Thread: A box for Elsa

*prods Skew* Oi, ... Valentines is commin y'know. Jus'sayin. *points at Elsa's box.*
(insert Monty Pythonesque 'wink wink nudge, say no more' skit here)

Don't forget to wax the sides of the secret compartment doors and the grooves they go into.
Wouldn't want them to jam with the movement of the wood before she gets old enough to discover them

Brilliant idea. Beautiful work. I hope she cherishes it for a long time to come.

Wow. Do you do commissions?

Originally Posted by Skew's_Girl

...
Don't forget to wax the sides of the secret compartment doors and the grooves they go into.
Wouldn't want them to jam with the movement of the wood before she gets old enough to discover them

Thanks Skew's girl (I'll have to introduce you to Fletty's Girl or, even more scarey, Little Flett)
I was only just thinking HOW I was going to glue it all together because all of the bits have to be lined up, waxed, and checked to slide freely all while I'm brushing on the glue and clamping it all together ....... and then hoping that everything still slides smoothly AFTER its been glued up

I wish I COULD multiskill.....

fletty

Skew, the challenge has been thrown down, I'll send sketches........

I was only just thinking HOW I was going to glue it all together because all of the bits have to be lined up, waxed, and checked to slide freely all while I'm brushing on the glue and clamping it all together

Fletty, guess that you won't be using Titebond Original here.

Fletty is there anything I can make or add to the things which will go into the box use of Aussie timbers of course.

Now for secret compartments to be located you could set up a site or such which gives clues for her each other birthday and with in that section the surprise.

Originally Posted by BobR

Fletty, guess that you won't be using Titebond Original here.

nah, you're right Bob, I should stick with superglue ........

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Fletty is there anything I can make or add to the things which will go into the box use of Aussie timbers of course.

Actually ... YES! Will send sketch .....

fletty

I was hopeful of using the prototype 'well' so I cleaned it up, filled a few holes woith epoxy and rosewood dust, used some of the epoxy on one of the 'fingers' on the secret slide, a few coats of shellac and then buffed on Ubeaut Traditional wax....

elsasbox26web.jpg


it came up well and a little bit of spalting makes one side of the box look like a landscape painting

elsasbox27web.jpg


I made a finger jointed 'tube' intending to cut it into individual drawers to fit inside the well.....

elsasbox28web.jpg



but it fit SO beautifully that I'm now thinking of a Plan B

fletty

My last post was decidedly unflattering to the huon pine 'tube' so I've rephotographed it to show just how lovely it is. I usually use pieces with knots and knot holes but fill them with clear epoxy like here......

elsasbox29web.jpg

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Fletty is there anything I can make or add to the things which will go into the box use of Aussie timbers of course.

YES! I've been thinking of 'novel', 'interesting' or possibly 'brave' ways to create drawer dividers
and have come up with the following....

elsasbox30web.jpg

As you know wheelin', I dont turn because I get giddy so this one is made with a hole cutter and belt sander. Could you think of a better way to make them ........ ?

fletty

Originally Posted by fletty

My last post was decidedly unflattering to the huon pine 'tube' so I've rephotographed it to show just how lovely it is. I usually use pieces with knots and knot holes but fill them with clear epoxy like here......

elsasbox29web.jpg

Originally Posted by wheelinround

Fletty is there anything I can make or add to the things which will go into the box use of Aussie timbers of course.

YES! I've been thinking of 'novel', 'interesting' or possibly 'brave' ways to create drawer dividers
and have come up with the following....

elsasbox30web.jpg

As you know wheelin', I dont turn because I get giddy so this one is made with a hole cutter and belt sander. Could you think of a better way to make them ........ ?

fletty

This giddy thing must be from having 3 lovely daughters and a wonderful wife..............nothing to do with work.
Well 10 points for the use of tools I would have done it with if not had a lathe (hum think thats how I started making drop spindles)

That must be the figured Huon you were telling me about for the pens glad you have found a better use if you wish me to do the rest just drop them Huon round and sample.

Originally Posted by fletty

...

YES! I've been thinking of 'novel', 'interesting' or possibly 'brave' ways to create drawer dividers
and have come up with the following....

elsasbox30web.jpg

As you know wheelin', I dont turn because I get giddy so this one is made with a hole cutter and belt sander. Could you think of a better way to make them ........ ?

fletty

Interesting or brave?

To take it a step further, would larger diameter circles look better, you'd have semi circles in the trays/drawers

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

Interesting or brave?

To take it a step further, would larger diameter circles look better, you'd have semi circles in the trays/drawers

I sketched it up Nick and it does look good especially when the adjacent compartment has the matching semi-circle. Thinking............


fletty

I've almost finished the 20+ pieces (!) that make up the lid so I was able to dry assemble it for the first time before just leaving the shed. The outer face is the Swedish flag with the Southern Cross superimposed. The Swedish cross is rosewood and huon and the southern cross is inlaid mother-of-pearl.

elsasbox31web.jpg


The inside face is to store (a few) valuable A4 sized papers ......

elsasbox32web.jpg



but, when you slide the divider aside, there's 7 more little secret places for rings, little stuff ...... or coins....

elsasbox33web.jpg

I'll line these little 'pockets' with felt when I do the rest of the box

Glueing the lid will be a rehearsal for the main box ... with its 60+ parts!

only 1 more sleep to Blue Mountains gtg ....

fletty

Originally Posted by cava

Wow. Do you do commissions?

The sad (?) thing is Cava that I put hundreds of hours into my therapeutic woodwork projects .... and give it all away!
I guess I think of it as woodwork therapy instead of counselling?
I've had quite a few people ask me to make things for them and, in some of those cases, I've got them around to the shed, shown them how to do it themselves and enjoyed THEIR success.
If I ever get around to retiring I might do some commission work ... but that will probably be because I no longer need the therapy !

Lovely work, Fletty. I like the little concealed hidey-holes, and the coat of arms - very nice indeed.
60 pieces in the main box! I thought I did fiddly stuff.