Thread: Box with brass inlay

exquisite

There's a bit of work in that one, Ruddy. It's always a worry when you've successfully completed the box only to start cutting chunks out of it to include some detail. Not for those of faint heart. Nice result, the leather and the 4 leaf clover hearts look fabulous.

So beautiful Ruddy

Lovely Ruddy

Hi Ruddy,

Great work on the brass inlays!

Can I ask how difficult it was to fit the press-button latch. I have a few waiting to be fitted but I’ve read they’re not easy to get aligned. Might as well ask the expert

Thanks for any tips you may be able to share.

Regards,

Brian

Love it, I too am interested on your reply re the latch x 10

Originally Posted by homey

Hi Ruddy,

Great work on the brass inlays!

Can I ask how difficult it was to fit the press-button latch. I have a few waiting to be fitted but I’ve read they’re not easy to get aligned. Might as well ask the expert

Thanks for any tips you may be able to share.

Regards,

Brian

Hi Brian
I have quickly drawn a rough sketch of the way I fit the latch.
First you must Fit the hinges and have them correctly aligned and screwed down.
Use a square and mark a sharp pencil line in the centre of the front. The line should be continuous from lid to box face
Then open the box and use square to draw the line on the edge of lid and base. Undo hinges on base and separate lid from base.
See the attached sketch for centre distances to where the holes need to be drilled.
I use a small needle point centre punch to mark the hole positions making sure they are right on the crosshairs.
I use a pistol drill with a 1mm drill to drill the first pilot holes.
Then using drill press use correct drills as shown on sketch.
The important thing is to finally set the small lid pin at the right height. I use araldite to set the lid pin and also the latch mechanism. You have to adjust the catch on the push button latch to the correct spot.

When you drill the 12mm dia hole through the front of the box clamp a piece of scrap on the inside of the box to avoid tearout

Sorry the sketch is sideways.....I need a ten year old grandkid to fix it.
EPSON001.jpg

latch sketch.JPGHOLE A is 12mm Dia to suit latch

Wow!

Thank you so much for the detailed explanation and drawing, Ruddy. That’s going way above and beyond!

From your description and diagram I can see that all the holes need to be very precisely placed but otherwise not too scary.

I have three or four of these catches that I bought from Ian Hawthorne in Northern Ireland perhaps eight or nine years ago so it’s time they were used!

Thanks again, Ruddy - that’s a great help.

Regards,

Brian

Really great looking box you have done yourself proud.

Silky Oak boxes never disappoint but really set off with the brass inlay, Ash stringers and blue suede.

Very nice box there, good execution.

I bought a few of those catches, locally cheap, took me ages to work out the distances etc then i could not get the catch to work properly, it went in the bin.

I like the push button catch as I think they are a much better solution than magnets. When fitted correctly they give a nice snap when closed and add to the appearance and function of the box.
For larger boxes I prefer a good mortice lock but the push button style is much simpler to fit.

Really nice work. Where do the press button latches come from?