Huon pine / red oak box

**Dengue** · 14th December 2017, 10:21 AM

One of my rush job Xmas presents made for a friend in Sydney, consists of Birdseye Huon Pine (10mm thick ) box carcase from Strachan, TAS, and a floating lid of Red Oak / Caledonian Oak ( Carnarvonia Araliifolia) from Tully, NQ.

The box is designed and constructed to a Golden Ratio 262 x 162 x 100H. Slipfeathers ( keys) are made from 2mm thick red oak.

Although it cannot be seen clearly in the photos below, the grain is continuous around each of the 4 corners

Hinges are the brass plated 6 x 35mm strap hinges available from the specialist box hardware suppliers that we see at the Wood shows etc

The base liner is red pigskin suede.

Wiped all the joints thoroughly with White spirits before doing any gluing. Surprising the amount of oil in Huon Pine timber.

The finish is Kunos #244 oil, thinned 50% with eco oil. Did not have any shellac to do a sanding sealer, so there was a lot of bleeding of the oil from the red oak with its open pored grain. that mean wiping it down vigorously every 1/2 hour for the first few hours, then hourly for the next 6 hours or so. Many thanks to AlexS for his advice on the best way to finish this.

Gets posted to Sydney today, should arrive in time for Xmas

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**double.d** · 14th December 2017, 04:36 PM

That birdseye is something special and so is the box. Well done

**ajw** · 14th December 2017, 05:33 PM

That's a lovely piece. Congratulations. The recipient will be very happy to receive it, I'm sure.

Cheers,

ajw

**Dengue** · 14th December 2017, 06:11 PM

Thanks d.d and ajw. It was a rush job after being out of action with illness and severe back injury since late July. I hope she likes it. My missus wants one the same now.

The recipient is under strict instructions not to open the carton until Xmas Day, Aust Post permitting

**groeneaj** · 14th December 2017, 08:07 PM

Looks great Joe, well done.
I bet it’s really heating up in Townsville now?

**Dengue** · 14th December 2017, 09:52 PM

Thanks Andy for your kind comments, much appreciated. Pity the 3D rays of the red oak lid did not show in the pics.

Sits on 33 degC during the day now, making it 37 in the shed, so have to get in early in the morning ( 9am after neighbours go to work) to get anything done, and drink lots of water and wear headbands, several a day.

Ahhhh...don't you just miss the tropics?

**groeneaj** · 15th December 2017, 07:48 AM

Originally Posted by Dengue

Thanks Andy for your kind comments, much appreciated. Pity the 3D rays of the red oak lid did not show in the pics.

Sits on 33 degC during the day now, making it 37 in the shed, so have to get in early in the morning ( 9am after neighbours go to work) to get anything done, and drink lots of water and wear headbands, several a day.

Ahhhh...don't you just miss the tropics?

It’s a really nice combination, I really like it.
How did you cut the splines? it looks like you got a nice square cut?

I do miss the tropics, just not this time of the year.... stuff that!

**Dengue** · 15th December 2017, 11:00 AM

Hi Andy, I cut the splines with a flush cut saw from Carbatec. I hold the handle in one hand, and press the blade firmly against the box side while cutting. Gets a bit tiring, but found it the best way, with little or no sanding required.

You have to be a bit ambidextrous too, with the saw in alternate hands on each key

key-1.jpg box key 2.jpg

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