Brian Endres Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 I really want to give my soon to be wife a gift on our wedding day. with all the other planning and everything going on with work I have not had a chance to think about what that gift should be. It dawned on me this morning that she would love something I made for her. So My thought is to create a medium sized keepsake box. I am thinking the dimesions would be about 9"x6"x4" deep. Her favorite color is Purple so I think I would like to make a large portion from Purple Heart. I think that Maple (birds eye/curly) would look good with the purple heart. Here is a rough draft of what I was thinking. Any thoughts, suggestions? It will be very tricky to get into the shop and have this thing done in the next 30 days or so. But I think it can still be done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Looks great! I like the 2 woods together! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob493 Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 What are you asking us for? Get started! I personally love contrast designs like this. You could go more simple with a flat panel on the purpleheart top, and doll up the trim around it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mds2 Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 I like the look. Good luck if you dovetail it by hand, purpleheart is as hard as a rock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Immediate thought would be to rethink the purple heart. When I think of a gift for a bride, I think of something that gets better with age. Purpleheart has a nasty habit of getting pretty ugly after a few years. I would go cherry or mahogany. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minorhero Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 +1 for cherry over purple heart. You also might want to think about putting something inside the box when done. The first thing she will do on seeing it is open it up. Even if its just a lovely handwritten card it will be better then just presenting the box. I learned all about this with my own recent marriage. If you decide to spring for jewelry to go in the box then consider presenting it to her before the day of the wedding so she can wear it and make any last minute changes to her outfit that needs to be done. Even the night before the wedding is not too late for this but might not guarantee it being worn the next day. My then fiance and now wife told me in advance that 1) if I intended to swap gifts with her I needed to tell her in advance so she would get something for me and not be left blindsided and 2) if it was going to be something to be worn she would want it at least the night before the wedding so she could decide whether or not to wear it on the big day. Presenting her with something to wear the day of was a recipe to make her crazy she said. I listened to her and I am glad I did. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 I say use purpleheart yes it turns slowly to brown but it takes a while if not left in sunlight. If she likes purple you could just use purple dye and have it all be maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 How thick are the boards? Its hard to tell from a drawing but it looks like 3/4" or so. That is way to chunky for a keepsake box, IMO. I'd go with 1/2" at most. If you use purpleheart, save it for a small accent or inlay. For example, you could do mitered (instead of Dovetailed) corners with purpleheart splines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Endres Posted May 3, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 22 minutes ago, Chestnut said: If she likes purple you could just use purple dye and have it all be maple I want the majority of the box the be purple since that is hear favorite color (she thinks i don't listen but i do). I have never used a purple dye. Is it similar to staining? 7 minutes ago, Mike. said: How thick are the boards? Its hard to tell from a drawing but it looks like 3/4" or so. That is way to chunky for a keepsake box, IMO. I'd go with 1/2" at most. I have them drawn in sketchup as 5/8" but i agree that is probably to thick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chestnut Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 1 hour ago, Brian Endres said: I want the majority of the box the be purple since that is hear favorite color (she thinks i don't listen but i do). I have never used a purple dye. Is it similar to staining? I have them drawn in sketchup as 5/8" but i agree that is probably to thick. You can apply dye similar to stain. Transtint offers a purple dye. I've never applied it the way you'd want to but i know it's possible. I hate to lead you on a wild goose chase but if you want it to be striking and last, purple dye is your best bet. I know you have a time limit but my best advice is to get some scraps and do tests. Doing a seal coat and then applying a tinted top coat could get you the best results. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 If you are going to dye it purple you really need think about the species. Maple typically looks like crap dyed. It is far to blotchy. Ash would probably be your best bet. It dyes easily and is light enough to accept a purple dye. If you try to dye a dark wood purple it will just turn brown. Ironically enough, if you put purple dye on purpleheart it will likely turn blackish brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Another approach would be to use purpleheart and then use a simple oil finish. When the color darkens too much just sand the box and re-oil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted May 3, 2016 Report Share Posted May 3, 2016 Yep, ditch the purpleheart, forget about dyeing. Build her a classy little box out of cherry and use purpleheart for dividers or a tray for the inside. Sorry, but purpleheart is tacky and the longer you woodwork the more you realize it's basically hideous. You wanna build her something that will still be nice when you look at it 10, 20, 50 years from now. Purpleheart will look like a clown box when you're done building it, and 10 years from now it will just be brown and boring. Cherry gets more beautiful with age, forever. And frankly, your sketchup makes me dizzy. Keep it simple and classy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Unfortunately, I agree with those that don't agree with you. I especially don't like the sides to be two different colors. And I agree on keeping it simple. Your heart is in the right place but don't make it purple? JMO. And congrats on the new bride! i bet it's going to be purple anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Get purple flocking on the inside. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 A curly maple box with a purpleheart interior would stay purple a lot longer. It's UV that leads to the darkening color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 15 minutes ago, wdwerker said: A curly maple box with a purpleheart interior would stay purple a lot longer. It's UV that leads to the darkening color. +1. That would be cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Endres Posted May 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I am actually leaning towards going with the group suggesting I ditch the Purple Heart, she will love anything that I make for her no matter the wood and I like the idea of purple flocking on the inside. Do you think I should go with the through dovetails or should I miter the corners? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I personally think dt's are kind of manly, but cool. Mitred corners with a couple of slightly contrasting splines or lap joints as in this would be a little warmer. https://www.finewoodworking.com/assets/downloads/BasicBoxMaking.pdf i thought I could paste a pic but I guess not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark J Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 She probably does not know now that dovetails are difficult to do. But married to you she will in the near future. When she does she will appreciate the extra work, if you can get it done time. Splines could be good, too. Congratulations on the wedding. We just celebrated our 31st anniversary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 Tiger wood and walnut 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I'll throw another vote for only using purpleheart as small contrasting accents, or on the interior. If you really want a purple-colored box (or large section), consider figured maple & dye. Guitars are dyed all the time. Bright dye looks crappy on plain grain, but adds some bright bling to curly figure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 That guitar is beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronn W Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 I second the suggestion of using purple on the inside. May a nice purple felt or velvet. Maybe a white rose inside when she opens the box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted May 4, 2016 Report Share Posted May 4, 2016 You're in a time crunch. If you thing the Purple Heart is what she'll like then go with it. Hopefully, you'll have many years to upgrade the project and perfect the process! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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