Little Boxes

[my63]

Hi Geordielass

Plenty of them around here ( geordielasses ) I mean,

I really like the first one on each page I cannot manage scissors very well so my wife or my daughter do the cutting out for me.

I am a little unsure about putting my initials on some thing I am going to put up for sale, although the sales side isn't working very well

Thanks for the input

Michael

Edited October 8, 2013 by my63

[Geordielass]

I can see why you might not want your own initials on the boxes - at least in part because you'd need to keep them very small and I'd imagine that would be ultra-fiddly to do, but it might put buyers off too - possibly better to stick to putting their initials rather than yours!

 

Well, there would be a canny few Geordie lasses, you are on Tyneside, after all. Can I be cheeky and nosey and ask whereabouts you are on Tyneside (I'm originally from Morpeth, in Northumberland, myself, though my family, on both sides, are all from just south of the Tyne), though it's a long time since I lived in Geordieland.

[my63]

You have hit the nail on the head there geordielass I don't want to put my initials on it and I cant put any one else's on it until I know who they are it is a difficult problem.

I could leave it blank but that would be easy and no fun, that is why I was looking for a more generic image to emboss.

 

To answer your question I live on the North side of the Tyne I can be on the beach with the dogs within 5 minutes of leaving my house.

 

That is a very content looking cat in your avatar is it a British white by any chance?

[Geordielass]

You have hit the nail on the head there geordielass I don't want to put my initials on it and I cant put any one else's on it until I know who they are it is a difficult problem.

I could leave it blank but that would be easy and no fun, that is why I was looking for a more generic image to emboss.

 

To answer your question I live on the North side of the Tyne I can be on the beach with the dogs within 5 minutes of leaving my house.

 

That is a very content looking cat in your avatar is it a British white by any chance?

Tyneside is a very underrated part of the world, a few parts of it are decidedly unattractive, but there's a lot of it really great - a well guarded secret, I guess! As a bairn, I always lived within easy striking distance of the Northumbrian coast - that really is a very beautiful hidden gem that most of us are happy to keep hidden from the tourists!

 

It's too late this evening (well it is when I've just finished a second glass of wine - I'm far too relaxed now), but if you wish, I could look into some calligraphic-style borders that might be able to be embossed, simply, using your cardboard technique. They'd be less overtly ornate than gold-edged skivers. As I say, I'm far from professional, but I have had an interest in calligraphy since I was 8 (which is a LONG time ago), so I have, at least, amassed some decent source books, over the years.

 

Pearl (in the avatar) is actually a Cornish Rex that didn't breed true (i.e. she has fur and doesn't have the rather distorted features). I got her from the Thirsk branch of Blue Cross in March of this year, after my last cat died very suddenly. It's not nice, but no-one wants pedigrees when they don't cut the mustard - she'd been passed from pillar to post for four years - now she is treated as a little princess, as she is well aware is every cat's right! I always end up with the lame ducks, I have no idea why no-one wanted her, she's a very attractive-looking cat and fairly endearing (when she can be bothered - she is a cat, after all) but she'd been stuck at Blue Cross for nearly 6 months. She's a little madam, but is fantastic at looking like butter wouldn't melt - hence Miss Relaxation-Personified in the avatar!

 

The dog in your avatar is gorgeous - my best friend at school had a Springer Spaniel when we were in our teens (I hope I correctly identified the breed) and she was a lovely-natured dog. She also had a cat which was one quarter Scottish wildcat, which was not lovely-natured!

 

That was totally off-topic, but wey, animals are cute!

[my63]

Diesel in the avatar is an ex gun/field trial/stud dog who was put into rescue when the breaded gave it up,

We also have his sister Keela who came into rescue the year before him when she had served her purpose, finally Millie another black and white springer and also a rescue dog. There are a few hundred pictures on my flicker account if you want to have a look.

And if anyone in the Uk is looking for a dog www.nessr.net is the rescue our three came from.

Next post back to boxes honest.

M

[my63]

That auto correct on my ipad catches me out all the time.

My little box has half an interior now it looks like this

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2890/10221554056_cf5a4515ab_z.jpg
IMG_5142_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I have not done the inside of the lid as yet I was thinking I might leave it so the new owner could have a choice.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[fuchsiaprincess]

Lovely! I know what you mean about the autocorrect. I simply cannot take an accurate photograph of my box with the turquoise suede, which looks like sky blue.

[Pen Nut]

Your work seems to improve with each new item you create and long may it continue. I use to marvel at the work working skills of those that did the dashboards & door cappings at Rolls-Royce when it was at Crewe and it was matched only by those who built the grilles but hey that was then and things have changed now.

 

Below is my favourite pen box, this originally had a solid silver Duofold contained within but I use it for whatever best pen I am using on the day. Lovely black wood which changes appearance depending on the light angle. Could you not obtain that sort of hinge that incorporates a stop as well ? Even the fastening latch works every time closing with a definite click.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[my63]

Hi Pen Nut

 

Thanks for your comments I really do appreciate them.

I was just talking to another member in a message last week about making a custom box in black wood with a high gloss finish, this is not an easy finish to achieve as everything has to be flat every piece of grain needs to be filled and sanded perfectly flat.

 

I do use hinges like yours with a built in stop so they do not require the stay which means I don't have to cut large holes for the stays when the box is closed.

 

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8249/8582453444_2846665c00_z.jpg
IMG_0205 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I try with little boxes to keep the cost as low as possible and maybe this is a mistake as they don't sell very well.

