Thread: jewllery boxes/tools?

Hi redd11

The Gifkins jig is by far the easiest to use and will give you excellent results. If you don't want to go to the extent of buying a router table, Gifkins has plans for one you can build yourself (see www.gifkins.com.au)

There's also roger Gifkins book on box making and it includes all the plans for making some fine jewellery boxes (sounds like an advert for Gifkins doesn't it )

One thing you will have a problem with however, is getting the timber down to the correct thickness required to make the boxes. You can't just buy it off the shelf. You really will need a jointer and a thicknesser. Sorry, but woodworking does take a bit of expense to get set up properly. It's not that long ago that I started like you and pretty quickly found out that you do need the basic machinery if you want to progress past making Triton letterboxes .

If you live out around the Knox area in Melbourne, Id be happy to give you a look at my set up. I have a Gifkins jig and Triton router table, combo jointer/thicknesser and a 12" table saw. I'm around this week on holidays if you want to come for a 'play'

damn, starts to get a bit expensive having to get a thicknesser,maybe i could
find someone close to home who can let me use one for a reasonable fee.
Knox is a little out the way for me,i am in cranbourne, but might take up the offer sometime soon.
As it is now,i just want to get the tools bit by bit over a few months,and at the same time,scrounge around for different types of wood,build up a collection,i have a few places in mind,one is a fine furniture place,i do recall them chucking out nice looking wood in to industrial bins,will have to check it out and ask them for the offcuts
thanks

Originally Posted by redd11

find someone close to home who can let me use one for a reasonable fee.
Knox is a little out the way for me,i am in cranbourne, but might take up the offer sometime soon.

Or alternatively join a club. Not sure what's down Cranbourne way but the Waverley club is well equipped and members go there to use the machinery as required.

Why not use a good handplane? After all, we are talking about jewellery boxes not whopping big entertainment units - keeps the cost down too

Do it by hand!!!


The Darkside will convert you . . .

Hunting for good timber, in the vicinity of the right thickness is part of the fun of woodworking. I recently got a lovely thin slice of natural edge silkyoak about 3 metres long by 35 - 45 cms wide and a lovely 12-15 mm thick. perfect!!! and I bargained him down to $20 too. Oh what fun!!!!

cheers
RufflyRustic

Hi Redd11,

As with Gumby's offer, I'm at home on leave until next Monday ( ), so am quite happy for you to pop along for a look, a yarn, and a play with the tools.

I also have a reasonable variety of capable WW machinery - and do make a fair few jewellery boxes - but mostly by hand, with hand-cut D/Ts or locked mitres, and hand-planes to thickness and near final timber detailing.

Let me know if you want to.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by Auld Bassoon

but mostly by hand, with hand-cut D/Ts or locked mitres,

he'd never learn anything that way ! They invented power so you could hook up some tools to it

Stay away from the dark side Redd, use the force.

Gumbo, come to the Darkside . . . dispence with the electrons and feel the power of the Darkside!

Redd, apart from stirring up the plastic fantastic, there are benefits to learning to do joinery by hand that will benifit you later when you set yourself up with the machines. You understand the tolerences required to do a good job! ( As I look at my latest effort with handcut dovetails, 3 ok - 1 pittiful!)

The main thing is to have fun doing woodwork!

(And stirring up the 'lectron lovers! )

Originally Posted by Gumby

he'd never learn anything that way ! They invented power so you could hook up some tools to it

Stay away from the dark side Redd, use the force.

Come on Gumby, admit it. even you must have a couple of chisels!! You cant doi everything with a router!!

Originally Posted by doug the slug

Come on Gumby, admit it. even you must have a couple of chisels!! You cant doi everything with a router!!

True, I do have chisels but they came with no instructions and I didn't even get a power chord with them so I can't plug them in. I should take them back.

Originally Posted by Gumby

True, I do have chisels but they came with no instructions and I didn't even get a power chord with them so I can't plug them in. I should take them back.

well theres no arguing with that - take those damn chisels back!!!!!

Red11
Have a look at the bandsaw boxes thread - that is another way to make boxes, and they can be any shape. You would need a bandsaw but a small beginners unit isn't all that dear and it is a tool no workshop should be without.

Don

Originally Posted by redd11

Hi all,have posted a similar thread elsewhere,but got no response as yet.
I am new to woodwork,and have just got myself a decent size garage i can work in now.
I want to make jewellery boxes,i want to know what tools i would need to get me started.
Gifkin Dovetail jig-or will something cheaper do the same job?
Routers-what sort? ( i want to attach it to a table)-not too expensive
Chisels-what sizes?
anything else to make the job easier?
All advice appreciated
Thanks

Red, what do you want to make them for? is it to make a few dollars + the fun of getting some splinters, or to get into it and learn a craft and make some excelent handcrafted boxes. because that would influence what tools/machines you need to start


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