Brendon_t Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 I'm pretty sure I'm plagerizing this idea from someone here so thanks for the inspiration. This coming October, I'm to be a groomsman in the wedding of one of my oldest friends. Instead of a gift, I asked his to be wife if I could build a decorative box to set out during the reception. It will have a bottle of wine in it and attendees are encouraged to write a note to the couple. The box will be locked for a few years and they can open it in the future, drink the hopefully not vinegar wine, and read the notes. For this project, I decided to bust into the Honduran Mahogany that's been sitting and giving me sad eyes. The box will be build very much the same ad the Gary Rigousky box that he and mark made. Proud finger joints, breadboard top. I will full mortise a small lock once I find one that doesn't have terrible reviews like the current offerings of rockler and woodcraft. I didn't want to mill the whole body of the two boards because I won't be using much and I love the color they have taken on so I did my pencil layout on the rough boards. I decided that the lid would have to come from the wider 4/4 board because it would take 3 slices of the 8/4 and I couldn't mentally find a way that slip match would actually look good. After rough cutting out my pieces, I re sawed the two sides and front/back boards from the 8/4. Mentally laying them out, I believe the grain running around will look good. The lid needs to be 13.5" square so obviously the halls wouldn't fit on my pos 6" jointer. No problem, hand planes to the rescue. A few minutes later with the #5 jack, one side was dead flat, I used the drum sander to slowly bring the opposing side perpendicular. So at the end of about 3hours in the shop, I have the front, back, and sides cut to length and width and top glued up. There really wasn't a way for me to hide the glue line with the grain so I made the choice to accentuate it. I hope that's a decision I don't regret later. Here are a few pics from various stages. Everything got a light mineral spirits wipe down prior to final pic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 That's some nice stock, Brendon! I'm sure the happy couple will love it. I'm looking forward to the journal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Thanks WTN, I just realized that I need to start considering the background of pictures.. Didn't notice while working but now I see that My garage is an F'ing wreck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 That's some serious grain in the top. This thing might just look bitchin! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Thanks WTN, I just realized that I need to start considering the background of pictures.. Didn't notice while working but now I see that My garage is an F'ing wreck. When you get comfortable in your working space, it's difficult to see the whole picture... Mine is always more than a little messy, but I know exactly where everything is, except for the pencils, those SOB's grow legs and hide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 20, 2015 Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 Ha! My garage workspace looks worse than that AFTER I clean up! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted April 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 20, 2015 That gives me anxiety. , with such a small space to work in I have to keep things relatively clean. I usually start off any work by grabbing the leaf blower that is permanently attached to an extension cord and blowing down the floor and any surfaces then I probably blow it out at least every half an hour Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted April 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 About three hours into it and it's definitely taking shape. I cut the fingers on the band saw using the kerf sized shim I keep permanently taped to the riser block for such an occasion. Mild clean up with chisels and the joints all come together beautifully. On to the top, I ran it through the drum sander to flatten it after glue up as well as remove the last 1/16th of an nice of thickness. Cut to its final size, I turned to the breadboard end pieces. These were both cut oversized then re sawed on the band saw. A few strokes with the smoothing plane and they are damn sexy. That's about it for the night as I've got some Game of thrones to watch but tomorrow, I will get the grooves cut for the bottom, and hopefully bread boards attached. I'm getting a bit nervous about the color difference but hey, we'll see how it turns out. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 That top is going to look cool with finish! Nice job on the fingers! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 That's not color difference, its contrast! Looking great, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted April 21, 2015 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 That's not color difference, its contrast! Looking great, too. So I'm pretty color blind but I still know those the wood for the sides looks like a totally different species. It doesn't bother me. In fact I think it looks nice, but if I was needing a uniform look all around, I'd be pretty bummed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Contrast is good and more often makes a whole! Example: Me, a scooter tramp, and my redneck wife. Nothing could be better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FtrPilot Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Looking good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted April 21, 2015 Report Share Posted April 21, 2015 Mighty Fine !!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 I kind of fell off on this but here is the progress so far. The glue up is done, mortised in the lock set, and hinges. Made a key hole decorative cover out of ebony. Made a little bottle holder for the inside. The third and last coat of ARS went on today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Very nice, Brendon! The bottle holder is a cool feature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Wow! Looks great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Thanks guys. This thing has been a joy to make so far. The mahogany works like nothing I have ever felt before. It is so smooth and radiant after just touching up with a sharp scraper. This is also one of the first projects I haven't hit the finishing wall on. Every coat of ARS give a new clarity to the wood and depth of its natural color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 It looks great! Good job Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 The grain on the top really turned out looking sweet and the ebony key hole cover is a nice extra! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janello Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Looking great Brendon. That top looks fantastic. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Thanks. I am very pleased with it as well. Unfortunately, my camera doesn't really pick up the colors of the top. When viewed from different angles, it has a totally different look. Once my new veritas router plane gets here on Monday, I'll be final fitting in the hinges and lock then waiting on a wedding. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 6, 2015 Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 The ebony keyhole escutcheon was a great idea and looks killer. Rock on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 6, 2015 Author Report Share Posted May 6, 2015 Thanks Eric, it was actually one of those things that happens when plan A falls off of a cliff And your up against it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 7, 2015 Report Share Posted May 7, 2015 Thanks Eric, it was actually one of those things that happens when plan A falls off of a cliff And your up against it. If you can't fix it, flaunt it as a feature? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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