 

Thanks for the input

 

Michael

[my63]

This little box is almost ready to go off to its new home it just needs the customisation to the inside of the lid.

The new owner has chosen a monogram of her initials.

 

I started by printing out the monogram on plain paper which my daughter stuck to card and cut out for me.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7292/10379627403_ec03515c74_z.jpg
IMG_5249_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next step was to mount the letters onto the card cut to the correct size sor the inside of the lid

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/10379442335_2fc6477c27_z.jpg
IMG_5250_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Check for fit and trim

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10379643163_db5ceb7f39_z.jpg
IMG_5254_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Add some suede

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/10379447814_e25f1d327b_z.jpg
IMG_5256_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The next step is to fit the insert into the lid and it is finished.

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

 

[my63]

So some time I have not been able to hold my saw to cut wood and have spent my time finishing projects and working with leather rather than wood.

I do have a few orders for little boxes so I made a start on them this morning.

Oak is my wood of choice for the sides it is expensive at the moment and although it will not be seen I like to know it is there.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5519/10456678666_f8edcdae58_z.jpg
IMG_5267 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I did tidy the edges up with a plane before I glued them together

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/10456681226_6cd9240e66_z.jpg
IMG_5268_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

From this point I applied masking tape across the join against a straight edge

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3773/10456675924_880552affc_z.jpg
IMG_5269_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/10457191276_20b8a7e871_z.jpg
IMG_5273 by my0771, on Flickr

 

 

If anyone is interested I am working on a board covered in sandpaper this stops wood from slipping

The masking tape acts like a hinge as the four pieces are folded up the final piece of tape holding the two ends together,

 

I do have a band clamp that I use for the odd tricky one

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7428/10457368583_6d3fcd5b13_z.jpg
IMG_5270_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This one has been tricky and there is a good chance it will be broken up the mitre in the top right of the picture is not correct it is a good job I made three of these.

I will reuse the pieces to make a smaller box.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5514/10457193986_c6b0524957_z.jpg
IMG_5274 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The picture above shows how the mitres should look.

 

This is where the little boxes start I have some interesting veneer for these boxes Smoked oak, Tulip wood which has been dyed black, birds eye maple, cherry, mahogany as well as burr walnut.

Lots of choice.

 

Thanks for looking

Michael

[Luma]

It is interesting that you use a board covered in sandpaper to stop the wood from slipping. What gave you this idea? What were you doing before to hold the keep materials from slipping?

[my63]

Hi luma

I don't have a lot of grip with my right hand and so need to be creative when working.

I covered the board with sand paper for sanding flat items then realised it stopped things moving around as well.

Michael

[my63]

The first of this group of boxes has its veneer this is smoked oak I think it looks great it has been lightly sanded and is ready for some wax

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7390/10479946086_c7b3e543da_z.jpg
IMG_5279_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3826/10479964965_afa5540306_z.jpg
IMG_5291_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

Even the corners came out well on this box

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/10480214674_c0ece93200_z.jpg
IMG_5289 by my0771, on Flickr

 

I just need to cut it in half and veneer the edges and create an interior

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[scrivelry]

Very nice wave there in the grain, or the figure - I can never remember which is the right word at the right time!

 

What are you planning for inside?

[my63]

Hi Scrivelry

I would say grain the colour is not quite right the flash on the camera lightens it a little.

I was thinking dark blue suede.

Unless you have a better idea.

Michael

Edited October 26, 2013 by my63

[fuchsiaprincess]

Well done, Michael Personally, I think you need to balance the rich darkness of the veneer with a lighter suede, but it really depends on what the owner prefers.

[my63]

Well done, Michael Personally, I think you need to balance the rich darkness of the veneer with a lighter suede, but it really depends on what the owner prefers.

 

You do have a point there, it is quite a dark box so a light interior would be better.

 

This box does not have an owner as yet so I guess it is down to me I do have some light suede I will dig it out and ask your opinion

 

Thanks for the input

 

Michael

[my63]

The second in this set of three is an experiment I have filled all of the grain on this marine plywood with hardwood grain filler.

Why am I filling the grain in the plywood I hear you asking well I want the veneer to be as flat as possible and I did not want the imperfections underneath to show through.

 

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/10494406193_bc33012a7e_z.jpg
IMG_5301_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

There was a small fault in this plywood so I drilled it out and filled it with a piece of dowel

 

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3767/10494214995_a109f14449_z.jpg
IMG_5304 by my0771, on Flickr

 

This is the black tulipwood the colour is difficult to photograph it is almost black

 

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2876/10494464973_cb86b64307_z.jpg
IMG_5315_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

The reason for trying to get the base flat is I am going to try to get a glossy black finish in order to get that the surface needs to be as flat as possible.

I should have used MDF rather than plywood as it is flat I may consider that for future projects.

 

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5530/10494799334_0470559677_z.jpg
IMG_5317_1 by my0771, on Flickr

 

After a few hours sanding this is what I have.

My next step is to tint some French polish with black stain and start polishing I might do a little more sanding first.

I think maybe a black suede interior

 

Thanks for looking

 

Michael

[scrivelry]

For that second box.. depends on what is going to go into it, but on a sheerly impractical level, I am longign for it to have a silber-grey or goldish interior - very masculine and sort of leatherandmetal look, almost.

 

Of course, that may not go well with pens, it's just a feeling. Most colors work with black, so there is probably not an exactly wrong choice to be made.

 

T