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  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Bendigo
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    776

    Default Batching Boxes - lessons learned

    Well Chrissie is over and the missus and I can go back to our respective individual hobbies. Have been over two months tied up in our Christmas Village display, and entertaining the innumerable neighbours and friends visiting to look at it. All good but SO glad to be back in the shed more now, and back here!

    A while ago in the box forum someone suggested to me to just 'make a box every week' to develop the skills. Well, went one better and decided that seeing I sold three of these 'Tumbling Towers' games I'd batch out a few, ended up 16 boxes and about 800 blocks to fill them (still have to sand the edges on those little blighters, that's 800 blocks times 8 sides each = No, don't go there Bob).

    Lessons learned -

    Not as easy as one thinks going in - you have to be organised or you get confused, especially mixing up cut parts between steps!

    Maple (did two American Maple boxes) is HARD guys, and even a brad nail will split it

    Walnut - how beautiful to work, but what a bugger with glue, the staining, sheesh!!! Gonna mask everything with tape next time on Walnut! Unless someone has a better idea, spent ages sanding off yellow stains.

    And though most of the boxes are fine, being quarter sawn Tassie Oak, the flat sawn Maple and Walnut, well with that design of mine there is nothing to stop them twisting - major bummer!

    Anyway, life is a learning curve they say, and at least I'll have something to post online for sale and earn some pocket money.

    Now to the finishing.
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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
    Age
    34
    Posts
    6,127

    Default

    Yes, it's easy to lose track on big jobs. Every time you're up to a new step, have one "In" pile and one "Out" pile with plenty of space between them; pick up from the "In" pile, cut and put on the "Out" pile.

    If you're using PVA, wait a few minutes for any squeeze-out to form a skin and then you can remove it with a sharp chisel. These are fantastic for scraping any residual after the chisel step https://www.japanwoodworker.com/prod...7070231a00003f Carbatec used to sell them, I'm not sure if they still do; use it along the grain as with any other scraper. A regular chisel or plane blade will work just fine as a scraper too. If you can clean it all out while the glue is still wet, you'll have no staining to deal with.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Bendigo
    Posts
    776

    Default

    Indeed Elan, this has given me a new level of respect for guys like you and Kuffy and so on who do it for a living

    Half my trouble was that the various pieces of Tassie Oak were different hues of colour, and I needed to watch to keep each box uniform in itself by keeping loose pieces in their right place.

    In the end I started getting more careful with the glue too. Will check out that little scraper or maybe make up something similar for those tight spots especially.

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    5,124

    Default

    Use a straw to get the glue in the corners and inside edges

    I like that long slide opening. It's innovative!

  6. #5
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Bendigo
    Posts
    776

    Default

    Thanks Woodpixel, occasionally this dusty old brain comes up with a new idea

    It allows for the stacking and setting up of the pieces, like this

    DSC01164.jpg

    Why it didn't occur that the flat sawn timber wasn't appropriate - well, back to the dusty old brain

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    76
    Posts
    768

    Default

    Good to see you back at the bench & Forum Bob.
    Now I need to find out what a Tumbling Tower Game is.

    Regards
    Keith

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2004
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    76
    Posts
    768

    Default

    Looked it up, now I know what the game is.
    As WoodPixel said, I do like the way you have designed the slide opening of the box.

    Regards
    Keith

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    HEYFIELD Victoria
    Age
    48
    Posts
    348

    Default Nice

    I like the design, great idea Bob, pity like you say about the wood movement causing troubles though.
    It's frustrating working with solid timber sometimes, one of the reasons I make less and less boxes each year now.
    I'm too lazy and there's almost no money in it. Congratulations on sanding all those little pieces! Bugger that for a full time job though. You need an apprentice.

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