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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    Default Red cedar and ash burl utility box

    Here is an effort that was put aside 6 months ago because I was not happy with it. In the end I added a tray, making the box more useful. And I gave up on finding a decent 6mm x 35mm strap hinge, and used a cheap die-cast alloy hinge that I was not really happy with, but there was no alternative.

    The box is 260W x 160D x 95H made of 10mm thick Australian Red Cedar from Tully, NQ.

    Lid is ash burl veneer on the outside with 3mm ebony stringing around the perimeter, hoop pine veneer on the inside, with an inlaid 40x40mm paua shell from Riverton NZ South Island.

    Tray is 6mm Huon Pine from west coast of Tasmania, strengthened with 2mm thick jarrah corner keys (slipfeathers).

    Lining is pigskin suede from Sydney Leather Co.

    Because of the strong warning on the Livos website against using my usual Kunos #244 on thin commercial veneer, I ended up finishing with 3 coats of Danish Oil, to give a nice satin finish. But as our Benevolent Dictator Neil advises Danish Oil is just watered down polyurethane sold at 1000% markup. The box ended up with much more of a plastic feel that I normally get with Kunos.

    Personal lessons learnt with this style of box?
    1. make the tray supports the same timber as the box
    2. make the internal veneer for the lid the same as the external veneer
    3. Don't install the paua shell ornament
    4. Keep looking for a good finish for the veneered lid
    5. Keep looking for a decent 6 mm wide strap hinge

    I am quite open to further suggestions to improve on the style of this box please
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    regards,

    Dengy

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Townsville, Nth Qld
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    Default

    regards,

    Dengy

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Westleigh, Sydney
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    Default

    Very nice! I like the mix of timbers and the shape of the handles on the tray. I agree with your comments about the inside veneer and the paua shell. I don't think it adds anything.
    Pity about not being able to get decent 6mm strap hinges. I've used those ones too, and they just don't look right. I've used SmartHinges on 10mm walls, but there's a danger of splitting the thin strip off next to the hinge. I suppose you could put it flush with the inside of the box, but that doesn't seem really satisfactory either.
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  5. #4
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Valla Beach
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    1,184

    Default

    Hey there Dengy, I dont know why you beat yourself up so much, your boxes are really nice and great craftmanship This box is no exception. Sure I wouldn't go with that shell thing on the inside, just my opinion. For all my standard size boxes 250mm x 150mm I use the strap hinges from

    https://www.veneerinlay.com.au/58-strap-hinges

    I buy these in lots of 20 pairs at a time, and have never had any problem with them at all. I did buy and have seen others similars, wasn't happy with them. For this size box all my sides are 10mm Hence with these 6mm hinges that gives you 2mm on each side. I've been to Col's (now owner of the Gifkin franchise) house several times in Coffs Harbour and I know he only ever uses 10mm sides on all this boxes. It's his opinion anything larger is just too bulky.

    Having said that with my larger boxes 300mm x 185mm, I use the smart hinge or a very similar identical one I come across. Once again that 8mm hinge still gives you 2mm on each side, as I then use 12mm timber on that size box.

    Keep up the good work Dengy.

    Paul

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
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    Thanks for your supportive comments, Paul, I really appreciate them. I suppose I am looking to make the perfect box First time I have ever added paua shell or had differing veneers on a lid, so lessons learnt.
    The hinges on the box are the same ones you use, and it is my personal view that they are not really suitable for heirloom boxes intended to last for generations. The polished brass coating peels off in places if you are not careful.
    I was hopeful that Andrew Crawford would eventually come up with a 6mm solid brass SmartHinge, but that does not look likely
    regards,

    Dengy

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Valla Beach
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    Hi Dengy, Is the "perfect box" the same as the "perfect race horse system", which I have been trying to find for the last 45 years or so.

    Paul

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 1999
    Location
    Westleigh, Sydney
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    77
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pauls321 View Post
    Hi Dengy, Is the "perfect box" the same as the "perfect race horse system", which I have been trying to find for the last 45 years or so.

    Paul
    No, eventually someone will come up with the perfect race horse system.
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  9. #8
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    Sep 2011
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    Valla Beach
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    Ha Ha Alex, good point.

    Paul

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
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    Coffs Harbour
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    52
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    11

    Default

    This is a really beautiful box.

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