Strongboxes

[drzaius]

I've never posted a project, so here is one, humble as it is.

My DIL volunteers with the local organization, Calgary Area Search and Rescue Association. They had a fundraiser coming up and she was assigned the task of getting something into which people could deposit their donations. She asked what they had in mind. They said 'ice cream buckets or something'. We decided we could do better than that so this is what my son & I came up with.

Boxes are 5/8" hard maple with 3/4" lid, bottoms are 1/4" maple. The association colors are black & yellow, hence the garish color. Made 4 of them.

The event was last night & they got lots of complements, including a couple of emails praising their 'dovetail' construction. Haha! Anyway, it was lots of fun to build & got to spend quality time with my son.

[wtnhighlander]

Nice work, and congrats on posting you first project here!

[mat60]

Like the box.  The joints look nice.

[davewyo]

Nice work, Doctor!

Ya know, every time I see your avatar I think of Troy McClure in the Planet of the Apes Musical:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlmzUEQxOvA

[drzaius]

Thank guys.

That musical planet of the apes is so awesome.

[Chet]

Nice project and first project post.  Hope to see more.

[..Kev]

Great job and a good cause!  Keep on posting, you do nice work!

[Mick S]

Very nice! Don't you just love exceeding everyone's expectations?

[sheperd80]

Thats actually really cool. I like the odd projects where our normal self-inflicted design limitations are out the window. Despite the unusual colors it still looks like a well designed, quality piece made by a craftsman, and the finish looks right.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

[Ronn W]

Great looking box(es).  It's nice to be able to use your talent to help out.  I like it.

[drzaius]

Thanks for the comments.

The finish is water base dye & 2 coats of satin poly.

[RichardA]

Man, I really like the way you squared up those dovetails.  Makes them look like box joints!  Excellent work.

[drzaius]

4 hours ago, Lester Burnham said:

Looks good. Many members of my family would love to add those their collections of Steelers things.

That reminds me, I have a friend who is a rabid Steelers fan. I'll have to send him the pic.

 

5 hours ago, RichardA said:

Man, I really like the way you squared up those dovetails.  Makes them look like box joints!  Excellent work.

Haha. Ya, I didn't want to correct them. Would have been awkward. 

[ClassAct]

Dr. Z, that's awesome! The SAR folks must be really grateful for your work on the boxes. I love the coloration; it's a great attention-getter and will probably get passers-by to ask questions and possibly donate on the spot.

Give my thanks to your DIL for her work, too. My BIL is hardcore SAR -- a piton-and-rope rescue guy -- and they deserve our thanks for saving our collective bacon.

[mat60]

May I ask how you do your box joints.    I have only done them on the table saw.

[drzaius]

2 hours ago, mat60 said:

May I ask how you do your box joints.    I have only done them on the table saw.

Used a jig with the table saw. William Ng has an excellent video showing how to make & use a box joint jig. I'd like to try doing on the router table & see how that goes. The only issue with the table saw is that my dado stack leaves tiny bat ears at the corners, though they are hardly visible.

 

13 hours ago, ClassAct said:

Dr. Z, that's awesome! The SAR folks must be really grateful for your work on the boxes. I love the coloration; it's a great attention-getter and will probably get passers-by to ask questions and possibly donate on the spot.

Give my thanks to your DIL for her work, too. My BIL is hardcore SAR -- a piton-and-rope rescue guy -- and they deserve our thanks for saving our collective bacon.

They really do. Everything from the dramatic mountain rescues to having to slog through brush in the rain in the middle of the night. Someone goes missing & those guys are there in force.