Thread: Box #2 S#&t

Sorry I have not responded but my 2yr old son hurt his arm and demanded more daddy time than normal.

Originally Posted by jefferson

Rum Pig,

I'm sorry you had problems with Box No. 2.

A couple of suggestions:

- when you jam-fit the lid onto the base, use tail-stick support until the final finish cuts. And when you do, take it easy! Tape always helps and try to keep the final fit for the lid until last. That way, your jam chuck should hold. When I brought the tail stock up to the lid it would not line up with the impression made when turning between centers so it kept bowing the box slightly but enough for me to notice. I tried to remove the dimple but that is when the Frisbee practice started.

- as an alternative, use the nylon jaws. $25 a set while you're learning isn't a bad investment. (Some of the masters here discourage their use, but it only takes a fraction for a jam-chuck fit to be .1mm out.) Where do you buy them from

- the walls on the base remain too thick. A 2mm or less flange is more than enough to seat the lid into. (I think you have it the other way around). I've done it myself!I know the wall is still to thick but it is thinner than the first so I'm getting there but moer practice is needed

- your hollowing techique is Raffan-style, not the Ken W method (I think??) What are you using to hollow the end grain? Ken W suggests a long and strong spindle gouge, either with or without a depth hold bored with a drill bit. With this box I used a 10mm square parting tool it worked well. The first box I hollowed it with a bowl gouge and finished with scrapers but I think I like the parting tool better.

As you say, stick with the basics. You're doing so very well thus far - and I suspect you haven't got the expert support that others like Tea Lady and myself have had. I have a expert by the name of Ian to call on but I was trying to work through this challenge by myself and the help of people on this forum like you

And what sort of tools are you using? Especially when you fit the lid. This is a contentious area, as many turners do it several different ways. Are the tools sharp? And how to you check for parallel? The tools are sharp and I check for parallel by using spring calipers like in Raffan's DVD. As for the tools I use well it is a case of what ever I have and I think will do the job but for this box it was mainly bowl and spindal gouge and skew chisel.

Sing out if you have any more problems. Too many of my first 30 odd little bowls and boxes flew out of the chuck all too frequently - and that takes all the pleasure out of it. ( always tells me to analyse when something goes wrong. It's good advice.) I will do thank you and it sound like good advice to me.

Keep them coming. I have a passion for little boxes, both the arty and practical ones. And there is so much to learn.... Just check out Andy's box (and the mistakes he purportedly made). This is a long journey, I just hope you enjoy it.Yes I'm starting to develop a addiction to making box's so you should see a lot more coming from the rum factory

Thank you to every one for your supportive words