Fun with some Aromatic Red Cedar

[steven c newman]

Since I have quite a stash of the stuff....needed 4 slats out of a box load....left quite a bit..
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I thought I might build a few small boxes....T&G was ripped off of those planks....

tried some box joints
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Glue cauls and clamps..
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then clean things up..
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Round the corners off a bit..
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And..
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Slice the lid off...
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Will be on a search for the right hardware....box is barely 4" tall, BTW.

Shop is smelling a bit....strange....

Stay tuned...:D

[Rob Luter]

I love aromatic cedar. It reminds me of the cedar closets my Grandparents had.

I used it to line this box. I use it as a valet to keep my dresser uncluttered. It sure smells nice when I open it every morning.

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[steven c newman]

Mutt & Jeff?
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Waiting on a coat of varnish around the outside..
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Handles? Well..just in case they might be needed...
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Already started on Version No. 2...
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Version No. 1 stands about 4" tall.....7" long, by 3-1/4" deep....haven't decided on Version No. 2's sizes...yet..

[steven c newman]

Well, the trial run of pins with the scroll saw didn't go too well.....cut the nasty things off with the Stanley No. 358.....and start again...
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Still doing the tails with the scrollsaw...Pins, were with a dovetail saw and a chisel...or two....getting better?

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Cut the rest of the parts to size......had to plane the top and bottom pieces to the correct width....so, tomorrow's tasks?
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Corners #3 and #4.....have found a pattern, of sorts...
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Can use this to set the angles and spacings better....I think it is a 3/8" bit....

Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Couldn't quite use that bit....was hard to trace along. However..
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On the older Stanley Bevel gauges....that pointy end? happens to match a normal dovetail angle.
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The newer ones are too angled.
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Hard to see pencil marks....
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Marked a baseline ( for me to "bruise")...saw takes 6 full strokes to go 1/4" deep....sawdust clings to everything..
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Scrollsaw tried to help out....just refused to follow a straight line...:mad:
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Old fashioned way...used a selection of chisels to remove the waste....after about 2 hours of shop time....
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Glue up has occurred....will let this mess sit a day....then clean it all up....

Stay tuned....:D

[steven c newman]

Late last night...got bored waiting around....box came out of the clamps. Cleaned it up, squared it up, and split the lid off......then planed away the saw marks until the seam disappeared....then went to bed..

Film at 2300hrs today.....

[steven c newman]

Pictures?
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Lid sits a bit loose...no hinges installed...yet..
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Nor latches, or handles..yet..
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Seam seems to be a little better fit, this time around...
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Corner details...

hardware supplies?
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Hinges (3 bags) Latches (2 bags) and a bag of handles...$14 and change.....and saved at least the same amount from just going to the store and picking them up, as they charge a bunch to box this up and ship it...

So....maybe tomorrow, I can install the hardware, and varnish two boxes? Then see what other kinds of boxes I can cobble up....still have almost 10 square feet of this stuff...

[steven c newman]

Here's a thought......make a tray? Splayed out the sides....maybe a glued up floor? handle, vs no handle down the middle......maybe cut-out handles on the ends? Might keep me busy for a few days :rolleyes:

Need to work on installing the hardware....may also change out them UGLY hinges on Box #1?

Stay tuned....might go ahead and varnish the boxes....then see about a tray.....may even leave the T&Gs showing in the tray's floor?

[steven c newman]

Load 'em up,we have work to do...
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Like installing hinges on Box #2..
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Changing out hinges on Box #1..
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To smaller hinges....Box #2 had a few high spots...
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Had...
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Nice and flat...so a latch can be installed there...
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And something to carry it around with...

Boxes were sanded, planed, and sanded some more....wiped down...and then Varnished..
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And.
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letting these two dry overnight....then see about a second coat....
Stay tuned..:D

[steven c newman]

Now...about that Tray Project?

Lumber Supply?
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Might see about adding a 3rd piece for a glue-up...
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trying to decide on a decent length and width for such a tray....square? Rectangle? Circle is out.....Splayed sides...or not? 2 handle cut-outs, or 4? may make one of each style....and see which looks the best


Somehow, I doubt that the tray will get a varnish......maybe, maybe not......

Stay tuned...:D

[steven c newman]

Laundry Detail, today.....needed something to do while waiting on the washer....so...
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3 planks, did not like the fit of the T&F the factory used....buzzed those off. Looking for a 12" length of knot-free wood...came close...
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Cauls, clamps and glue....fun part was adding a c clamp to a pair of cauls....while holding all 3 in place, and trying to tighten the c clamp....with just 2 hands..set this aside for a bit...

One other plank was ripped down the center...
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Edges jointed so they will match each other...
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Stanley No. 2, T-11....then the faces were planed smooth, since one face was rough sawn...
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Hmm, not any more....scrollsaw to help mill a pair of handles..
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And, their rough faces were also planed smooth..
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Waiting on the glue to cure now. A second coat of varnish was added to the 2 boxes...and rubbed out...

[steven c newman]

Small box was sent to The Boss's Pastor, as the usual Christmas Gift....that I make each year...haven't decided on the larger box..yet.

laundry detail again this evening....panel came out of the clamps, was trimmed square and to final size...and then..
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Stanley No. 3, Type 11 went to work.....
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So..next Laundry Detail....I can decide what sort of joints to use in the corners...
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might be a tray for the center of the Dinning Room Table? we'll see...

Stay tuned....

[steven c newman]

Today being a Monday....shop was closed for the day....didn't even do Laundry Detail.....day had bad "vibes" all day long......30 minutes to get the food order from the Drive-thru at McD's.....wasn't the way to start things off...

maybe Tuesday....I can just sit down at me bench...and make some sawdust....and decide what to do with the rest of those planks....wait and see, eh?

