Two camphor laurel & Australian cedar boxes.

**AlexS** · 8th November 2016, 09:04 PM

For the first time in at least two years, I didn't have work lined up, and was looking forward to a break and doing some experimental work. After the bump-in for our exhibition last Monday, I came home to a message on the machine from a lady who wanted two boxes made. Gave her a call, and it sounded straightforward...except that she needed them by today. Gave her some ideas and sent some timber options, from which she made her choice on the Tuesday, deciding to go for camphor laurel carcase & Australian red cedar lid panels, with Blue suede leather bottom lining. The boxes also needed engraving, which meant that the lid panels had to be made first, so the engraving could be done while the side & bottom panels were made. The lid panels were delivered to the engravers, Kopycut Trophies & Performance Plaques, on Wednesday, and the final text on Thursday morning, and returned, completed, by midday Friday.

Little was done on Saturday due to other commitments, but by Sunday, all panels were completed, with two coats of hard shellac and a coat of wax. Both boxes were glued up on Sunday evening, and on Monday morning the slipfeathers were inserted. On Monday afternoon, they were trimmed, and the lids separated from the bases. On Tuesday morning, the separation cuts were cleaned up, sanded and shellacked, and the boxes given a final coat of wax inside and out. The last task was to remove the protective glad-wrap from over the suede lining. The boxes were completed with a couple of hours to spare.

Oh yes. The client, who is going overseas to live, has postponed her trip, so she'll collect them next week.

Many thanks to Linda & Paul from Kopycut for pushing this through so quickly, and for doing such a great job.

**62woollybugger** · 8th November 2016, 10:47 PM

I like the combinationof timbers. I've been thinking of a future project of a ceder hall table with panels of some of Maplemans CL stump in the top. This confirms that it would be a good combination. Now to find some time.

**Dengue** · 8th November 2016, 11:33 PM

Well done Alex, quite impressive. An unusual combination of timbers, but very effective.

Amazing effort in such a short time frame. Now with this job out of the way, you can get on with making all the Christmas pressies. You have 7 weeks left, so no rush

Really liked the engraving, no sign of any leakage of the black ink into the surrounding grain. How did they do that, especially with the coarse grain of red cedar? Very professional and artistic

**AlexS** · 9th November 2016, 08:12 AM

Thanks Dengue. There's no ink in the engraving, the black is the natural charring. I'm not sure how they manage it, but I understand they can control the power to the laser. Also, the client supplied hi-res artwork (.pdf and .dxf), which makes a difference.

**Pauls321** · 9th November 2016, 01:23 PM

Another very good job Alex, well done, as always. Are you sure you spelt Isobel correctly,....just joking. Quick story, prior to moving up this way in 99, I/we used to run a sideline trophy and engraving business (from home) for about 12 years in a smallish rural town down in the Riverina, good little business actually. I used to make all my own plaques, shields etc, and sometimes bases if I had time. I also had this you beaut computer engraver, and could engrave just about anything. Even large brass plaques, and brass was/is very expensive, especially polished 3mm engravers brass. This customer come around one day and wanted a rather large brass plaque done for the local MP to open some event. I queried the way he spelt the surname but he insisted it was correct. (pre computer and google days). A lot of engraving had to be done. He picked it up all happy and delighted, goes way, you know the rest, comes back,....sorry,you were right with the spelling.

I sold the business to the local toy and sports shop, when we moved, wish I still had that engraver.

Paul

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