Thread: Still Practicing

This was commissioned to hold a set of antique dominos so instead of a plain box i thought i would try a slide out drawer version. Now that it is finished and i know i can get the tolerances down minimal i will do away with the collar next time.

Looks great. I like the collar, I think it adds to the box.

Superb

This jewellery box was commissioned. I was only given a size and tray types and told to make something interesting. The box is Rose Gum and the lid and inserts are Mango.

This one was particularly difficult as i have just found out i have Rheumatoid Arthritis so there were some mistakes made due to the mind altering drugs i've been taking.

Just using up some offcuts.



I was asked to make this one for a Chopstick collection.



Playing around with some more offcuts to see how accurate my mitre sled is, and it's spot on. My partner wants me to make some that will fit a nice bottle of wine as presents for her real estate clients.

You have built up an interesting and varied collection there!!

What is more - I like every single one!!!

Thanks Artme. I'll knock out a few more designs and hit the markets to see if I can make some pocket money.

Originally Posted by double.d

Thanks Artme. I'll knock out a few more designs and hit the markets to see if I can make some pocket money.

With the miserable spending habits in Aus pocket money is about all you will wind up with!!

Mango box and lid with Banksia trims. Experimenting with some plated hinges and catches which i think add a finishing touch.

I was asked by e relative to make this one for her daughters birthday. It's Maidens Blush and at the moment is in it's raw state and i think it will be a shame to put a finish on it, but it will bring out the Red and Orange. I'll post some photo's of the finished product.

These boxes look great, really professional. I can usually spot the flaws in these things - especially with my own work! I think you have gone past the apprentice level of "still practicing" to Master Craftsman status.

Awesome and spectacular work - really different designs, and REALLY different timbers. Your boxes certainly stand out from the crowd

Curious to know - several of your boxes look to have a solid timber lid panel set into the lid frame, rather than the lid panel being veneer on a stable ply substrate. Do you have any problems with timber movement, or is the lid panel so constrained by the lid frame that it can't really go anywhere? What sort of thickness are those beautiful and highly figured solid lids? This aspect of boxes is something I'm always struggling with, and really like the way your lids come out with that chamfered edge showing the contrasting lid panel against the lid frame. Cheers.

Xanthorrhoeas, with every box I learn a bit more, and get a little better and quicker. Over the past month or so I have gone through every page in the box making section and judging from some of the examples I have seen there I would judge myself being a long way from master craftsman status, but I appreciate your encouragement. It will be a while before I go into a box challenge with some of those guys

Originally Posted by Mr Brush

Awesome and spectacular work - really different designs, and REALLY different timbers. Your boxes certainly stand out from the crowd

Curious to know - several of your boxes look to have a solid timber lid panel set into the lid frame, rather than the lid panel being veneer on a stable ply substrate. Do you have any problems with timber movement, or is the lid panel so constrained by the lid frame that it can't really go anywhere? What sort of thickness are those beautiful and highly figured solid lids? This aspect of boxes is something I'm always struggling with, and really like the way your lids come out with that chamfered edge showing the contrasting lid panel against the lid frame. Cheers.

Thanks for the comments. I must say i'm not a fan of the framed floating panel lid although I have seen some fine examples here. Although I will make a few one day i prefer the rigid lid construction where I rebate a 12mm deep by 6mm wide ( all the stock I use I dress to 12mm) into the top edge of the box and once the box is glued together I take the time to fit the lid exactly to the frame and glue it in. Maybe i'm just lucky that the timbers I use are stable as I have left glued up boxes in my workshop that only has an 2400h roof, it gets very hot in there and I have not had a box explode on me yet. It's for this same reason I have not got into the habit of using corner splines on the mitred boxes. The Maidens Blush box above is the same construction except I ran the lid through the router and put a 20 x 3 rebate and then mitred and glued the bead around the edge. Then I ran it through a 45 degree bit deep enough so that again you can see the contrast of the frame and lid. This will stand out more when the box is oiled.