Chestnut Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 A couple months ago my uncle and godfather was diagnosed with minor colon cancer. It had not spread and the surgery should be simple. It how ever was not simple and every complication that could have happened, happened. My uncle has always appreciated hand made items and has always expressed interest in having something small made for him. After knowing that he was in the hospital frustrated with being stuck in bed i thought now was the perfect time to make him something that could cheer him up. I had some scraps left over from the speaker build so i decided upon jatoba, walnut, and maple for the box. I had a nice piece of walnut that i saved from a fire pile that i cut up and used for the top. The bottom of box was maple that came from a pallet that i had sitting in my yard. I had 1 good idea to set the walnut of the top proud of the maple frame and then miter the sides as shown below. I really like how it turned out and will use the effect in the future. This made his weekend, my uncle was really happy. The nurses Easter gift to him was to plug his ventilator pipe so he could talk for the first time in 2 months. I wasn't there but i head my box was a very common thing that he talked about. I have a question for those out there that make small boxes. What is the best way to attach the bottoms? I use the maple base with a rabbet to hold the bottom on and left some room in there for movement, but i don't really like the look of it. I thought about doing a dado inside but with how thin the walls are i didn't want to weaken things. It's not perfect and there are a few things i wish i had done differently but i ran out of time. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bradpotts Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 I have done both dado and rabbit. I didn't like the rabbit as much either so the next boxes I made a little thicker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted March 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 It's just nice to resaw 4/4 and end up with a decent 0.30" thick board. I'll have to see what i can find at the lumber yard for 6/4 material and shoot for 1/2" thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Technically it's "grooves," not "dadoes." Dadoes are cross-grain, grooves are with the grain. I usually use a floating raised panel in grooves for my bottoms. Often oriented so that the expansion happens in the back and I leave the back open and secured with a screw or two (for drawers, obviously...boxes are fully enclosed). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mat60 Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Like the box and glad your uncle is ok..Im glad the box wasn't for ashes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Cool box and gesture! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nestor Posted March 28, 2016 Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 Rabbet a tongue and run a matching groove along the sides before assembly. Make the grooves and rabbets deep enough to allow for wood movement. No glue. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted March 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 28, 2016 1 hour ago, mat60 said: Like the box and glad your uncle is ok..Im glad the box wasn't for ashes. Thanks. There were a couple times during the build that i was really worried that i wasn't going to make it home in time. Thanks @Eric. and @Nestor For the ideas I'll implement them on the next boxes i make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted April 2, 2016 Report Share Posted April 2, 2016 Great box. I hope your Uncle is pulling through. What was inappropriate about the box? Looks beautiful. ...or did you put something in there for your Uncle that you're not sharing with us? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted April 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2016 The top kinda turned out ... Odd when i resawed it. Pardon the spelling sent from my phone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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