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Thread: Tree of Life
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25th June 2023, 05:39 PM #1
Tree of Life
This is a small keepsake box I have made for my daughter and family. The box has an inlaid Tree of Life motif that flows over the lid and down the sides and front and back. The box is made from Huon Pine and the tree inlay is Western Red Cedar. The base of the box is Australian Red Cedar. The box measures 190mm x 120 mm x 80 mm high. The box is lined with a blue leather suede. I will post a few pictures I took along the way making this box to show how the inlay was done and the method used to construct the box.
H1.JPG
H2.JPG
H3.JPG
H5 (3).JPG
H6.JPG
H7.JPGAnd my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
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25th June 2023 05:39 PM # ADSGoogle Adsense Advertisement
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25th June 2023, 06:10 PM #2
The box was made by the technique of a folded construction. The box size is 190 x 120 x 78 high. Final blank size required is 346 x 276. Huon Pine was machined to about 5mm thick and cut and glued to have a blank slightly larger about 355 x 285. Dark cedar was machined to same thickness and glued to a size just bigger than the Tree image.
The Huon Pine blank then had the image of the tree laser cut in the correct position with the laser path set with a kerf offset of 0.1mm negative. At the same time the lettering was engraved in the Huon. The same image was then laser cut in the dark cedar with the laser path set with a kerf offset of 0.1mm positive. The internal Huon was removed and the internal cedar was then fitted together with the Huon.
TOL1.JPG
The assembly was then glued using PVA glue using a stiff brush to ensure the glue penetrated the very small gaps in the inlay. Light clamping with a wax paper interface was applied to ensure the blank remains flat. After drying, a secondary Huon blank was made about 355 x 285 and glued to the back to make a total thickness of about 12mm. Because of the available Huon I had the grain on the backing Huon ran at 90 degrees to the front. After glue drying, the assembly was then ready for a clean up using a drum sander. Final sanding to 320 grit was completed on the face. Final thickness was about 11mm which is fine for the 8mm hinges being used.
TOL2.JPG
Final marking out of the intended box was then penciled on the front face and the blank cut to an accurate 346 x 276.
TOL3.JPG
The blank was then taped on the 78 mm line from the edges and using a 45degree router bit the fold grooves were cut on the router table. The centre of the router bit was set 78mm from the fence. The router depth was gently increased until the tip line was visible in the tape. The corners were cut out with a stanley knife and the box then glued and folded like origami with only tape holding it together while the glue dried.
TOL4.JPGTOL5.JPGTOL6.JPG
A Cedar base was then cut and glued to make the box. I used the bandsaw to cut off the lid and then passed the lid and base separately through the drum sander to clean the edges. The router was used to fit the hinges in the normal manner.
TOL7.JPGTOL8.JPG
I used the brass hinges from Aldav. The box has been finished using Feast Watson Wipe on Poly.And my head I'd be a scratchin'
While my thoughts were busy hatchin'
If I only had a brain.
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26th June 2023, 12:49 PM #3Senior Member
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Having seen this box in the flesh, I don't think the photos do justice just how nice this box is.
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26th June 2023, 03:17 PM #4SENIOR MEMBER
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brava Exquisite as always Ian.
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26th June 2023, 06:29 PM #5Member
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What a beautiful piece and a ripper of an idea for a box. I've seen plenty that are destined to be family heirlooms but never one quite so focussed on that destiny as this one. Congratulations that's a masterpiece.
Rex
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28th June 2023, 06:55 AM #6GOLD MEMBER
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Very impressive and absolutely no room for error with that construction type.
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28th June 2023, 02:35 PM #7
Words fail me x 100
The person who never made a mistake never made anything
Cheers
Ray
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28th June 2023, 04:11 PM #8Senior Member
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Absolutely first class.
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3rd July 2023, 12:24 PM #9
Beautiful work. Something to aspire to.
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