Matched grain Maple Burl Boxes

[Rick Markham]

This one I don't know why I didn't post sooner, it has been gone for months to it's new home, to a very good friend. While posting pictures of my work for Christmas I came across the photos and thought y'all might enjoy this. If my memory serves me it was about 5"x3"x2" It had good proportions and turned out really beautiful. I love making these, and they take me nearly no time at all.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/102.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/099.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/105.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/096-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/100.jpg

[Rick Markham]

This is one I finished recently, and is a Christmas present for the LOML It's small, I added something for perspective.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/053-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/055-1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/057.jpg

And NO it isn't an engagement ring, but it is a promise to her. (I don't need a wife quite yet, I need to finish school and buy more tools :D)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v295/Rick357/058.jpg

[Mark Wyatt]

That is some wild wood. I'm sure she will appreciate the box and what is in it!

[Bruce Page]

Awesome! I love the way you did that!

Don't make her wait too long...;)

[george wilson]

Wow! They look bigger in the photographs! I thought you had taken a very large burl to make the first box until I went back and re read the size. Nice work,and great photos(I need to make my photos better!!!).

[Rick Markham]

Thanks George, they were both fairly small, The first one, is actually the largest of this series of boxes I have made. It's a little more challenging for me to make the smaller ones. I think I had to take about 15 photos of the second one to get 3 decent ones, so don't feel too bad George... sometimes it takes quite a few shots to get a good one. Manual focus cameras made life a little easier in the past, especially with dealing in macro situations.

[Greg Labacz]

I'm new to woodworking and box building and loved your boxes, they're fantastic !!! I have a few questions. Being small did you just sand the wood or did you use a jonter and planer? How did you manage to cut the wood so the burl would match? What did you use to hinge the top?

[Rick Markham]

Greg, I just sand the pieces on my table saw table so they are flat, I don't have a power jointer, and I am pretty sure these pieces are so small a jointer would just eat the pieces. I cut each of these from a single block of wood, first the sides, then the top and bottom, then the front and back. all the pieces are then hand sanded flat/flush, a chamfer is cut on the top of the back and the lid. two 1/8" holes are drilled in the sides and the sides of the lid, and a small 1/8" diameter steel pin cut from a rod is inserted as a hinge. Then I glue the font and back to the bottom, let that cure, then the sides and lid are put together and glued to the front/back/bottom assembly. Once it is dried it is back to being all one piece, with the "hinge" hidden. If you keep track of the orientation of everything, the grain matches on all sides. I took me awhile to think of how to do this, I've got it down now so it takes me about an hour to make one (with set up time for the glue) If something confuses you, let me know I can clarify it for ya. Since they are small boxes, edge joints aren't a problem, no one is going to cram something in them, even if they did the burl will break before the joint will. They are just one of my "artsy fartsy" things I like to make, they always make the recipient smile larger than life.

[Jim Koepke]

Beautiful work.

Thanks sharing these and for telling us how you put them together.

I was going to ask if you didn't.

Just now thinking if you make these out of a single large burl, have you ever made a box with a smaller one to nest inside from the same burl?

jtk

[Paul Saffold]

Rick thanks for your explanation.
More Qs. What saw do you use? Table, band or hand? And what type of glue? Same as working with "normal" wood?
Thanks and Merry Christmas.

[Rick Markham]

Jim, ya hit the nail on the head. I've got one of nesting boxes in the works, you must think just like me. If your careful with the process then you should be able to get two or three smaller boxes, and if your extra careful and measure twice, they will fit inside of each other.

[Rick Markham]

Paul, most of these are too small for a table saw, besides the kerf would remove too much wood. My first choice is my bandsaw with a resaw blade on it. Once they get really small, the dovetail saw. I just use titebond 2, you just have to be careful when guing the sides and lid on, that you don't glue the lid closed, if you do you just have a hollow block of wood and no way to open it. I usually apply the glue with a cue tip and clean up any squeeze out right away. Y'all don't go getting rich on these, otherwise I want some royalties... LOL

Y'all share so freely with me all time, I must return the favor occasionally. If you make one, make sure you make someone's day by giving it to them!

[Greg Labacz]

Thanks Rick for your explanation , it makes me want to go buy some wood and give it a try after the holidays...

Merry Christmas and a Healthy and safe New Year

[Rick Markham]

Your absolutely welcome Greg. It sounds more complicated than it is. Give it a shot! If ya have any questions feel free to PM me anytime!