Just a simple box to hold a magnifying glass

**Pauls321** · 25th March 2020, 02:00 PM

Hi all,

Just knocked this up in the last few days. A very cute and simple box to hold a magnifying glass in. I used some very old spalted silver ash and ARC. I still have a bit of the spalted silver ash left but I dont think I will use it much more. Any area on it that is the smallest bit spalted, is very unstable. There was one area of this box underneath it, on the inside bottom of the sides where I routered out the groove for the base. Was a bit concerned it was going to break away, so I ran some thin CA glue all along the culprit area. It hardened it up and made that piece much more solid again.

The handle for the magnifying glass, had a lovely old offcut of blackheart sassafras laying around.

If anyone has used those 5mm barrel hinges you know what a pain they are to get right. I found some mob who sold small packs of the dowel "points" (that pop into the hole so you press on the opposite piece of timber???), The set has sizes 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm and 12mm. Bought two sets of them.

Paul

**Treecycle** · 28th March 2020, 09:46 AM

Another very nice installment Paul. Yes, the old CA trick for hardening up punky wood is a good one that I have used a few times on pens, as it's usually those types of woods that look really nice.
Did you use your cute little lathe to turn the handle for the magnifying glass?
I have never seen anyone selling the dowel points in multi size packs. I usually only see the Herron brand sold and it's a single size.

**Pauls321** · 28th March 2020, 11:53 AM

Hey there Dallas, how are you going down in there in Melbourne in your 4 square metres of space. Yes I turned that handle for the magnifying glass on my 1 foot long pocket lathe, very happy with the result. BHSass sure turns up nice with several coats of CA on it. This morning I tried my first turning of an acrylic pen blank, wow, it looks good.As shiny as. Havent assembled it yet, will later on today.

Those dowel points sure made a difference to installing the 5mm barrel hinges. I did some similar boxes for pens as you seen, and as accurately as I can measure where to drill, I am always out a tad out. Those 5mm dowel points worked a treat.

Paul

**homey** · 28th March 2020, 12:54 PM

4 square metres? Now that’s what I call self-isolating!! I thought my workshop was small at 4.2 x 2.3.

Paul - a nice box there. Will you be sharing the secret of where to buy the assorted dowel points?

To add to your point about CA to harden spalted wood, I’ve also found it good to use where two surfaces of veneer meet at right angles, e.g. the top and side of a box. It adds a lot of strength if you don’t want to use an edge inlay, e.g. for aesthetic reasons.

Best regards,

Brian

**Pauls321** · 28th March 2020, 02:25 PM

Hi Brian, hows it going down there mate. This is where I got them from. I was lucky I took a guess there was only 1 of each in each pack, hence I bought two packs.

6pcs Woodworking Dowel Centre Point Pin Set 4/5/6/8/10/12mm Dowel Tenon Center Set Transfer Plugs Wood Drill Power Accessories|wood drill|dowel centre point|centre point - AliExpress

Paul

**homey** · 28th March 2020, 03:58 PM

Thanks, Paul. Being in self-isolation in Melbourne is probably not quite as good as being in self-isolation at Valla Beach

**Pauls321** · 28th March 2020, 09:48 PM

Hey Brian, maybe so. I've had a fractured 5th metatarsal so I havent done any walking at all for the last two months or so. I usually walk on the beach every morning for 4.5kms, not even sure if the beach is still down there or not. So I havent been doing much at all cept pottering in my shed.

Paul

**homey** · 28th March 2020, 11:51 PM

Sorry to hear that, Paul. Hope you’re better soon!

Brian

Thread: Just a simple box to hold a magnifying glass

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Just a simple box to hold a magnifying glass

Similar Threads

Magnifying Glass

Cyprus Burl pen and magnifying glass

Posting Permissions