Thread: Blackwood jewellery box

Originally Posted by 3 toed sloth

It certainly helped refine my hand skills, especially the ability to repair mistakes. At times the whole project felt like two steps forward, one step back.
Peter

Many of us are able to commiserate drawing on our personal experience! Congrats on a fine looking box.

Hi Pete.

That is a really impressive first effort, I'm not surprised your wife loves it.

I like the combination of timber you used and the finish looks great too. I may have looked at using darker timber for the keys just so they stand out a bit more but overall I think It looks awesome.

I'm sure this wont be your last one.

Steven.

That is a very nice looking box, well done,...!!!

Paul

Thanks for the likes and replies, much appreciated. I agree, Steve, about the keys, they really blend in. I had some strips of Tas. Myrtle lying around which were almost the right thickness so I went for the convenience. Certainly a missed opportunity to make a nice highlight detail. I feel a bit the same way about the panel in the lid, it has come out a very similar colour. If I did another one I'd put more thought into the contrast of the features for sure.

Peter,

The box is really lovely, especially for a first time effort. It's amazing what you learn when you first start making boxes and you will find that you just keep discovering little things that make the job neater or easier. Like most people I see the corner keys as an opportunity to use contrasting wood but they can be pleasing when the contrast is not great as well. The effect is more subtle, but it's interesting to see the way the end grain changes as the light strikes it from different angles. I think this works well on your box, which is made from such beautiful wood that it doesn't really need further decoration.

I used to have problems getting the corner keys to seat properly as well until I realised that cutting little triangular pieces gave me nothing substantial to push on when fitting them. Just use straight strips and push them home with a small block of wood. The excess is easy to cut off when the glue is dry and the amount saved by using triangular pieces is negligible. I'd also bet this won't be the last set of hinges you will have trouble with, but eventually you will come up with a method that works consistently for you so don't despair. I reckon I've learnt more correcting mistakes than I ever have from trouble free boxes.

Rex

I reckon I've learnt more correcting mistakes than I ever have from trouble free boxes.

Ain't that the truth!

Very attractive case indeed ... love the way you have finished it off ... both external and inside

You say ""The other main stuff up was installing the keys. It was one of those times where you have a bit of time to go in the shed so I thought I'd just whack those keys in. When the glue dried some of the keys weren't all the way in.""

I really like using splines for contrast and strength ... varying the size and width can also be attractive.

Over the years I have found the for some reason the splines dont completely fill the cut .... this is particularly so if I don't use a blade with a rake (square top tooth) a fine file can square the otherwise V shaped bottom of the cuts .

BUT ... I do file a couple of mm's off the middle of the spline now and I find (for whatever reason) that they sit better ... I use a half round file to create a slight arc in the middle third (on the inside part) of the spline.

If you splines are a little tight then you can always squash them in the vice ... and they will expand when the glue is applied.

Great work

Regards

ROB

It's a pity that photos never really show the full beauty of Blackwood.

Mind you, it looks damn fine in the pix even so! Nicely done, sirrah.

Thanks, Rob, that's a great tip, I'll definitely do that next time. This box also brought home the importance of a flat tooth blade, might have to go on the shopping list.

Originally Posted by Rex Ashwell

I used to have problems getting the corner keys to seat properly as well until I realised that cutting little triangular pieces gave me nothing substantial to push on when fitting them. Just use straight strips and push them home with a small block of wood. The excess is easy to cut off when the glue is dry and the amount saved by using triangular pieces is negligible.

Totally agree with Rex. All you can see of the keys on the finished box is the endgrain cut on a mitre. You would not be using your best timber for the keys anyway. And you always need to cut a bit oversized anyway so probably the most you would be able to save is about 1/3 by cutting triangles.

Getting them to fit properly and choosing the right colour should be the primary concerns. Saving timber on such a small component is a minor consideration. If you are using Lace Sheoak or Birds-eye Redgum for your keys maybe you should reconsider your methods of work.

Some may find fitting triangles suits their methods of work and that is fine, but I prefer to cut them straight so I have a fair bit of material not inside the cut to hold onto while fitting them.

It is a nice box Peter, and I am sure you learned a lot to apply to the next project.

Cheers

Doug