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Cherry pie, cherry slushies, chocolate covered cherries, I love them all. But, I love cherry wood even more. I recently got my hands on a beautiful piece of wide, black cherry lumber. I decided to build a big, elegant box entirely of cherry. It is 12" long, x 8" wide, and 8 inches tall. The lid is from the same board, and the splines are a contrasting hard rock maple.


My wife is my woodworking partner, I couldn't do it without her, and she does ALL of the finishing. (After I sand and sand and sand) She wipes the wood with mineral spirits, hand rubs two coats of tung oil, followed by two, three, or four coats of hand-rubbed poly. She uses steel wool between coats and allows a day or more between each coat. When the last coat is dry she then cuts and applies real leather to both the bottom of the box and the tray as well. Sometimes I get impatient and go down to her workshop and try to put on a coat of tung oil or poly, she gets very defensive. She owns the finishing department, and if I know what's good for me, I better stay the heck out!


I make sliding trays to fit inside the box. Sometimes full trays, but this one is half. It is also cherry, with maple splines. I like to insert dividers and recess them into the sides of the trays. That's a little tricky, because after milling the box sides, I have to cut in a dado for the bottom, then cut grooves in each side to accommodate the divider. Any little mistakes and I have to remill some matching wood (if I have any left) and do it all over again.


This box has a latch, which is not all that common for me. I usually sand in a groove under the lid to use as a lift. This is a nice and attractive change for me.


This box came out very well. I'm pleased with it. It's one of those I'd be happy to sell, and I'd be happy to keep if it didn't sell. I get attached to my boxes sometimes!

It was fun to build and I enjoyed the process. Years ago I learned that one of the most enjoyable things to do is to work hard and when finished, look at and admire your work. I still enjoy it. The only better feeling is presenting someone with my work seeing that they really, really like it.

I hope you like my box and I appreciate your time in looking at it!

Jerry

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Comments

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Nicely done, love the slider
 

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Really like this. Very nice!! Would you be willing to share where you purchased that latch? Really fits great with the design.
 

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Jerry, nice work. I like the legs, clasp, and that piece of cherry has a beautiful grain and will darken and get more lovely with time. I might have used dark splines with the dark clasp. Linda certainly does a great job on the finish of your boxes. The finish is flawless. Most of us would be only too glad to keep out of the finish shop. Lucky you.

As always, you do a fine job of photography and writing up your work. I especially like your clear close-up shots. Keep boxing and keep posting.
 

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841 Posts
Very nicely done.
 

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The woodworking is excellent, and the latch is the icing on the cake because it's totally unexpected.

Great mix-and-match technique that I'll be "borrowing". :)
 

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Thanks guys!

BB1, I tried to find my source but couldn't figure it out right away. I know I got them from China and it took about a month to get them. When I find the receipt I'll get back to you… if I can translate it! :)

Alan, thanks. I considered darker splines, but I just don't like darker woods with the cherry, especially after it darkens. I know what you mean though.

John, I appreciate your feedback. I consider you a heavyweight on this forum.

Always a pleasure to read everyone's thoughts.
 

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Nice boxes. At first look I thought they were recipe card boxes.
 

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Well coordinated nice looking box. Great photography, very nice finish, impeccable grammar and writing style and a crooked tray.

Perfect!
 

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Thank you Daniel! I am a bard at heart. I appreciate a good story, so I try to give one.

As to the crooked aspect, I haven't walked straight since my back surgery 20 years ago. That's why all of my woodworking is a little off… to resemble it's daddy.

Seriously though, the tray is fine. I allow about 1/8" gap for wood movement and still let the tray slide. I just didn't even it out for the photo.

Still, boxes are very forgiving. They are not meant to be measured, just appreciated. None of mine are exact, but who would know? I tell buyers that there are imperfections in every piece of wood, and every carpenter too.
 

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Okay, I see now.The 1/8" gap allows the tray to sit in there at an angle. Cool.
 

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Maplerock,

Been following you for awhile. Thanks for the guided tour. LOL! I'm building my first box (after a prototype practice box to be posted. It's easy to think about when you do it. LOL!

Have a question? Your box is 12 inches wide. The piano hinges come in different lenghts including 12 inches. This hinge is @ 10 inches? Was this a functional/practical choice or aesthetic choice?

Did you use a router bit to round the edges?

Thanks!
 

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Tom, thank you. I do use a router to rout the outside edges. Sometimes 1/2", sometimes 3/4", and sometimes 1/4". I rout about 1/8 round over inside top and bottom.

The hinge was cut from a 3' long hinge. The length was determined by the box with, and further determined by the hole placement on the hinge. I added 2 knuckles if that makes sense.

Box guy has great tutorials. Add him as a buddy and you can find them all. He is the grand poobah of boxbuilding.
 

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Jerry,

I do follow Al, and a number of other box artists like yourself. Including Andy who was my first awe inspiring box artist.

My prototype was using the whole 12 inch piano hinge. I have a customer request and perimeters that I am mulling over.

I have learned that a box is not a box, and I'm thinking outside the box right now. LOL!

Thanks.
 

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Beautiful box. But I have two questions:

1. Where did you get the hardware? I love that latch.

2. Where do I find a spouse who will finish my projects (instead of my sentences)?

You are both talented and fortunate.

Thanks for posting.
 

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Jerry, I didn't realize there was a boxing poobah, but it is nice to see that your meds are working.
 

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Beautiful work!
 

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Beautiful box! I really like the latch and the maple splines. Any tips on getting my wife to take over the finishing of my projects?!
 

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Great looking box! I like everything about it-especially the latch! And lucky you, having a wife who does the finishing-does she have a sister…......?!
 

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Very, very nice. Great job!
 

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Very beautiful box! I think I'll get some ideas for a sewing box I'm going to make. I like the legs and the remobable tray a lot!

What do you use for the bottom? A thin piece of plywood or the same wood as used in hte box and lid?

Cheers
 
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