| Project by HerbC | posted 03-11-2014 04:53 AM | 1982 views | 1 time favorited | 12 comments |  |
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This is a heart shaped jewelry box I made for my wife this year for Valentine’s day. I actually had the box built in time for Valentine’s day but then I ran into a problem with the finish…
I used Minwax Semi-Gloss Clear Aerosol Lacquer. I had the following problems with this product:
1. It did not build a good finish coat as quickly as I expected.
2. As I added coats the finish developed a very pronounced blush. By the time I had three coats on the box you could hardly read my wife’s name through the finish.
I did some research and found that several companies make products that are supposed to solve the blush problem by dissolving the surface coat of lacquer with a slow drying solvent, this is supposed to release the trapped moisture which is the root cause of the problem. I was somewhat skeptical but decided to give it a shot. A bit of searching and I found shellac.net sold Behlen JetSpray Blush Eraser. I ordered a can. I just tried it today and it was amazing. One quick, light coat did the trick. The blush disappeared as I sprayed it on the box. Thirty minutes later the box was dry and blush free.
I had order some Behlen Satin Top Coat Lacquer when I ordered the Blush Eraser. I gave the box two more coats using this product and was very impressed with the quality of the coating.
The box is made from sycamore and oak. The recesses in the interior were drilled using forstner drill bits. The box shape was cut using a router and template since I do not have a band saw or scroll saw.
-- Herb, Florida - Here's why I close most messages with "Be Careful!" http://lumberjocks.com/HerbC/blog/17090
12 comments so far
DeLayne Peck
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669 posts in 3174 days
#1 posted 03-11-2014 06:12 AM
Very beautiful. I am sure you wife loves it. Another heirloom!
-- DJ Peck, Lincoln Nebraska. Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
DeLayne Peck
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#2 posted 03-11-2014 06:15 AM
Herb, you have 521 favorites marked. You better go to the shop and not come back!
-- DJ Peck, Lincoln Nebraska. Lord, keep your arm around my shoulder and your hand over my mouth.
HerbC
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#3 posted 03-11-2014 06:59 AM
DeLayne,
If I did that I might finish more projects. Can’t have that, it’d ruin my status in The 98% Club… Can I help it if I have ADHD???
Thanks for the comments. Yes, Carol, my wife, did like it.
Herb
-- Herb, Florida - Here's why I close most messages with "Be Careful!" http://lumberjocks.com/HerbC/blog/17090
Handtooler
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#4 posted 03-11-2014 11:04 AM
Many, many thanks for the review. And speaking of favorites, I have added this to my favorites. Very, very nice heirloom box for the sweetie!
-- Russell Pitner Hixson, TN 37343 [email protected]
Bobsboxes
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#5 posted 03-11-2014 03:43 PM
Well done, I also have had good luck with Behlen products.
-- Bob in Montana. Kindness is the Language the blind can see and deaf can hear. - Mark Twain
HerbC
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1819 posts in 3831 days
#6 posted 03-12-2014 12:14 AM
I had an inquiry via PM asking how I did the lettering…
I cheated. I used MS Word on my computer to format and print the text. The text was printed to plain paper on a laser jet printer. I used the option during the printing process to print the text in mirror image mode. I then used a transfer or shading tip on a wood burner to transfer the text to the wood. This was done BEFORE applying any finish.
It works and I like how it turned out.
Herb
-- Herb, Florida - Here's why I close most messages with "Be Careful!" http://lumberjocks.com/HerbC/blog/17090
HerbC
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1819 posts in 3831 days
#7 posted 03-12-2014 12:40 AM
If anyone wants it, I’ll send a pdf with the heart layout. This includes the locations and sizes of the holes for the jewelry pockets and for the magnets and screws that form the latch.
If you’d like to receive a copy, send me a PM with your email address.
Herb
-- Herb, Florida - Here's why I close most messages with "Be Careful!" http://lumberjocks.com/HerbC/blog/17090
boxcarmarty
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#8 posted 03-12-2014 04:30 PM
Herb, Great job on the heart shaped 3 cup holder with lid, and we’ll just keep it amongst friends that it was late….. (the wife doesn’t need to find out)
-- My mind is like lighting, one brilliant flash, then its gone.....
eddie
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#9 posted 03-12-2014 04:42 PM
Herb great looking box like the way you did the letters came out good that ought to get you out of the dog house :)
-- Jesus Is Alright with me
DIYaholic
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#10 posted 03-12-2014 04:47 PM
A great gift….
Made from the heart!!!
BTW: good to know about the Behlen products.
-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow! If good things come to those who wait.... Why is procrastination a bad thing?
oldnovice
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#11 posted 03-12-2014 09:22 PM
HerbC, I don’t know how you did it but it appears that the name floats above the wood!
It has to be your finishing technique!
Turned out really nice.
-- "It's fine in practise but it will never work in theory"
HerbC
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1819 posts in 3831 days
#12 posted 03-13-2014 10:23 PM
Thanks for all the nice comments.
Bob and Randy, yes, Behlen has become a product I like. The Blush Eraser worked like a charm and certainly save me from disaster. And the lacquer top coat seemed to build quicker and better than the MinWax…
OldNovice, thanks but I think most of what you’re perceiving is a photography artifact caused by lighting. The technique I used to transfer the lettering did result in a small amount of unintended shading in the background of the lettering and the last two coats of Behlen lacquer certainly helped a lot.
Ya’ll Be Careful!
Herb
-- Herb, Florida - Here's why I close most messages with "Be Careful!" http://lumberjocks.com/HerbC/blog/17090
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