Thread: Wig Box for my Daughter-in-law

Lovely box. I really like the effect at the dovetail joints

Agree with Lappa, a really nice box, and I like the dovetail details.

Just one observation for your next box -- the grain in the base should run along rather than across the long dimension of the box

Love it! Nice grain on the timber. The dovetails are amazing.

Pretty box! For a silk? She should be very happy!

Originally Posted by ian

Agree with Lappa, a really nice box, and I like the dovetail details.

Just one observation for your next box -- the grain in the base should run along rather than across the long dimension of the box

Yes, I know what you mean Ian, it just doesn't look right does it. I ran the bottom grain that way because it made the best use of the 4mm thick base stock I had prepared and I figured it should be stronger that way - maybe I should cover it with some felt?

Yes, she is a silk Fuzzie and you're right, I am hoping she'll like it.

Thanks for all your comments guys.

Hi Dave, very nice box well done. Love however you did those dovetails. For the base if you put a nice lining on it, you wouldn't see which way the grain ran.

Top job,'

Paul

Originally Posted by Pauls321

For the base if you put a nice lining on it, you wouldn't see which way the grain ran.

Paul
the grain direction in the base is not an aesthetics issue -- it's one related to the proper construction of a box or case. The detail is designed to minimise the risk that any expansion will blow the box apart.

I love the way this has come up.

How were you applying the shellac?

Surely any issue with the grain direction of the bottom depends on the method it is fixed in place. The potential range of movement on a panel this size must be pretty small and given that the box is more or less square the variation given an x or y grain orientation virtually insignificant. Really how much of an issue is it going to be? There are WIP's of reproduction Georgian furniture on this forum that glue the large scale solid drawer bottoms of case furniture in place in this grain direction.

Originally Posted by Christos

I love the way this has come up.

How were you applying the shellac?

I have been using a couple of different sizes of sable brushes. Because I mainly produce smaller items, this box is on the larger size compared to what I generally make, I thought the brushes would be the way to go. However, I'm beginning to think that a rubber may well be a better option, I think it would be quicker and easier to build up the finish with a rubber. The only thing that concerns me is working the finish in to the detail areas without getting build-up. Because I'm using a brush I lightly sand to #600 every couple of coats. The finish provided by the EEE Ultra Shine is outstanding, it should be called Ultra Smooth and Shine. Because it has the cutting compound in it as well as the waxes the finish is sooo smooth. I have wondered whether I should be using a coat of Shellawax over it though. Any thoughts on this?

With the base of the box I wasn't too concerned with expansion it's all about the aesthetics for me. The material for the base is resawn from 50 year old boards that were part of our front verandah, we've had a very wet winter here and the box will be housed in an air-conditioned building so I'm not expecting it to be a problem. Having said that I have previously had problems with River Red Gum doing exactly as Ian has suggested when I left some lid panels (smaller than this box) in the shed for an extended period over summer. So it pays to be aware and to know your timbers.

The dovetail feature is actually quite easy to achieve, just a bit of mucking around. A lot quicker and easier than Incra double dovetails.

Great looking box and the dovetail treatment looks really good Just hope the grain direction doesn't come back to haunt you - I've seen it separate smaller items with ease in the right(wrong) timber!

Beautiful box,
I am sure she will love it and get pleasure from using it for many years to come.
Regards Rod.

Originally Posted by TTIT

Great looking box and the dovetail treatment looks really good Just hope the grain direction doesn't come back to haunt you - I've seen it separate smaller items with ease in the right(wrong) timber!

Here's hoping. I reckon it's sometimes harder to re-make something than it was to make it from scratch, it's certainly soul destroying and takes a bit of effort to regroup.