Thread: More Boxes

Well done Don, still conducting the classes?

One of the group from the box class who was quite good at making boxes has taken over. I am now teaching segmented vases and bowls, most of the original box group have followed me into segmented work.
Don Mc.

Beautiful work Don.

Nice work Don. I like the symmetry with the curves in the second one, the balance appeals to me. You make some interesting stuff, always a pleasure to see some of it.

Regards,

Barrie

Originally Posted by Don Mc.

both are finished with clear laquer ( marine finish )

Bleh, it looks horrible. The boxes are great but the finish is terrible. Have you tried buffed wax?

Don these are just bloody stunning, well done mate. I've been itching to try my hand at bandsawn boxes & these really caught my attention.
On the second piece, whats the risk of the beautiful twin curved sections at the top snapping off while you were making it?

Originally Posted by Rattrap

I've been itching to try my hand at bandsawn boxes & these really caught my attention.

Me too and I think if someone took the time to post a tutorial showing the basic concept of bandsaw box making, the interest here would soar. Other aspects of woodworking in these forums are extensively covered with information, tutorials and WIPs along with advice to show others how they achieved the results but not in the band saw box forum. It seems to be a closed shop with nobody willing to share their knowledge with others in the way of WIP, tutorials or the like, which is disapointing.
Its great to see some of the boxes that have been shown here but most folk, I feel, would likek to see more in the way of WIP and at least a basic tutorial.
Don Mc those boxes are nice and well made but I tend to agree with FC, the finish on the second box particularly leaves a lot to be desired.
Just my two bobs worth.

Take your point Munroben, but band sawn boxes arent that difficult if you are used to woodwork and can use a band saw. There are two excellent books with step by step instructions and plans for simple to advanced boxes, that will get anyone started. They are:

Building beautiful boxes with your band saw. Lois Ventura : Popular Woodworking Books ISBN 1-55870-522-8

and

The Ultimate Band saw Box Book: Donna LaChance Menke' Sterling Publishing Co ISBN-10: 1-4027-2193-5 or Sterling ISBN-13: 978-1-4027-2193-9

Amazon has both and you can find them locally (Carbatec, Australian Woodworker etc)

Other ingredients include patience, steady hand and good eye, lots of time sanding and finishing and a little imagination once you get going.

Check out Tony's web site for some beautiful examples. he sells plans also.

Regards,

Barrie

Thanks for that Barrie, have made a note of the titles and will look for them next time I go to Carba-Tec. I still feel that reading a book defeats the object of this website to a certain extent. Some things cannot be explained in detail here but more advice, WIP and descriptions of methods used by the maker would create much more interest in these threads rather than just looking at someone elses excellent work. We can search the net and look at pictures of other peoples craft any time we want.

The threads in this part of the forum tend to lack the personal touch and comradery of the other topics where everyone is willing to share their knowledge and WIP and ask and receive advice from other woodworkers.
I don't mean to take anything away from anyone showing the excellent work exhibited here but, I for one, would love to see the WIP on some of these beautiful works of art rather than someone just putting up pictures and saying "look what I made"

I may be wrong but I think it woudl create much more interest in these threads.
The toy section of the forum use to be dead at one time. people just came and went because there was hardly any WIPs posted there, now the toy threads are being visited regularly because of the excellent WIP threads that are now shown in there and advice is being offered and asked for, which is what I thought it was all about. One particular project by AUSSIE in the toy forum attracted a massive amount of interest and I lost count of the number of forumites who viewed his WIP on that project. Maybe some of the bandsaw box makers could follow their lead.

I have a copy of Sculpted bandsaw boxes by Lois Keener Ventura. It looks like an excellent book with loads of inspiration as well as what looks like good WIP's. I'm yet to delve in & follow its directions but i've had a good read & i feel that its given me a good mental hold of how to make the boxes. Now i just need the time & motivation to make some!
Just 1 more set of projects on my huge list of things to build. lol

Originally Posted by Rattrap

Don these are just bloody stunning, well done mate. I've been itching to try my hand at bandsawn boxes & these really caught my attention.
On the second piece, whats the risk of the beautiful twin curved sections at the top snapping off while you were making it?

Hi Rattrap.
There was no sign of the centre curls breaking while I was making the box, If you are going to try a similar box choose a sound piece of wood, no fine cracks or flaws. My box had the grain horizontal.
Don Mc.

Originally Posted by funkychicken

Bleh, it looks horrible. The boxes are great but the finish is terrible. Have you tried buffed wax?

Hi Funkychicken.
Thanks for the honest opinion on the finish, I prefer a high gloss finish, they always sell better than the satin finish. The wax I believe requires more attention over it's life to keep it looking good.
Don Mc.

Originally Posted by funkychicken

Bleh, it looks horrible. The boxes are great but the finish is terrible. Have you tried buffed wax?

I've used the Beale buffing system for boxes, but find that handling the boxes takes off the finish. What buffed wax do you use?

Originally Posted by Chickpea26

I've used the Beale buffing system for boxes, but find that handling the boxes takes off the finish. What buffed wax do you use?

I don't Unique Australi makes bandsawn boxes and has used HUT Wax, looks spiffy and feels loverly.

Hi Funkychicken.
Thanks for the honest opinion on the finish, I prefer a high gloss finish, they always sell better than the satin finish. The wax I believe requires more attention over it's life to keep it looking good.
Don Mc.

Nuttin wrong with gloss, it just looks like the finish on your boxes is rough and yukky.