| Project by BenR | posted 01-25-2013 06:26 AM | 9821 views | 36 times favorited | 51 comments |  |
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Greetings LJs,
This is a present for my one and only daughter, Catherine. As I type, it is on it’s way to New Mexico. This is the first thing I have made for her as I wanted to wait until I had the skills to make her something really beautiful (and for her to be old enough to appreciate it).
This was my big project for 2012 (finished a couple of weeks ago). The Pennsylvania spice box modeled on those from Chester county. I have seen similar patterns of line and berry inlay in pics of antique spice boxes or a chester drawers (is that why it is called that?). The box is approx. 22 wide x 18 deep x 24 tall. I made it in walnut, walnut crotch wood, poplar as a secondary wood, holly and eastern red cedar for the inlay, and holly and walnut for the banding. The finish is Danish oil and wipe on poly (I cringed when I put it on, but I did want maximum protection). I tried to stop just before it takes on that plastic look. I think it turned out ok.
Even though it is small, there were so many skills required. I went through everything I know, and then some (interior casework, line and berry inlay, banding, miters, finishing, mouldings, secret drawer and compartment, mortising a lock and hindges, fitting a door, and dovetails. There were 192 dovetails in all, and all were cut by hand (half blind in the front, and thru dovetails for the back). Now that is dovetail practice!
I am trying to learn to plane properly, so I planned everything possible. This went so-so, as at times I just made work for myself (tear out). I did progress some in my skills, although planning end grain still escapes me. I just ended up sanding the end grain and the crotch walnut (after destroying several pieces). I also had problems with the door. When I started on the box, I did the case, interior, door, and mouldings. Then I made all of the drawers. While I was doing that, the door developed a cup. I had it in the house with very little temp change. I guess because there are no breadboard ends, the door was still subject to moisture changes. Note to self, “wrap in plastic wrap until ready to finish”. I planned out some if it, and adjusted the hindges to hide it.
All in all, I am very proud, and I hope Catherine loves it.
-- Ben in Va
51 comments so far
a1Jim
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118333 posts in 5067 days
#1 posted 01-25-2013 06:30 AM
Beautiful work and outstanding piece.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
deon
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#2 posted 01-25-2013 07:39 AM
Exelent good work!
-- Dreaming patterns
Ivan
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#3 posted 01-25-2013 08:12 AM
Incredible box!Outstanding details!
-- Ivan, Croatia, Wooddicted
Woodknack
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#4 posted 01-25-2013 09:08 AM
Wow, beautiful.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
Jamie Speirs
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4168 posts in 4347 days
#5 posted 01-25-2013 09:30 AM
Exceptional piece of work, so nice in so many ways
That is an incredible project I’m sure she will treasure it
jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
stefang
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#6 posted 01-25-2013 10:02 AM
You may have had some small problems with this piece, but it is definitely master class work and not just well made, but very beautiful as well. I am sure your daughter will be thrilled with it, and I bet future generations who inherit it will feel the same as her.
-- Mike, an American living in Norway.
DouginVa
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503 posts in 3763 days
#7 posted 01-25-2013 12:07 PM
An exceptional job, very professional. I bet if it weren’t spoken for by your daughter you could get a pretty price for it at auction.
-- Just a man with his chisel.........
DouginVa
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503 posts in 3763 days
#8 posted 01-25-2013 12:09 PM
I forgot to ask, did you put in any secret compartments?
-- Just a man with his chisel.........
Jim Rowe
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1137 posts in 3803 days
#9 posted 01-25-2013 12:21 PM
Beautiful piece of work that will surely be much appreciated.
Jim
-- It always looks better when it's finished!
RogerBean
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#10 posted 01-25-2013 12:34 PM
Lovely work indeed. Keep ‘em coming.
Roger
-- "Everybody makes mistakes. A craftsman always fixes them." (Monty Kennedy, "The Checkering and Carving of Gunstocks", 1952)
rdwile
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167 posts in 3602 days
#11 posted 01-25-2013 12:38 PM
Nikki,
This is an awesome piece, definitely on my must build list someday, i just hope I can execute it as well as you have!!
-- Richard D. Wile, http://richard-wile.blogspot.ca/ IG: @rdwile
HillbillyShooter
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5811 posts in 3783 days
#12 posted 01-25-2013 12:43 PM
This is definitely fine woodworking! Heirloom quality through and through. “Excellent, outstanding, beautiful” are only a few of the adjectives one can start with to describe this project. Thanks for sharing.
-- John C. -- "Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance; they are the peoples' liberty's teeth." George Washington
Oldtool
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3537 posts in 3681 days
#13 posted 01-25-2013 12:45 PM
Absolutely magnificent, can’t give enough praise to really do this justice. Well, maybe one: there is no way to improve on this build. You should be proud of this, and it will definitely be a family heirloom.
Thanks for showing, and the inspiration to us all.
-- "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The point is to bring them the real facts." - Abraham Lincoln
michelletwo
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#14 posted 01-25-2013 12:46 PM
you have reason to be proud and how could she not love it..it is splendid
SPalm
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#15 posted 01-25-2013 01:12 PM
Wow. That is a real beauty.
Good job, and I can appreciate all the work that went into that.
Steve
-- -- I'm no rocket surgeon
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