Camphor Laurel Jewellery Box

**M-R** · 3rd June 2004, 06:45 PM

Hey Guys,

Normally I wouldn't have posted something this small, but I thought it came out fairly spectacularly. The wood is two pieces I picked up for under $20 at the working with wood show last month. There is enough wood left over for another box at least. I spent about 30 minutes digging through a pile of random laurel boards until I found that one. Seems like it was worth it?

The wood is camphor laurel (obviously). Box construction is a simple mitre joint and PVA glue. The floor of the box fits into a rabbet on the bottom of the sides, and is covered with black velvet. The whole thing is sanded to 800 grit, then a quick dust with the really fine grade steel wool. Finish is ubeaut white shellac.

Just for future reference, what kind of hinges (apart from wooden) would work for this kind of a box? and where can I get them? Its a royal pain in the butt to find any hinges like that here in brisbane, neither carbatec nor the wood work shops I frequent had any so i ended up going the 25mm brass hinges from mitre 10.

Should add this is a birthday present for my mother. Hope she likes it.

**DPB** · 3rd June 2004, 06:51 PM

Nicely done, M-R!

You had better be careful; making small boxes can become quite addictive.

**Bunyip** · 3rd June 2004, 06:57 PM

Nice box - it has come up well.

Regarding the hinges - I would have still chosen brass given the wood colour, but would probably have antiqued them (see recent post). Otherwise, you could have used concealed hinges if you wanted uninterrupted lines (if the sides are thick enough).

There is an ad in the current issue of AWR for excellent quality brass hinges. They will deliver. Unfortunately I do not have a copy here to give you their details.

**Rocker** · 3rd June 2004, 07:56 PM

The ad's link is
http://www.antongerner.com.au/worldbest

Alternatively, you can get Brusso hinges from Lee Valley.

Rocker

**MajorPanic** · 3rd June 2004, 08:10 PM

Excellent work!
Be CAREFUL working with Champor and small boxes is contaigus

**Gumby** · 3rd June 2004, 08:15 PM

That's beautiful timber. Very nice job too ! Did you mean that you used fine steel wool on the raw timber.....i thought that was a no-no.

**PaulS** · 3rd June 2004, 08:54 PM

This place seems to have all the different sorts. I have never used them. Carbatec in Perth have hinges etc that i have needed so far.

http://www.boxmakersbrassware.com.au/catindex.htm

**M-R** · 3rd June 2004, 11:14 PM

MajorPanic : Why be careful with camphor?

Gumby : Yeah I did use steel wool straight onto the timber, Some people i have asked have said they do this, others say its a no-no. Seemed to make it an even finer finish for me. Either way I mainly use the steel wool to denib the surface of a finish.

**Wood Borer** · 3rd June 2004, 11:40 PM

I am sure you mother will love it.

How did you cut the mitres?

- Wood Borer

**mikmaz1** · 4th June 2004, 02:42 AM

nice work mr,
have you thought of using barrel hinges on your small boxes.(you dont mention the size of this box)is the colour of the camphor that dark or did you stain it?
seeyasoon mik.

**woodymarts** · 4th June 2004, 06:41 AM

wow ,
thats is buttiful i hope i become as good a you.
woodymarts

**M-R** · 4th June 2004, 09:23 AM

Wood Borer : The mitres were cut on the table saw

mikmaz1 : i did think of using barrel hinges after viewing what a few of you guys suggested after i posted this

There is always next time.

And yeah, that the natural colour and grain of the camphor laurel. I used white shellac to preserve the colours as much as possible. Like I said earlier in the post, I spent a good deal of time going through the boards until I found what I thought were the best ones. There were at least 200 boards of the stuff

**rbjozzia** · 28th April 2006, 12:39 AM

Warning. Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor Laurel) contains the deadly Safrol a narcotic carcinogen (cancer causing). Are you giving this to you mother or mother-in-law?

Rob

**DPB** · 28th April 2006, 09:29 AM

Rob, look at the date of this thread. It's two years old. I would guess his mother-in-law is history by now.

And it appears so is M-R, with a total of 49 posts, perhaps the deadly Safrol got him too.

**zenwood** · 28th April 2006, 09:34 AM

Should have had enough time to have its effect by now!

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