My first box

**Dengue** · 18th January 2013, 06:14 PM

hi, thought I would share the first box I have made, built to daughter-in-laws's specifications to hold mobile phone, sunglasses, purse, keys etc.

The box is made of silky oak, with dovetailed joints via a Gifkins jig, and measures 300W x 200D x 150H. The sides are 10mm thick.

Woodworking lessons learnt? do a trial box first; make sure all the sides are cut to the same width and thickness; use very sharp router bits for the jig to prevent tearout; and cut each dovetail and pin on the jig carefully and slowly.

The finish was done with 3 coats of Wattyl Scandinavian Teak Oil, letting dry for 3 days, then cut back with Ubeaut EEE Ultrashine polish, but completely removing the polish before doing two coats of Ubeaut Traditional Wax, all done in the one day with a rag and a cotton polishing mop on a converted bench grinder. This finish was learnt from LGS and JillB, and works well. It is very important to remove all the EEE Ultrashine grit.

The finish resulted in a box with an amazingly beautiful smooth, silky touch

This has been a good beginners project, not too complicated. The next box will have a hinged lid on it, and trays, before moving on to the mitred box once I make the jigs for cutting the mitred sides accurately

.box_00.jpg
Carport seconded for jointer, rough sawn boards on left wall for dressing

box_0001.jpg
First pass through thicknesser

box_0003.jpg
Over to son's bandsaw for resawing

box_0002.jpg
Resawn board

box_0004.jpg
Sanding the 10mm thick boards, cut to final length

box_0005.jpg
Trial box using pine

box_01.jpg
First use of Gifkins jig on silky oak

box_02.jpg

box_04.jpg
Section of base cut away for corner legs

box_05.jpg
4mm wide slot for the plywood base

box_06.jpg
Glued, and assembling

box_07.jpg

box_08.jpg
Gluing the last dovetails to be assembled

box_09.jpg
Clamping to dry for 24 hours

box_11.jpg
Box sanded to 240 grit, ready for finishing

box_10.jpg

box_12.jpg
First coat of Wattyl Scandanavian Teak Oil applied with steel wool

box_13.jpg
Polish and wax to apply after oil has dried for 3 days

box_14.jpg
Applying the Traditional Wax

box_15.jpg
Buffing the Traditional Wax. Two coats applied

box_16.jpg
Blue adhesive back felt stuck to cardboard backing and fitted. Air tight, needed to be pushed down on air cushion

box_17.jpg
The finished product

**Scott** · 18th January 2013, 08:29 PM

Great WIP, thanks for sharing

**Dalboy** · 22nd January 2013, 05:07 AM

Well done Dengy good first attempt and also on the WIP

**AlexS** · 22nd January 2013, 07:50 AM

Nice result! Thin box sides always look better IMHO, and 10mm looks pretty good. Nice finish on the silky too, love the colour.

**Wongo** · 22nd January 2013, 09:26 AM

Good work.

**bosox** · 23rd January 2013, 03:51 AM

That is very impressive work for a first timer! Way to go mate!

**TTIT** · 29th January 2013, 02:47 PM

Setting a high standard with your first box could bite you on the bum down the track

Nice work and lovely timber in it

**Ruddy** · 29th January 2013, 04:46 PM

Very nice indeed......great WIP

**delbs** · 29th January 2013, 05:45 PM

Great job, love the WIP pics and beautiful end result!

**Christos** · 29th January 2013, 05:48 PM

That's a nice box you have created along with the description.

**antiphile** · 3rd February 2013, 10:44 AM

Great craftspersonship, lovely timber, fantastic finish and disgustingly tidy workspace.

**Dengue** · 3rd February 2013, 01:13 PM

Thanks for the nice comments, antiphile, they make it all worthwhile.

unfortunately, you are totally wrong about the workplace. The shed is absolutely chocka with clutter and sawdust with a very narrow walkway through it all, so I spill out into the carport ( with the jointer) , the back patio ( for the thicknesser), the outdoor back patio furniture ( for gluing and clamping, and waxing) and my outdoor green metal worktable next to the shed for buffing and metal vice work. The only bit in the shed I can get to is the yellow bench for sanding, and the router table and table saw. The DC sits outside connected by a large 4" flexible hose.

If I go away or a cyclone is coming, all that has to be squeezed, literally, back into the shed

I spent an hour in the shed this morning trying to create a space, but gave up - the job is too big, and the heat was distressing me.

**Christos** · 6th February 2013, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by Dengue

.....I spent an hour in the shed this morning trying to create a space, but gave up - the job is too big, and the heat was distressing me.

I do not think I am in such a position as you are but I can relate to the words used the job is too big. I have collected items that seamed like a good idea at the time but alas now they are really not going to be used. So I have started doing a little bit each week. This has been going on for about 4 months and there is more to do but I feel that I am getting there. At least I can see the floor in some parts of the garage.

Thread: My first box

Thread Tools

Search Thread

My first dovetail box

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions