Thread: Tasmanian Blackwood & Silver Ash Jewellery box

Wow Alex, you have created a treasured item for future generations, an absolute gem !

Hi Alex, There is so much to like about this box. The grain in the Blackwood is superb. Did you mill the timber yourself or were you able to buy the boards as stock boards?

Looks very nice Alex but that background distracts from seeing it properly I reckon.

Brilliant work

Thanks, gents.
Ruddy, I was given the board a long time ago by a friend in Tassie. He'd had trouble jointing it with all that cranky grain. I managed to minimise it with new blades, and the drum sander did the rest.

DJ, you're right about the background. Grey is fine for most jobs, but the grey lining just merges into it here. I've been going to paint the other side of my backdrop black, but we know what gunna did, don't we.

Now that is a nice box Alex.
It certainly wouldn't be out of place in a gallery with the appropriate price tag.

Very impressed.

Alan...

Looks great Alex. nice detail.

Hi Alex,

Very impressive box, love it. As a matter of interest how do you do your linings in the base. And is this pigskin suede leather hard to get.

Paul

Originally Posted by Pauls321

Hi Alex,

Very impressive box, love it. As a matter of interest how do you do your linings in the base. And is this pigskin suede leather hard to get.

Paul

The pigskin suede is available from NSW Leather. Tell 'em I sent you.
The suede is attached by applying Titebond II to the wood and leather and allowing them to dry separately for at least an hour, before ironing the leather on with a hot iron. Put some brown paper between the iron and the leather. Then trim the leather and assemble the box. You have to be careful not to get glue on the leather when you assemble the box.

(You can also use this method for applying veneer.)

Hi Alex,

Very interesting. So when you use the iron it must melt or make the glue sticky and then it contacts together. Naturally you would then need to be very careful when applying your final oil (or whatever) finish to inside the box.

Thanks, Paul

I apply internal oil before assembling the box. That way, any squeeze out onto the wooden surfaces is easily removed. Of course, you can't remove it neatly from suede leather, so you just have to be very, very careful. I tried using masking tape on some suede, but it left residue behind.

Interesting point Alex.

I've never used Titebond. I've always just stuck with Aquadhere, been using it for about 40 years now. I've built every piece of timber furniture for this house and some for the house before and it's always lasted. The new "rapid set" Aquadhere is very good also, saves me heaps of time where I used to leave things in clamps overnight, now it's like an hour.

With the Titebond what is the different between applying it to your timber and leather and adhesing it straight away as opposed to waiting one hour and then ironing it on, must be a trick to that.

I've just about finished building from scratch an electric guitar. I used Aquadhere to glue the fretboard to the neck so fingers crossed it lasts ok.

I'll put some pics up on the music section when it is finished.

Paul

Paul, I suspect Aquadhere or Tradesmans Choice would work just as well. I use Titebond I & II as my go-to glues, depending on circumstances, and Titebond suggested that the results would be better with type II when ironing. I find it easier to get a flat fit with lining by ironing it rather than sticking it on wet.

Lovely box Alex

that grain is spectacular

how did you do the slip feathers?