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This photo shows me, with my daughter's help, making a template for the shaping of the lid of your box. I have cut a thin strip of maple wood which will bend nice and evenly and am holding it on two marks which represent the edge of the box lid and in the middle it is on a mark which represents the highest point of the lid. My daughter is then making a pencil mark right along the edge of the wood.
Update #1 Progress on the Box
Laura,
I'm very pleased to be able to tell you that work on the box has begun. I have cataloged each step of the construction so far with pictures and videos. I am not quite sure how to string them together here so that you get a good chronological overview, but I will do my best.
posted on Oct 16th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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Here is the template in progress. You can see the scribed arc for the shape of the box top and then the next horizontal line down represents the bottom of the lid.
Update #2 Continued Progress on the box
I tried to put all the pictures and text and videos in one update, but it just bogged the system down. So here goes one or two at a time.
posted on Oct 16th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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In this picture you can see the template again. I have cut the arc on it with the bandsaw and then carefully filed right down to the line so as to end up with a very smooth arc profile on the template. The arc can't have any flat spots or bumps in it as it determines the shape of the box top.
Update #3 Continued Progress on the box
posted on Oct 16th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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This is the block of wood out of which I am making the lid of the box. It is a solid block now, but in the next step you will see that it doesn't stay that way for long.
Update #4 Wood for the Box Lid
posted on Oct 19th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
Update #5 Cutting the wood block so I can make the arced curve in the top
posted on Oct 19th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
Update #6 Block all cut and ready to profile
posted on Oct 19th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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Laura, Here are the wood blanks that my friend sent to me. It is from these that I cut the veneer pieces for your box.
Update #7 Veneers for Box
posted on Oct 26th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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These veneers came out beautifully. And with a finish on them the color will be gorgeous.
Update #8 The veneers all cut
posted on Oct 26th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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This was the piece that I chose for the lid of the box. I will take two veneers that came out of the wood blank right next to each other and flip one over just like when you turn a page in a book. That will give us a mirror image on the right and left sides. The resultant pattern is really stunning.
Update #9 Veneer pattern for the box lid
posted on Oct 26th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
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Here is option # 2 for the pattern on the top. It is two sides book matched so they form a mirror image with the knot on both sides.
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This photo shows you option number 1 for the pattern on the top of the box. The pattern is striking with the tight grained knot in it, but it is also asymetrical, which some people like and others don't.
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Here are the sides of the box. They are glued up from a plywood core and then a veneer of bloodwood is glued to the core on both the inside and outside. When you are doing veneer work you always want to keep the panel balanced. If you glue something on one side you want to put it on the other as well. And of course this gives the inside a nice finish also. This side blanks will have a piece of solid wood glued to them on top and bottom to finish them out, with a bit more extra detail on the ends and then they will be doweled together to form the box.
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Option # 3 cuts the knots out and uses the other end of the veneer pieces so that you have a mirror image of the widening grain pattern as it moves out from the knots. The knots would be cut out for this option. If you could look at these three and make a decision as to which one you liked the most then I will follow your direction. Or you could just tell me to do what I think looks the best and be surprised. Let me know which way you want to go. I plan to glue the veneer on on Sunday so need to know before then. Thanks! Rob
Update #10 Sides veneered and question on the box lid?
Laura,
I veneered the sides of the box today and will glue on the veneer for the box top next. I have a question on the choice of pattern for the top. See below for details.
posted on Nov 16th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
Update #11 Beautiful Red Shavings
Laura,
This afternoon I planed the veneers down on the box sides. I thought you would enjoy seeing the beautiful pile of red shavings. Nothing is quite so satisfying in the life of a fine furniture builder as using the hand plane. The shavings come off so thin and the surface that is left is glass smooth.
Also, I ended up with a pattern for the veneer on the lid that was not any of the patterns I showed you. It is my favorite of all the options and I think you will really like it. Should I send you a picture or leave it as a surprise?
posted on Nov 19th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
Update #12 Progress on Carving
Laura,
I am carving a sample pattern just to work through any carving issues before I cut into the actual box lid which already has a good deal of time invested in it. Can you look at the attached photos and tell me if things are moving in the direction that you envisioned. Keep in mind that what you see is not finished yet. Lines will be thinned down and refined. The arched lowered so they are not as prominent and everything will be smoothed up. The important question at this point is whether this is what you had in mind for the carving?
posted on Dec 04th 2012 by Rob Clark Furniture
