Abacus Box

**DIY DAN** · 2nd October 2007, 06:51 PM

A few weeks ago Wendy posted an Abacus Box, and someone suggested making a combination lock with an Abacus. This idea fascinated me, so I took up the challenge. Here is the first prototype. It still needs a lot of development and I'll continue to work on it.

The case is Cherry with Jarrah corners and a Jarrah liner on which the lid rests. The lid frame is Tassie Oak and under the beads is New Age veneer.

Not going to tell you how it works. Let's see who is the first to work it out. It's not terribly difficult. My maths are crappy but as far as I can tell I think it will have about 6,500 possible combinations.

DIY DAN

**Sculptured Box** · 2nd October 2007, 07:11 PM

DIY DAN

That's great, now we've got another benchmark to achieve!

**wheelinround** · 2nd October 2007, 07:19 PM

its all numbers to me

Like the whole idea combinationcan obviously be changed I see that will keep em guessing

**watson** · 2nd October 2007, 07:27 PM

Well done DIY Dan!
Apart from the lock mechanism...I really like the corner treatment.

**Boxinator** · 2nd October 2007, 11:39 PM

Now that is cool! Excellent job!

Corey

**sumu** · 3rd October 2007, 08:37 AM

Fantastic! I can imagine what would happen if that one would be brought to our coffee table

.

Really Cool!

sumu

**RufflyRustic** · 3rd October 2007, 12:21 PM

Hi Dan

Wow - what a brilliant furthering of an initial idea!

I must confess I'm a tab puzzled with the lock mechanism, but what a great idea!

cheers
Wendy

**echnidna** · 3rd October 2007, 06:53 PM

One way of locking it would be to attach one bead to the shaft it slides on so that when that particular bead is pushed the shaft itself moves in or out of a round mortice

**watson** · 3rd October 2007, 07:17 PM

G'day DIYDAN,
Could you tell me if there are any splines or biscuits in the corners. I'm really interested in that corner treatment.

**DIY DAN** · 3rd October 2007, 08:39 PM

Originally Posted by watson

G'day DIYDAN,
Could you tell me if there are any splines or biscuits in the corners. I'm really interested in that corner treatment.

Actually the corner idea came about by accident, (to be more honest it was a mistake). I had made the lid first and when I set about making the box to fit, I measured the OD of the lid and wrote these down. Then I stupidly made the case and cut normal 45 deg. mitres on all 4 sides using the same measurements. Forgetting of course to add the thickness of the stock to get the box OD measurements.

When I found my mistake I turned the box sides around, ( with the long sides facing in) and realised it would still work if I cut triangular corner pieces to cover the outward facing mitres.

It looked great and so instead of being a mistake, it is now a design feature.

So, to finally answer your question, no, there are no splines or biscuits in the corners. However I reckon with just the glue it should be just as strong as a normal mitre joint.

Cheers
DIY DAN

**watson** · 3rd October 2007, 09:15 PM

Thanks for that.........certainly a design feature.
I reckon it looks great.

**griffithpark** · 4th October 2007, 05:17 AM

Does the locking mechanism keep the lid closed, or does it keep the abacus in the case, or ???

**jow104** · 4th October 2007, 05:31 AM

This box making just gets better and better on this forum.

**DIY DAN** · 4th October 2007, 10:30 AM

Originally Posted by griffithpark

Does the locking mechanism keep the lid closed, or does it keep the abacus in the case, or ???

The abacus is fixed to the lid which is locked into the case by the mechanism. By sliding certain beads (the combination) the tabs on the lid sides move in and out of the slots in the case.

But how do the beads move the tabs?????

Any ideas?

DIY DAN

**detfall** · 6th October 2007, 03:07 AM

DIY DAN

I guess you worked with hidden rare earth magnets! Maybe some of the red wooden balls are in reality iron balls that react with the magnets under the lid.

A pure mechanical solution seems to be too complicated for me.

You put us all in a really stress situation, not to explain how you did it.

If I have to wait for another week until you show us the solution, I will get a heart attack. So please come on with the pictures and make that I can sleep again.

Detlef

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