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Well I got a few Shaker Candle boxes made up for the family. Our family Christmas is later in Jan so I got a little extra time to get them finished.

What that really meant was I could taker a longer time putting on the Gel Poly top coat. I turned the heat on in the bathroom in the shop and let the finish cure without having the smell in the house.

I made 4 boxes from Ambrosia Maple. I picked up this wood almost a 1,000 days ago. I finally starting to do something with it.

The burl tops was picked up a little over 900 days ago. I've made a couple of items with the burl but I thought that I'd share some with the family.

I used my new spline jig to cut the splines for the corners.

All of the boxes were built with all 4 corners matching. Where you resaw 1" wood and then wrap the box where the Ambrosia grain goes around the corners

The splines were made with some 1/4" maple and mahogany. I glued it into a 3/4" thick piece then I cut 1/16" slices off the blank to make the spline.

I assembled one mahogany box to try out the splines. That's the mahogany box on the left. When I did that I found that the spline almost became invisible. So the rest of the mahogany boxes had straight maple splines. The darker boxes are 3 Mahogany and 1 Sapele. One of the Mahogany boxes was given as a door prize at the Mason Dixon Woodworkers banquet.

One of the Maple boxes has been sent by Pony Express to my son The rest wil be given to my daughters at our Christmas party.

I made a new jig to also cut the 45 deg corners. I guess I need to post that project also.

The front of the box was made 1/16" wider than the other pieces. I cut the groves that the top slides in and then I cut the front grove off and then glued it to the top. That way the box has a more finished look.

Gallery

Comments

· In Loving Memory
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Very nice work Karson… the wood was worth the wait…
 

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Very cool boxes Karson cool details.
 

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these are all very nice. I look forward to seeing your jig for the splines. very nice Karson
 

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Wow, very neat corner cuts, Karson! What a great idea. You done good.
 

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Outstanding boxes Karson. I saw your spline jig and was wondering about your splines - I was wondering if each set of 2 splines were each cut at 25 degrees opposing each other or did you cut one at 25 deg. and one straight across? I really like the effect that the double splines give. I think that your family is in for a big treat.
 

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Karson,

Completely agree with Bill and Barbs about these boxes. Beautiful Job!

Lew
 

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What a busy little Santa.
Good for you. Those are really nice.

Happy New Year,
Steve
 

· In Loving Memory
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Great finger joints Karson. Nice boxes.
 

· In Loving Memory
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Very nice boxes Karson, and I like your unique spines too.
 

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wow karson, that is some beautiful maple, i love the tops and the splines give it a wonderful detail, these are a real favorite for me, as i love boxes…there is only one problem, i have not gotten mine yet, i wonder if you have my correct address…lol…...well if you have any the come back for any reason, let me know , i will take it off your hands…great job my friend..as always, you come up with some beautiful wood, your contacts are ones we would all like to have…you sneaky guy you…thanks so much for posting these, and the jig for making the splines…grizz
 

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Beautiful wood and Craftsmanship!!

Thanks for sharing
 

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Bill: I just went out an re checked the saw and the cut again.I'm setting the blade bu the number of turns off of the 90 stop. I'm turning 15 1/2 turns of the handle. When I rechecked it it is cutting at 23 deg. SO when I first checked what I wanted and when I actually set up the jig the angle changed a little.

So each cut is at 23 deg off of straight.

I have the stop on the left of the blade and do the first cut. I glue in the spline, I cut and sand it flush.

I then move the stop to the right of the blade. I now cut again.

So the two cuts are at 46 deg off each other.

I'll post a blog on how I do the cuts.

Roger: a link to the spline jig is here. It's blue on my screen.
 

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Nice work. Did the Shakers use spine joints?
 

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Karson that is a wonderful set of boxes made with great care and thought.
I love those angled splines of yours and will try the two wood type on a box soon they sort of have the appearance of leather strings which is something I have been thinking of trying .

Thanks for the post and enjoy your Christmas

Kiefer
 

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these are wonderful…just love the wood…so unique.
 

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Topamax: I don't think they used splines nor do I think they used Ambrosia Maple and Maple burl.

So I improvised - Sue me. LOL
 

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Kiefer: I was also thinking about dyeing some wood to maybe red/green Christmas colors.

I could also use some veneers and maybe get 3 layers in the 1/16" slot Old veneers were 1/32 of an inch. Newer veneers are maybe 1/60 of an inch.

You could pre glue them and sand to thickness.
 

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Karson, these are beautiful. the lumber is spectacular and the joinery really adds a nice element to it
 

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I'll let them do it for taking thier name in vain ;-)) I thought they may have used splines to speed up things and not have to dovetail. A couple of swipes with a rip saw would have made a good groove! Guess not ;-)
 
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