Thread: Watch Box

Originally Posted by Dengue

A very nice box, John, well done. Can you tell us a bit about how you did the lid? Is the jarrah timber or a veneer? If timber, how did you allow for expansion? Wouldn't mind seeing a cross-sectional sketch if possible

G'day Dengy
I did't allow for expansion, the method I chose is one I have used for many years and so far I have not experienced any issues. I can't say it won't happen but a box I made this way 12 years ago is still in as constructed condition. I guess this method is a veneer and I have used a sandwich approach in the past with mdf or ply in between. In the case of the watch box, I chose to use a feature lid of jarrah and a complementary inner lid lining. The construction sequence I used is to construct the box carcass, fix a base (in a similar manner to the lid) and then cut the inner lid lining accurately to fit the box sides. I then glued the lining to the Jarrah lid top (which was cut slightly oversize) This composite lid was then glued down on top of the sides, then trimmed flush to the sides. I finally ran the whole lot over the router table to create a rebate for the huon pine matching trim. The last step was to run the box through the bandsaw to separate the lid section from the base.

Here is a rough sketch of the cross section
IMG_2606.jpg

Hope this all makes sense

Thanks for going to this trouble, John, we really appreciate it. A very interesting lid design. I don't quite understand why you needed the 4mm inner lid lining, I would have thought the jarrah would look good on the inside of the lid.
If you really needed the inner lining, would it have been easier to do a small 4 x 4 mm rebate on the inside perimeter around the top of the box, and let the inner lining sit in that? Does away with the need for a very accurate fit inside the box perimeter

Originally Posted by Dengue

Thanks for going to this trouble, John, we really appreciate it. A very interesting lid design. I don't quite understand why you needed the 4mm inner lid lining, I would have thought the jarrah would look good on the inside of the lid.
If you really needed the inner lining, would it have been easier to do a small 4 x 4 mm rebate on the inside perimeter around the top of the box, and let the inner lining sit in that? Does away with the need for a very accurate fit inside the box perimeter

Dengy
Yes you're right - it might have been easier, but in the manner you suggest, I don't like the potential for gaps to become visible between a lid insert and the box sides. I also went the way I did for convenience, as I had the Jarrah already milled for a previous job, and although it was only 6mm thick, I really liked the grain pattern and colour in the Jarrah. Plus the timber on the inside of the lid seemed to provide a more uniform colour match to the box interior. A bit difficult to fully document the thought processes I go through to get the final overall appearance I had in mind, but I tend to make decisions on box design based on timber grain, colour and proportions as much as the techniques to make it all work. And quite often this is a bit fluid during the build!
Cheers

PS I found this additional shot which gives a better indication of how I tried to make the inner lid lining complement the interior of the watch box
P6031011.jpg