Box from factory off-cuts

**Charleville** · 25th April 2010, 12:37 PM

Yesterday, I put the finishing touches to this little cedar presentation box that I made as an afterthought to house a little gift to my sister for her 70th birthday.

There is nothing particularly artistically wonderful about this little box made with a Gifkins jig and, indeed, perhaps it might be improved in a few ways such as by matching the timber colours better and being a bit more even handed when sanding and whatever else. However, I am sure that my sister won't notice.

What is interesting about that box, for me personally, is that the materials used comprise stuff that would have otherwise ended up as landfill.

That is, all of the materials (with the exception of the incidentals, viz glue, grout, felt and hinges) come from the "Friends of the Earth" shop that collects and sells factory rejects and off-cuts, Welcome .

The little tiles are as you see them but the wood is actually off-cuts of cedar slats used in venetian blind manufacture which I have glued together to get a good thickness for box making...

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

Click for full size - Uploaded with plasq's Skitch

This has been a little project that has given me much joy because of the humble origins of the materials. ( My daughter always says that I am a closet greenie and hippie. Heheheh!

) The final finish is with two coats of Danish oil followed by a light polishing with bees wax.

.

**wheelinround** · 25th April 2010, 12:41 PM

interesting box and good use of timbers and materials

**Christos** · 25th April 2010, 02:55 PM

Very nice.

Do not tell her about what you see as mistakes. No one will notice. Even if they do you tell them it is character.

**Fencepost2** · 25th April 2010, 07:23 PM

Nice work Charleville. It's great to salvage materials like that. Your splitting of the box through one of the dovetail pins got it dead centre was it band saw or what?

**Charleville** · 25th April 2010, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by Fencepost2

Nice work Charleville. It's great to salvage materials like that. Your splitting of the box through one of the dovetail pins got it dead centre was it band saw or what?

Thanks mate.

The technique used is one that Roger Gifkins promotes with his dovetail jig.

You make that particular dovetail 4 mm wider than the others (in this case there is only one other, of course but that is not necessarily the case always. eg see this first aid box that was my first box http://img.skitch.com/20100425-dybp7...jw8dt4d2y4.jpg ) and then you use a 4 mm straight router bit in a table mounted router to slice the box open.

It is dead easy to do but it just needs a steady hand in guiding the box on its sides along the router fence.

The end result looks like the box has been sliced open without any saw blade kerf.

You can see the technique described on page 17 of the Gifkins Dovetail Jig instruction booklet ... http://www.gifkins.com.au/2009%20instructions%20web.pdf

**munruben** · 25th April 2010, 07:54 PM

Nice work, I am sure your sister will be highly delighted with the box. Money cannot replace what you have put into this project for her. Well done.

**artme** · 26th April 2010, 09:18 AM

Nicely done Charleville!!

I am sure your sister will be more tha pleased with such a gift.

**JackD** · 26th April 2010, 10:53 AM

Great work Charleville, with a bit of thought you turned someone's rubbish to treasure. I'm sure that your sister will be very pleased.

Regards
Jack

**K_S** · 26th April 2010, 02:31 PM

Impressive

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