Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Woodworking). This thread is read-only.
Starting another project because I’m not in the middle of enough of them. This is for my wife’s 30th bday next month. Plans from Paul sellers and his woodworking masterclasses website. Great videos. Box is sapele. It will be “barrelled” and dovetailed. Never done either so hopefully it will turn out all right. The sapele when done should look fantastic.[External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]
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That wood looks awesome already!
It does. Hoping it really pops with the finish though.BMack37 wrote:
That wood looks awesome already!
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Got the dovetails on the sides cut out. I don’t think it turned out to bad for a complete free hand approach and being my first ever set of dovetails. I didn’t have a angle guage for the dovetails so I tried to just follow it freehand. The lines are at an angle to give it a barrel effect. [External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied][External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]
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I also tried to get some more done on my wife’s birthday box. Not coming out like I wanted. But salvageable. 1. I mess up on the depth of the first set of pins so the box will be a little shorter than originally planned. 2. I somehow moved the tails on the second set of dovetails causing a gap. Pic included. No pic of #1. [External image (uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com), not copied]
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You could create gaps to match on the inside of the all pins and insert thin strips of ebony on end grain, or some other color material. Make it look intentional…
I’ve also mixed sawdust from that wood with wood glue into a paste then pack in the smaller gaps. It cleans up well, when it’s smooth the light reflection doesn’t catch the crack so it looks fine unless you’re right on it.
Crunch mode, wife’s bday is next week. I “barrelled” the sides. They aren’t great but it’s there.
Got the dovetail excess cut and planed down as well as got the box glued and in clamps. Hoping to sand and possibly cut it apart tonight after work.
Filled in the gaps and got it sanded to 240 grit. I bought some Mirka abranet sanding pads and really like them. Able to get a variety pack from CUwoodshop for a good price. I’d give them a shot if you need to get some new paper. Next is to cut the top off. Eeek!
The night started off well. I cut the box in half and got the cut edges leveled off best I could. I beveled the edges slightly to help cover any mistakes. I then decided to tackle the hinges. I got them all marked out and it started off well. The sapele then started to flake on me causing the mortises to not be so even. One fit nice and snug while the other had some play. Ok I can live with it. I then pre drilled for the screws. Did one in each first. I then used the steel screw brusso supplies with the brass hinges. I did the first one fine and then it snapped in the second hole. FML. I drilled the rest of the holes and then one of the brass screws snapped off leaving two screws deep into the wood. Fudge. I got the rest of them in but am not sure what to do at this point.
I need to chisel out a small relief in the front for a finger grab but I am worried the sapele will flake on me again. I’m thinking of just taking a router bit to it for a recess in the wood.
Maybe a rotary tool and just sand the notch out? Or router and then clean up with a rotary tool if it chips?
It looks great thus far!
Agree with the rotary tool suggestion, sanding away the material may be the best way to control the chip out and you can make adjustments as you go. I’d be concerned that a router would do more harm than good to it.
First two coats of shellac are on. Love how fast this stuff dries.
Finger notch turned out great! Nice work man
Thanks @JimboS1ice. I was super nervous to chisel it out. One to two more coats should do it. I wrote a little note on the bottom of the interior of the box after the first coat was put on.
Box is all done and gave it to the wife today. Not sure which she liked better the box or the Twix that was in the box.
