques you had never tried. That's my guess anyway.

This came out well and would make nice Xmas gifts. I'm finishing a project now and may have to lay off the next to do some Xmas gifts as you can't get started too soon but you can get started "too late" for sure.

Thanks Sarge, I was refering to techniques I hadnt tried before. For example there are various methods for cutting the joint miters for box sides and the thin cedar insert. I have been trying multiple methods to see which I prefer and gets the best results. I would like to think of myself as innovative but when it comes to woodworking I'm pretty certain everything I am doing has been done before by somebody.

[billwmeyer]

That looks great. I love working with Walnut, and I too like the sapwood contrast.

Bill

[SARGE..g-47]

Thanks Sarge, I was refering to techniques I hadnt tried before. For example there are various methods for cutting the joint miters for box sides and the thin cedar insert. I have been trying multiple methods to see which I prefer and gets the best results. I would like to think of myself as innovative but when it comes to woodworking I'm pretty certain everything I am doing has been done before by somebody.

I also prefer an Incra gauge with a wooden sacrificial fence on the miters Jon. I cut a sacrificial piece at 45* then use the cut-off for the stop block. It does two things.. ensure the exact same lenght of the 4 sides and.. after cutting the second piece on one end at 45*.. the 45* block allows you to slip that cut 45* end up snug to the stop block so you have a meshing 45* stop block. No chance of any variance in the length which will throw a miter off slightly and create an ugly gap.

Your wise for having built you a spline jig also as it's the cat's meow when cut them.

Again.. nice job and keep up the progess. BTW.. probably no technique that hasn't already been done somewhere in 5000 years.. just most were done by hand tools in lieu of power tools which is the norm now.

[dbhost]

(putting on my best Texas twang...)

That sure is purty....

[Bill in Buena Park]

+1 on the beauty of the box, hole and all!

[poolhound]

A couple of folks were asking about cutting the miters and splines. Here are some pics of the miter sled and the spline jig. I kept them both pretty simple but they do the job.

[Brian in Dawson Creek]

Oh my ... I haven't been around for some time ... what a nice surprise to come back to, nicely done indeed! Borders on perfection ... not the design but the choice of wood which complements the design in every way.

Brian