Thread: 3 Keepsake boxes, 5 timbers.

Clean, simple lines beautifully conceived and constructed. Very attractive contrast in the timbers used. I like the bevel at the top of the sides. Keep 'using up' small pieces of timber that are 'lying around', you can't go wrong!

I'm a fan! I really like the bevelled top and the lip on the front to open it. Nice work ☺️

Very nice indeed! How do you apply the veneer - press or vacuum?
Cheers

I agree....very nice indeed. Look forward to seeing the next two. What did you use to line the box?

Thanks everyone.

Originally Posted by Lappa

Very nice indeed! How do you apply the veneer - press or vacuum?
Cheers

The veneer was applied using a press of sorts. I used MDF as a substrate, then after going through the softening process the two book matched veneers were glued top and bottom and pressed between two platens with lots of cauls and clamps.

Originally Posted by Ruddy

I agree....very nice indeed. Look forward to seeing the next two. What did you use to line the box?

The bottom of the box is lined with felt, nothing fancy. I would like to use leather or similar in the future though.

Thanks again all for looking.

Steven.

That is a piece to be proud of. That curly Maple is beautiful and id like to get hold of some one day.

Very nice indeed! Similar dimensions to a batch of 4 I'm making at present but my tops aren't quite so flash! I started the project to have a go at some Rob Cosman style hinges and after doing the first one, I'm not sure that I like the idea enough to put them on the rest. Where did your strap hinges come from???

Originally Posted by TTIT

Very nice indeed! Similar dimensions to a batch of 4 I'm making at present but my tops aren't quite so flash! I started the project to have a go at some Rob Cosman style hinges and after doing the first one, I'm not sure that I like the idea enough to put them on the rest. Where did your strap hinges come from???

Thanks TTIT,

Got the hinges here, https://www.veneerinlay.com.au/58-strap-hinges

If you want top quality hinges, i guess Brusso are the go but these are ok and prices are pretty good too.

Steven.

Hi all,

Here is the second box in the series of three.

This one is made from Tasmanian Blackwood with a Tasmanian Birdseye Myrtle veneer lid insert and Rock Maple stringing, corner splines and lid tab.

As with the first box, finish is satin lacquer and dimensions are also the same.

This box differs in that it has a standard chamfer around the top and the lid tab is a slightly different design.

These pics really don't do the blackwood any favors as it really is beautiful, I have added a pic taken with a flash to try and highlight the figure but even that makes it look a bit flat. Even the myrtle lid looks better than the pics show. Need to work on my photography skills.

Thanks for looking.

Steven.

Hi again.

Finally we have the last piece of the puzzle, box no 3.

This one is made from my favorite timber, Walnut. It has a Walnut Burl veneer lid and once again Rock Maple is used for the detailing.

This one sees the return of the tapered chamfer on the lid (which I quite like) and uses the curved lid tab from the blackwood box.

Unfortunately the Walnut had some borer holes which needed filling. It was a shotgun blank that was a lesser grade due to this but still shows beautiful color and figure.

I enjoyed this little experiment and although all the boxes are basically the same, each has it's own character.

Thanks for looking.

Steven.

They are all beautiful. I'm going to pinch the lid idea. It looks great.

cheers,

ajw

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Got the hinges here, https://www.veneerinlay.com.au/58-strap-hinges

The hinge says its a 6mm width. What router bit did you end up using?

Originally Posted by woodPixel

The hinge says its a 6mm width. What router bit did you end up using?

I was given this bit by a friend, It has a 6mm diameter and leaves a excellent finish. Prior to this I just used a 6mm straight bit from Carbi-tool.

Steven.

That looks like a compression bit, the bottom section is upcut, downcut would do an even better job, but that said I'm not surprised it does an excellent job of shallow mortising. You don't get too many people giving compression bits away. How do you mount a 6mm shank bit in your router?

All three of your boxes are beautiful. The tapered chamfer on the lid is (was?) a unique feature. That Rock Maple looks totally white against the Walnut.