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Thread: First Box
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8th August 2007, 07:52 AM #1New Member
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- Wexford, Ireland
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First Box
Hi Everybody,
The forum contains so much information & advice that I could be reading from now 'till Christmas and still not get started. So I decided 'here goes' and jumped in at the deep end with my first attempt. It is a small box made out of some scraps of red deal (I think). I made & used a shooting board (thanks for the advice Ashore) to keep the joints square and then rounded off the four corners with the router. Next problem is how to finish - there appears to be an encyclopaedia of information on finishing in the forum - but where do I start?
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8th August 2007 07:52 AM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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8th August 2007, 09:27 AM #2
Hi Adhmad,
what a great little box! Congratulations! Are you hooked on boxmaking yet?
Finishing - you could oil it for a lustre and sheen type of finish. You could paint it and hide the lovely grain. You could varnish it. The choice is yours.
I'd suggest an oil for finishing. As to which oil, it depends on what is available where you are.
Very generally, wipe or brush the oil on, wait a bit for it to soak in, wipe the excess off with a rag and then give it a rub with fine steel wool or some fine sandpaper if you do not have any steel wool.
Others may have better suggestions to offer.
cheers
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8th August 2007, 11:14 AM #3
That is a really sweet box, and I like your 'jump in' attitude. The well made butt joints look nice, and contrast well with the strong visual grain of the pine.
I'd suggest a light reddish/brown stain to warm up the colour a tad, then take your pick of ruffly's suggestions --- except the paint! One suggestion in addition would be to try some shellac. Apply with a brush, and sand gently at about 300 grit between each of two or three coats. Advantage of shellac is that it dries much quicker than oil.Those are my principles, and if you don't like them . . . well, I have others.
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8th August 2007, 11:42 AM #4
Congrats on your first box. Looks great!
Corey
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8th August 2007, 06:17 PM #5
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8th August 2007, 08:54 PM #6
Nice looking little box. How about starting with a subtle stain and finishing with a wipe-on poly? No muss, very little fuss. As you have already read, there are a whole lot of ways to make and finish boxes. Keep up the good work!
When all is said and done, there is usually a whole lot more said than done.
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8th August 2007, 09:36 PM #7Making quality sawdust
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Great job on that first box and now you have the fever Your jointery is tight as should be and the fit looks to be perfecft.
I am with Ruffy on using oil to finish with. I think it will make it look and feel just the way you want it.Cheers,
Bob
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8th August 2007, 10:30 PM #8
I think I heard the little bell ringing that announces the arrival of another addict .... yep, I hear it ringing!
welcome and great first box, Fletty
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9th August 2007, 12:43 AM #9Novice
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- Apr 2007
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- Dallas
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- 16
finishing the box
All good finishing jobs start with surface prep. Give it a good sanding at 220 grit. Then apply your finish. Someone mentioned the wood was pine. If it is then be careful with stain. Dark stain will reverse the grain of pine and not look to good. You could use "poly shades". It is a tinted wipe on poly. It works ok with pine. Don't recommend it for much else though.
Of course it is hard to go wrong with WATCO danish oil. Wet the surface, wipe off the excess, wait 24 hours, sand lightly with 220 or steel wool and repeat. 4 to 6 coats is best.
Best of luck.
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9th August 2007, 02:57 AM #10New Member
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- Wexford, Ireland
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Thanks for the kind words - yes I am addicted (and that is with just one partially finished box). Now its time for the shellac, oil, stain, wire wool etc. - decisions, decisions!
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9th August 2007, 03:45 PM #11
"Next problem is how to finish - there appears to be an encyclopaedia of information on finishing in the forum - but where do I start?"
First of all. Nice one.
To answer that question of yours. I think you had the right idea when you made the box: Just jump right in there and do it. A simple varnish or stain would do. Then once it's done you look at how it turned out and figure out from there what you might do different next time based on how you feel about your results.
Experience is the greatest teacher. And a lot of fun to boot.
“When we build, let us think that we build forever. Let it not be for present delight nor for present use alone. Let it be such work as our descendants will thank us for; and let us think...that a time is to come when those (heirlooms) will be held sacred because our hands have touched them, and that men will say, as they look upon the labor and wrought substance of them, ‘See! This our father did for us.’ “ --John Ruskin. Audels Carpenters and Builders Guide, 1923 Theo Audel & CO. New York.
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10th August 2007, 05:37 AM #12Intermediate Member
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Nice box. For the finish,
if you have some scrap of the wood left over, use it to try the different methods suggested. As you can tell, everyone has their favorite finish. You might as well try to discover yours before you apply something else to the entire box.
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10th August 2007, 10:48 AM #13
Excellent for first box. Looks really great. more pics when its finished please
Reality is no background music.
Cheers John
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