Thread: Japanese Maple

Nice one Paul, I can see the appeal of the timber. What are the box dimensions?

Hi and thanks Bob. The dimensions are 315mm x 185mm x 105mm. I make most of my large boxes this size and this design. Ample storage and takes 12 rings. Since I eliminated the lift handle in the centre of the ring holder section, that gave me 1 extra roll and increased the number of rings from 8 to 12. Those little oval shapes with finger grips allow the thumb and most likely middle finger to easily span and lift the tray out. Women love ring compartments.

Every measurement of this box is in my head.

Paul

A fine quality box as always, Paul. The Japanese Maple adds character without overshadowing the classic lines of the box. Someone is going to be very happy this Christmas! Will this appear in your Etsy store?

It has been interesting to watch your development of the tray lift “finger pieces”. I’m still wrestling with a design that will look delicate on a slim tray and experimenting with the use of brass. I hope to develop this further before Christmas…..

i noticed the dividers in your trays are rebated into the sides. Given your use of dovetails in both the box and tray have you considered fitting the dividers using sliding dovetails? A lot more work, perhaps, but could look look good?

Best regards,

Brian

PS Have you managed to track down a replacement source of hinges for the ones McJing used to sell?

Hi and thanks Brian,

Yes this box is on my Etsy site as of yesterday. That's an interesting point about the use of dovetails in the trays, I'll have to toss that around in my head. I recess the dividers in with my table saw. Always the same distance apart 70mm. The dividers are about 6 or 7mm thick. The 70mm then allows me to run another 5mm piece with scallops on the bottoms, bottoms of scallops 15mm from the base, tops of scallops 20mm from the base. This piece is then glued to my dividers now with a distance of 60mm apart. I find that 60mm is ideal for two rings. The scallop piece then allows me to tuck my ring holders under it and they stay there perfectly. Ring holders are about 21mm in diameter but they are very soft and tuck under there nicely. Internal width across my tray is about 140mm, which when divided by 20 gives me 7 lots of ring holders squashed up nice and tight but very soft for rings.

I hope all that makes sense.

Good question about my McJing hinges Brian. As we know McJing dont sell them anymore, used to be $20 a pair. At their time of stopping selling them I had just bought the last 19 pairs they had. I already had a few more pairs in stock as well. Then when I realised I couldnt get anymore I bought another 25 pairs from the USA (I think it was Woodcraft, not sure). Exactly the same hinge. They worked out at $31 including delivery with a 10% initial purchase discount. I am now down to 14 pairs left. Where will I go to next, I don't know. Those McJing hinges are very good, solid brass, but you just need a bit of extra work for the swivel.

What do Andrew C hinges cost now $60 or so,...? (I still have I think 3 pairs of his left for a rainy day). Do I go to the Irish bloke,....not sure as yet.

Regards,
Paul

Very nice Paul, just so neat and tidy. Sounds like you have your systems down pat after your explanation to Brian. So much easier when you can have standard setups.
Surprised you couldn't integrate any resin into this one

Hi and thanks Dallas. I have four nearly finished resin boxes, just waiting on some "stuff" to arrive to finish them off with. I'll bore you with pics maybe towards the end of the week.

Paul

Is it the McJing hinge you've used on this box, Paul? What are their dimensions? Can you post a few close up pic's of an unfitted hinge.

Hi Dave, The hinges I used on this box I bought from I think WoodCraft in the USA. I am sure they are exactly the same as the old McJing hinges, certainly not the ones that McJing sells now, ( I bought 5 pairs of them and sent them back). I'll take some pics tomorrow afternoon been playing bowls all day today, then Board meeting tonight, then bowls again in the morning. I'll do some pics for sure tomorrow arvo.

Paul

Hi Dave,

Here are the pics I just took of the hinge I am using at present. I am sure it is the exact same as McJing used to sell. 8mm wide x 3mm thick and 40mm in total length. I set my stop block to 28.4mm.

I found the site where I bought the 25 pairs from. $22 US converts to $30 AUS.

HIGHPOINT - Side Rail Hinge Solid Brass Pair (woodcraft.com)

beautiful box