Valet Box

[Rob Luter]

A small dresser top valet box with hinged top. I use it to store wristwatches, wallet, key fob, and other items when I empty my pockets at night. This is a replacement for one that was stolen in a home burglary a few years ago.

The sides are cherry and the top is black walnut, both from my "odds and ends" pile. The bottom and liner are aromatic cedar. The finish is natural danish oil. I'll put a coat of wax on it in a week or so.

Lessons learned.



When you think your table saw will cut a perfect 45* miter, check it again (time for a shooting board upgrade).
Cherry is a joy to work with when compared to QSWO.
When mortising by hand for these little Brusso hinges, precision is the operative word. Take your time.
Microscopic brass hinge screws require a light touch.
When you think your chisel is sharp enough, it probably isn't.


In the end, it turned out nice. The front and sides are made from one continuous piece of cherry so the grain wraps around nicely. The cedar smells great. Now my wristwatches don't need to live in my sock drawer. :o

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7877/33250000798_e07775c9ca_b.jpg

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7861/46401767804_631398cc02_b.jpg

[Jim Becker]

That's a lovely box...great job and your bullet list contains a lot of wisdom. :)

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Very nicely done Sir!

[Rob Luter]

That's a lovely box...great job and your bullet list contains a lot of wisdom. :)

Thanks. If only I could retain some of that and avoid doing something stupid next time. It’s a process.....

[Mark Rainey]

Very nice box Rob - speaking of shooting boards, I am eyeing Lee Valley’s new one.

[Rob Luter]

The Lee Valley shooting plane looks awesome. The board has some nice features too. Mine is pretty decent, but I need to build an attachment that will let me shoot angles. I have a nice Langdon miter box that will make a good first step but I'll need to shoot the angles to get them precise.

[Mike Walsh]

Beautiful work! I really like the contrast of walnut with the cherry and chamfers around the edge of the walnut add nice detail

[Lee Schierer]

Very nice box. What finish did you use?

[Yonak Hawkins]

That's some dandy cherry .. very attractive. The whole box is attractive. I like the raised panel in the top. Fine job.

[Malcolm McLeod]

...


When you think your table saw will cut a perfect 45* miter, check it again (time for a shooting board upgrade).
Cherry is a joy to work with when compared to QSWO.

...


My table saw is perhaps why I hate miters (I really should do something about that), but cherry is in fact always a joy!

And nicely done, sir! The proportions seem very pleasing.

[Rob Luter]

Beautiful work! I really like the contrast of walnut with the cherry and chamfers around the edge of the walnut add nice detail

Thanks. I usually stick with one species of wood but I like how this turned out as well. I saw some pieces from a local artisan where walnut and white oak was combined. They really go together nicely too.




Very nice box. What finish did you use?

After smoothing the wood with my #4 to remove planer marks I sanded with #220 grit then rubbed it down with a maroon Scotch Bright pad for a silky surface finish. Then just a couple coats of natural Watco Danish Oil. I'll probably hit it with some wax in a couple weeks.

[glenn bradley]

Great looking box. I almost wish we had an elevated title for the humble "box", they can involve some wonderful elements. I really like your choice of figure. Walnut and cherry are always a winning team. Solid bullet list as well. I'll chime in with some add-ons:



When you think your table saw will cut a perfect 45* miter, check it again (time for a shooting board upgrade).

The tilt of the blade and the squareness of your miter gauge or sled work together. Either can foul a nice miter.


Cherry is a joy to work with when compared to QSWO.

For a real love/hate relationship, grab some shedua or wenge :)


When mortising by hand for these little Brusso hinges, precision is the operative word. Take your time.

Well spoken. A bit of double-sided tape between hinge and box to enhance my grip when marking around the hinges really helps me out.


Microscopic brass hinge screws require a light touch.

Micro Fasteners (https://www.microfasteners.com/) has little steel screws in many sizes. I have a few matching steel screws stored with my small brass screws for test fits and hole prep.
This makes the small brass screws (lubed with a bit of wax) just thread right in with less fear of breakage.


When you think your chisel is sharp enough, it probably isn't.

Amen Brother.

[Yonak Hawkins]

I have a few matching steel screws stored with my small brass screws for test fits and hole prep.

This is a great idea.

[Rob Luter]

....Micro Fasteners (https://www.microfasteners.com/) has little steel screws in many sizes. I have a few matching steel screws stored with my small brass screws for test fits and hole prep. This makes the small brass screws (lubed with a bit of wax) just thread right in with less fear of breakage.

Brusso included a plated steel screw in with the bag of brass screws, no doubt for the same purpose.

[Bill Jobe]

Very nice, Rob.
I've been wanting to build a box myself. Have the kiln dried walnut on hand. Have to find some cherry.
At first glance I thought you had used a lid latch that you push down to make it pop up, that is, til I looked at the 2nd pic.
Your miters are fantastic.

[Bill Jobe]

On the bottom, is there a solid piece of cherry or walnut or is the cedar flush with the bottoms of the sides?
I love the way you have the walnut raised slightly above the cherry. And the matching grain of the cherry is superbly done.
I love it!

[Rob Luter]

The bottom is a solid piece of cedar set in a groove that runs around the full perimeter. The walnut top is installed the same way, except it's thicker. I cut a rabbet around the perimeter of the top so it would protrude above the sides.

The top and bottom just float.

In section it looks like this.

https://c2.staticflickr.com/8/7854/47096904452_dbf2c7dd96_b.jpg

[Bill Jobe]

Not that I don't like the walnut you used for the top. I love it.
But I have a large slab of kiln dried walnut with beautiful curl as does the cherry in your piece.
If and when I get around to making a box, I'll save that walnut to use on it.

[Phil Mueller]

Very nice, Rob. I’ll admit, I have also twisted off a steel screw head. Poor pilot hole, I’m sure. But because removing those broken off screws is a pain, I do a pilot hole, then “pre-drill” with a gimlet and then wax the brass screws.

[Rob Luter]

Very nice, Rob. I’ll admit, I have also twisted off a steel screw head. Poor pilot hole, I’m sure. But because removing those broken off screws is a pain, I do a pilot hole, then “pre-drill” with a gimlet and then wax the brass screws.

I managed to keep them all intact on this project, but I’ve broken them before. I drill then apply wax to the screw. My driver in this case is a jewelers screwdriver that is naturally torque limiting. The tip is a great match for the tiny recess in the screw head so it doesn’t strip.

[Kris Cook]

Nicely done.