My grandfather, who was a huge influence on my cousin’s and I passed away last year. My cousin Jason and I thought it would be fun, and a great bonding experience to build a nice display box for a few of his things…pictures, the head of his Cane, his Mason’s ring…and things that really defined him… like a Whoopie cushion and a fake glasses with the rubber nose to celebrate the jokester he was.
We went to the exotic wood store down in south seattle and found some gorgeous black walnut and spalted birch.
So I spent some time today cleaning up the sides and getting it ready.
I popped the grain with a bit of mineral spirits.
I am going to make a dovetailed box with the spalting as a moulding around the inside bottom, and a cushion of deep green velvet lining.
I’ll post more pics as I progress. I cleaned up the boards with hand planes, and spoke shaves.
-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.
9 comments so far
Scott Bryan
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27250 posts in 4366 days
#1 posted 05-03-2009 04:26 AM
That is some gorgeous wood that you have chosen for the box. This is going to be an interesting project to follow.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
TopamaxSurvivor
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#2 posted 05-03-2009 05:09 AM
Nice wood :-) Where did you get it in Seattle?
-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
a1Jim
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117747 posts in 4122 days
#3 posted 05-03-2009 05:24 AM
A nice tribute and beatuful wood. Be careful milling the spalted wood make sure to ware protection
Handymom
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#4 posted 05-03-2009 05:51 AM
Can’t wait to watch the progress. I want to make a shadow/memory box for my father’s tools (his hammer, drill, etc.) for display so will be glad to see how you do it.
-- Karen W., KS.
Chardt
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169 posts in 4146 days
#5 posted 05-03-2009 06:45 AM
CrossCut Hardwood in seattle for the Walnut, and across the street at Comptons for the spalted birch.
-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.
TopamaxSurvivor
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18715 posts in 4220 days
#6 posted 05-03-2009 09:01 AM
I’ll have to check them out. I went to Crosscut one time, but they didn’t want to fiddle with small pieces I was looking for at the time. thanks.
-- Bob in WW ~ "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
Dick, & Barb Cain
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#7 posted 05-03-2009 02:22 PM
A beautiful selection of wood.
-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1
Derek Lyons
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#8 posted 05-03-2009 06:01 PM
I’ve been to Crosscut many times… Where is Compton’s and what are their hours?
-- Derek, Bremerton WA --
Chardt
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169 posts in 4146 days
#9 posted 05-03-2009 07:35 PM
Comptons is almost right across the street, and about 1/2 block to the north. They’re more of a construction supply, but in the warehouse they have a lot of hardwood stuff as well as nice cabinet grade plywood, etc.
-- When my wife ask's what I have to show for my wood working hobby, I just show her the splinters.
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