Lid work, raising a panel

[steven c newman]

Got the panel sized almost to the right size, needed a little plane work..
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Edges were jointed. Laid out a line on the face( the good one) about 1" in all around. Started on the end grain first..
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Using that Craftsman #3, going at a diagonal to the grain. When I finally got back to the stop line, I can check for fit..
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And clean things up with the 60-1/2 block plane. Both ends are done, moved on to the sides until I had it looking like this..
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the corners should have that diagonal line showing. You can adjust where it comes out at, by planing back a bit one side or the other. Test fit #1
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Turned out the panel was a hair too wide. More plane work. Narrow the panel, re-plane the bevel....next try..
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A little better fit. Now, IF Hoyle and Murphy will allow....:eek:
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Plane is for "scale". I haven't glued up the lid's parts yet. That will be later.

Sorry about the supposed terrible pictures, I'm running a wood shop, not a photo studio. :rolleyes:

[Stew Denton]

Hi Steven,

It looks like the box is coming along nicely, and I like the look of the wood. The photo with the plane on the box, and your comment that it is for scale helps, as prior to that I thought the box was much bigger than it is.

It seems like I remember you mentioning in an earlier post about the box that you have not yet decided what to use it for. If this is the case, have you thought of what you are planning to use it for yet. From the size, it doesn't look like you will be putting any of your #7 planes in it. Chisels and other jointery tools?

At any rate, it is looking good.

Stew

[steven c newman]

Ok, a little about the size of this box:
Long sides are 12-1/2" ( barely) long
Height with the lid is 5-3/8"
Front to back is around 7-3/8" or so.

Sizes were determined by what I had on hand from the slab. And what was left from resawing the slab down. Tried to make it a hair bigger than the one I made for the Stanley No. 45. And, just a tad smaller than the box for the three planes. Makes things easier to stack. I am not too happy with the way the drill bit box has turned out..
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Too little room. Could convert this old box to hold the mortise chisels. Right now, I need some way to store all of the bits for the braces. About 3 times what is in that old box. Might work on making some sort of "index" that tilts up for use?

[James Pallas]

Steven it appears to me that you have too much fun doing all of your projects. I really enjoy watching what you do however so keep them coming. If it keeps raining on you you may need to think about a boat:).
Jim

[steven c newman]

That is mainly the idea of doing these projects....have a bit of fun. As for a boat.....well. you know what they say floats.

[Stew Denton]

Steven,

Instead of an index, could you make shallow stacking trays to put the auger bits in? Finger jointed cherry...wow, if you go the bit way, you might have the classiest auger bit box in Ohio.

Stew

[steven c newman]

I'll see what I can do. Might be able to cobble something together?

[steven c newman]

And we have a glue up going on..
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Somewhere in that forest of clamps, lies a lid. Already rounded over a few edges
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Short ends, I could just use an old block plane...
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On the longer sides, I had to use these to make stop cuts, and then follow up with the block plane.
Idea was to barely round the corners, to break the sharp edges. The edges where the lid meets the box, also got a slight rounding. The also needed a bit of jointing, to remove a few rough spots.

Will let this sit overnight. No room on the bench, anyway. I'd post a photo of a package of small brass hinges I found...but some people would howl about picture quality...maybe when they are installed?

[steven c newman]

Hoping later today to go back and release the lid from the clamps. As for the packet of hinges..
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Still in the ACE Hardware package, with the price tag. Came from a yard sale buy of a tub of "parts"

[steven c newman]

Lid was released from the clamps today. Test fitted to the box.....Needed to plane a bit, to mate the two together..
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As the box was a hair bigger.
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Shadow lines from a couple drop cords. Planes were a 60-1/2 and a Craftsman No.C3 ( Millers Falls No.8) Gave the one side a bath to check the grain, if any..
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Has a wee bit. Shadow line is all around. Hinges?
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They are a bit too wide for the wood, but I can either grond off what I don't need, or just bend them down to wrap around.

Deciding on other Brass parts, what Cherry Friendly ( and ME friendly) finish to use. Whether this will be an Auger bit storage, or something else, remains to be seen.

Less than a dollar for the wood.....hinges came from a tub of parts at a yard sale....maybe $2 for the tub. Time in the shop? Priceless....

[Stew Denton]

Steven,

I really like the grain, it is really spectacular, I think! As to finish, I don't have clue, but whatever you decide to try, it might be a good idea to try some on a bit of the lumber that is left over from the project.

Because of the beautiful grain, I am looking forward to seeing the project with the finish on it, I hope it really makes the grain really stand out like in the photo, and the color is really excellent also. I think the brass will really go well with the dark color of the cherry too. Good job so far.

Stew

[steven c newman]

taking a day or two off from this project, and cleaning a few items up. Might get a few tools ready for that auction site....and I will try to id an Atkins saw I picked over the weekend.

Shellac?

Watco Oil?

Tung oil?

Might surface mount the hinges?

Need to sit and think awhile on this little box. Might turn into something a little bit special.....

[steven c newman]

Ok, a quick up-date:

There was a cut-off from the lid's panel. Sanded it down with the beltsander to remove the bulk of the rough stuff, then hand planed both sides smooth. One is now curing with a single coat of my Infamous Witch's Brew.

Went shopping today....for such a small job, a $20 quart of WATCO was vetoed by the Boss of the house. Sooo, I went and picked up a new quart of BLO, and a small can of clear gloss varnish. Plan is to mix a 50/50 batch, and test it out on the other face of the panel......Film at 2300hrs, ZULU......

Started installing the hinges, Back edge of the lid was too thin, so a "backer" piece was glued in place on the inside...( out of sight, out of mind?) Hinges are nailed in place. At least on the lid part. Used the end vise to both hold the lid still long enough to put in a couple nails, and act as a second backup under the nailing going on. One hinge done, rotate to the other end, and nail the second hinge. Hinges are a bit fancy, so they will be shown outside the box.

Will need to finish fitting the lid where it touches the top edge of the box....couple high spots on each to plane down...

As for what is going inside this box.....will depend on what I sneak away with this weekend at the local Tractor Fest down at West Liberty, OH. last year, just missed out on a couple Stanley #71s.....drat. Maybe this year?

[steven c newman]

Fought with the nails on the hinges, and the latch...one of THEM type of nights..
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Meh...Still has a shadow line, might keep it that way...

Ok Witch's Brew is dry...
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This is the sample piece....lots of tearout, no wonder it was scrap...
And the BLO/Varnish mix
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A little lighter in colour....might use it, instead.....found a jar to mix it in..
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Mix wound up being a 70/30 mix of BLO and varnish.....Might make some use out of that little jar....

[steven c newman]

Not sure what happened with THOSE photos.....how'd they become "attachments" instead of just photos? Not sure how to "fix" THAT problem.....

[steven c newman]

Went with the BLO/Varnish mix...at least for the seal coat. Will see how it cures out
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Seemed to look better than the "Brew"
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Might let Natural light darken the first sample a bit. "Seal Coat" is on the box, letting it cure out awhile, then we'll see about the nexr coats..

[Mike Holbrook]

Watching with interest, here is one of mine:
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[steven c newman]

After a rubbing to even things out a bit...
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Camera then died.....must have been the shock?
First coat..seal coat? Second coat may get a bit more varnish into the mix. Then maybe go with a plain varnish top coat?
Will need to clean the bench off, as well...
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[steven c newman]

Awaiting the second coat to cure, now. Just a thin coat of gloss varnish, nothing else in it.

Have a "Fest " to go to today......LOTS of rusty things to pick over.....might take a while, just long enough for the varnish...

[steven c newman]

Second coat..
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Will need to be rubbed down, after the varnish cures, and then maybe a third coat?
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A few holes to fill, and a few other items.
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Had to take it off the bench for now, have the second $1 load of cherry in the shop..
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Top slab is 4' long....not sure what this will become...yet.
As for the Tractor Fest today? walked around, to the tune of about 2 miles. I only bought three items
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Front to rear...Stanley/ Yankee push drill, Stanley square, and a Keen Kutter 6" sweep brace.
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Brace cost me $25....may have paid too much?

[Mike Holbrook]

Steven,

As you may already know, the 6" braces are rare and in relatively high demand these days for controlled torquing of small screw driver bits and drill bits. The smaller brace turns faster, more like an electric, but with much more control. Smaller radius braces for smaller bits, larger ones for larger bits. They often go for a whole lot more. Mine shows a good deal more wear. Yours looks sweet! I use Wera and Lee Valley hex, quick release, bit holders in mine, which makes changing between various bits very easy and secure.

[steven c newman]

The "dealer" I bought off of....loves to Clearcoat stuff to prevent it from rusting.....YUCK. Have since cleaned most of the junk off of these. The chuck on the Yankee push drill now works fine....someone had cranked it down too far. Will post some "After" pictures later.

I need to rub out the second coat, and then a third and final coat can be just wiped on. Box is a present to the Wife's Pastor.....I have a week to get the box ready, and all cured out.

[steven c newman]

Well, maybe a final rub out, then deliver the box?
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Letting this sit in the sunshine coming in the windows
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Have a couple items under the box, to keep it away from the paper. This is the third and final coat, just plain old clear gloss varnish
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Maybe after this cures, and a rub down, might be about done?

Nothing on the inside, letting the new owner decide that. Trying to deliver this next Sunday, after Church.

Just a simple, little box...

[Pat Barry]

Nice work steven!

[steven c newman]

Thank you. I have another 6bf of that Cherry to work with.....time to start a plan of some sort...again...

[steven c newman]

Box is now done, should be ready for delivery this coming Sunday. A gift to the Pastor of the church my wife goes to.....I may have to go along...hope the roof holds up.

So, hope everyone enjoyed this little project. On to the next project......thanks again.

[lowell holmes]

I thought I was excessive when it comes to hand planes, but I don't hold a candle to you.

I can say all of my planes are sharp. Can you say that:confused: :)

[steven c newman]

Yep, otherwise they can't be used....

[Phil Mueller]

The box turned out really nice, Steven. What a great gift. Thanks for sharing the build.

[lowell holmes]

Yep, otherwise they can't be used....

Good comeback:)