Knife box

**AlexS** · 18th June 2011, 08:41 PM

I was asked to do a box for a collector's set of knives. I had some nice bubinga left over from another job, so designed a box with recesses for the knives, and a drawer for their sheaths.
After making the box, it went to the engravers to be laser engraved. Then I made the leather lined recesses.
First, I made male & female patterns of the knives, from the drawings the client supplied. The female pattern was about 1mm overall larger than the male. A piece of pigskin suede was cut oversize and soaked in water, before forcing it between the two moulds and clamping. This stretched the leather into the required shape. The leather was left clamped up for almost 24 hours to dry completely.
While it was drying, I cut out sheet foam to the desired shape. The cut-outs vary in shape depending on how deep each sheet will be. The lower ones will only accommodate the handles. The sheets are then glued together in order using contact adhesive.
After the suede is removed from the moulds, it is laid over the male mould and sprayed with contact adhesive, as is the foam recess. The suede is then pushed into the recess using the male mould. The leather is trimmed and glued to the sides of the insert, reay to insert into the box. The drawer and the box lid are also lined with suede.

**AlexS** · 18th June 2011, 08:45 PM

Before fitting the recesses, I finished the box with wipe-on gloss polyurethane. The recesses are a tight fit, and are glued into the box.

**NCArcher** · 18th June 2011, 10:05 PM

Very nice Alex. The owner should be thrilled with that.

**MajorPanic** · 18th June 2011, 10:29 PM

Bloody beautiful result Alex!!

**Stevlyn** · 18th June 2011, 10:38 PM

Beautiful box. I like the draw for the sheaths, great idea. I'm also very impressed with the effort you put in to make the knife recesses. A nagging thought for me is "How do you know that the knives will fit?"

**AlexS** · 18th June 2011, 11:37 PM

Thanks folks.

Originally Posted by Stevlyn

"How do you know that the knives will fit?"

That was my nagging concern. I relied on the drawing supplied by the client but until he let me know that they were a perfect fit I had my fingers well & truly crossed.

**Waldo** · 18th June 2011, 11:43 PM

I'll second Majorpanic's comments.

**RufflyRustic** · 19th June 2011, 09:39 AM

Wow! - a timeless piece, Alex. Greatly appreciate the description of making and lining the knive recesses.

**BobR** · 19th June 2011, 10:29 AM

Another great box Alex. Well done.

**Ironwood** · 19th June 2011, 10:42 AM

Perfection !!
A very worthy box for a set of collector knives ( I hope the knives can live up to the box )

**Robson Valley** · 19th June 2011, 02:59 PM

Wonderful. Knife collecting is very serious business for those "in the know."
I suggest that you show GERBER what you've done.

**Woodkid** · 19th June 2011, 04:53 PM

That is very cool

**kcam** · 19th June 2011, 06:47 PM

A great heirloom box, fantastic selection of timber and beautifully executed planning and craftmanship,,

**artme** · 19th June 2011, 10:17 PM

Beautiful Alex!!

**Whit68** · 19th June 2011, 10:45 PM

Stunning Alex!!

regards
Anthony

Thread: Knife box

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Knife box

Similar Threads

knife help

Bog Oak Knife

Knife Jig

Knife Box

Knife # 2

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions