Thread: Pencil Cases

I have just finished building one recently to try out some techniques (free hand dovetails etc). I can't find my camera at home (if I had it would have been shown here already), but I will see if I can take a picture with my wife's phone when I get back there tonight.

PS This is the box that I drop kicked across the shed. http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=33796

We decided to let bygones be bygones and I didn't incinerate it but used it to practice other things (like repairs and finishing). So it's no thing of beauty, but it has some history.

Thanks, I can see I will have to set up a bit of a production line here as I need to make 12 ish.

My Gifkins template is too large so I might have to invest in the small templates if I can hold out to the Melb wood show and speak nicely to Roger for one of his show specials?

I think my wife has the old style in mind though which might be the single block of wood routed out etc. Still room to explore options.

Will see if I can find a pic of what type she means.

but with a with a rotating top level once the lid is removed?

[quote=bennylaird]Thanks, I can see I will have to set up a bit of a production line here as I need to make 12 ish.

[quote]

I hope that you are going to get paid for this ( I know you won't - my SWMBO was a teacher before we started on offspring and I know how many freebies I gave her school and esp her classes).

My recollection of the swing lid box that was made a school was that it had simple lap joints, not dovies. But of course if SWMBO wants dovies in 12 boxes then dovies it must be.

And if she wants them all finished before the end of term then I think you need much more in the way of new tools than just some Gifkin small templates!!!

Originally Posted by bennylaird

but with a with a rotating top level once the lid is removed?

Could be done, but I think it would need to be made in two parts (ie top and bottom, otherwise you will have to cut it in half and fit a bottom plate to the top section). I think doing it in two pieces would be better also because of the need to create the small section at the end of the top level for the sliding lid to lock into. Damn, I wish I had the box here and I could then take some photos with someone's phone to show you what I mean.

No the feeling, a picture is worth a thousand words. Except my uni lecturer had no sense of humour when I submitted 4 pics for a 4 thousand word assignment??????

I'm thinking use one piece of wood sawn in half and then the top glued back on with a 45 degree angle to let the sliding top level butt up against. The lid then securing the swiwel?

I don't have a plan, but

start with a solid squared-up, sanded blank (say 300 x 50 x 35),
drill and countersink for a 30mm screw near one end,
saw off a slice (say 5mm thck) containing the countersink (this will be the lid),
sand the sawn faces, and round over the edges as desired.
rout out a recess, say 25mm deep for the pencils (use a jig and template guided bit), make sure you don't cut into the screw hole
reattach the lid (using a brass screw)
DONE or at least ready for finishing


ian

Sounds the way to go, Thanks Ian.

Hope the kids appreciate them. (probably find out I could buy them from the $2 shop afterwards????)

I will personalise them though so that may help make them special. All grade 4's.

I dion't think you need a 45 degree angle - 15 should be enough. When I was making mine, I decided to have face along the entire line of the angle both on the swivelling part and the fixed part, so that the edges of the box were not taking any force from closing. Maybe I over-engineered it, but it does give a satisfying sound of being shut and there is no chance of the edges being buggered by kids slamming the top section closed.

Originally Posted by bennylaird

I will personalise them though so that may help make them special. All grade 4's.

If you really want to be flash, make teh blanks by gleing up some contrsting timbers


ian

Yes 45 is far to much just needs to allow the top face to mate up.

Will go two tone with the timbers.

I might try and draw up a rough design as I'm sure there plenty of kids who need some wood in there early years rather than plastic bags with comic characters on them lol.

Originally Posted by bennylaird

I'm sure there plenty of kids who need some wood in there early years rather than plastic bags with comic characters on them lol.

How right you are. My little lad (2 going on 3) loves the pencil case I made and loves the wood in particular. !0 year olds may be different, but I suspect that they will love it, especially if you can show them how you did it (otherwise they won't see that it is something special).

BTW if you are not careful, you may have to give them woodwork lessons - if so, have a look at Jack McKee's book "Woodshop for Kids" - here's a link. It's quite good (even if it is American):
http://home.earthlink.net/~mchkee/

Yes have been dragged off to schol a few times as a fill in teacher, last time was to explainf flight. Had two of my sailplanes hanging from their ceiling for a few months after that lol.