[steven c newman]

Ok, ok...I am awake, now.....have a couple errands to run, then I'll see about that Tray build.......be nice to talk about something ( ANYTHING) besides sharpening......once the tools are indeed sharp...does anyone actually USE them to build something?

Will go with through dovetails at the corners of the tray....and see how that will look....need to get out the "Usual Suspects" once again..
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Film at 2300 hrs....I hope..

[steven c newman]

Laundry Detail, this evening...so...didn't quite need all of those toys...
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lay out pins first, of course...
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grab the big saw..
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Chop the waste out..
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ooops, good thing that will be on the inside...I might just get the hang of these things....someday..
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Soon had the towels in the dryer.....and all 4 corners dry fitted...
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About done with the dryer...tried the frame out onto the base panel...
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may try a glue-up...tomorrow?

Stay tuned...

[Ben Ellenberger]

You are knocking stuff out! It’s hard to keep up.

[steven c newman]

That bit of cussing heard today? Cleaned off a spot...
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For an assembly table...laid out some clamps, and the 5 parts...

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Added glue to the mating spots....and a lot of clamps..
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Sitting in the shadows....maybe a better view?
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Also, one of the better views of my shop....comfy?

Will let this sit overnight...and clean it up in the morning....might even get a coat of varnish?

Still have a large stash of this stuff....might see what else I can cobble up....
Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Tray came out of the clamps, this afternoon...time to clean things up a bit....problem being how to hold the blasted thing still..
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have end grain to plane....handles wanted to get in the way..got the ends done,,,
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Figured I could clamp the sides this way...
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Then the Dremel to round over a few spots, and a Mr. Smith & Sons took care of the rest..
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Dremel sanding drum for the inside of the handles, spokeshave for the rest...
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sanded things down, wiped everything clean, added a coat of varnish.....
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Took 2 tries, but I managed to cut a piece of plexiglass, so it would fit inside....and let the varnish "glue" it in place...

And that was it, for today....waiting on how well the varnish dries..may take a second coat..

Stay tuned..:D

[steven c newman]

Tray has been rubbed down....and brought upstairs.

What is left of that box full of cedar slats...
I went through the remains...cut out the worst of the knots...left with mostly small pin knots....2 pieces wanted to bow a bit..clamped them together...
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Will let these 2 sit a while....maybe the curve will go away....
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Glue up #1....will be an end piece...
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And #2 end. Intend to trim these to size so they match each other....plus a few other cuts...
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These 2 will be the sides....As soon as I figure out how long to make them...which leaves...
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All of these "parts"....maybe some small boxes, maybe some sort of dividers...Strip of 1 x 1 Oak will also have a part to play....

Stay tuned...:D

[steven c newman]

Well, today the 2 ends came out of the clamps..
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trimmed square...
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And flat...had a rough face to smooth out...angle finder was then in use..
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Hmmm..maybe a 10/12 Pitch? Tip was clipped off...have an Oak ridge beam...
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Couple rough spots to finish up....same with the 2 sides...
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Along with the 4 parts for the lids. so, sides cut for length...
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2 ends, and 2 sides....lids?
After a bit of trimming for length..jointing an edge or 2...
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2 lids are in the clamps...let these sit until Tuesday.

Also, need to start in on dovetails, to join the corners, and see about a groove, to house a 1/4" plywood bottom...after that?

Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Today being a Monday...shop was closed. Went out car shopping instead.....traded off the old van for a little smaller SUV.....went from a Dodge to Chevy....from a 2010 to a 2017.....


Laundry Detail this evening....one corner of the box has been dovetailed....may wait until Tuesday to do the other 3 ?

[steven c newman]

One corner done...
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Then there were 2...dry fit of #2 corner...
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Then set aside for a bit ( loads of laundry to change over to the next machine, #2 load could then get washed, while #1 was in the dryer..)
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Just the normal Pins First routine....:eek:
Except for...
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The connection for the "Ridge Beam" that was...fun to saw.:(

Maybe later today, I can get corners #3 and #4 done? And the other end of the ridge beam...maybe?:rolleyes:
Stay tuned..:D

[steven c newman]

Managed to get to the shop, this evening....note to self.....Do NOT ever get in a big rush....things will break..slow the ....down.:mad:

Corner #3 is done..
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Even checked for square!
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Same with corner #4....problems came in when a notch was being cut..:rolleyes:
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Used a backer board,,,trouble came when the chisel popped out too much Cedar.....both sides of the notch broke off.....they are now glued back in place, with clamps and cauls....got too greedy, wanting to get done...chisel was just a hair too wide....hate when that happens. :mad:

Maybe tomorrow, I can see about milling some grooves, to house the bottom panel? Without getting in such a big old hurry....:rolleyes:

stay tuned :D

[steven c newman]

Ok...instead of tempting fate again.....I'll simply glue the 4 sides up, today......later, I'll cut "slips" to go around the the bottom on the inside...mitered at the corners, of course...rip a few strips 3/8" wide by 1/4" thick...either from the Cedar scraps, or maybe some white oak scraps. once they are glued in place...I can glue the 1/4" plywood bottom to the slips.

No slots to fill, no breakouts on the ends....

have a shopping day, today....
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Might see what I can pick out....Boss's Birthday, today.....

[steven c newman]

Glued up the 4 sides into a box like shape....and did not break anything :rolleyes:
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had to add spacer bars, as the long sides wanted to bow in...
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And milled up some "slips"
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Only question now is....
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Which mitersaw to miter the ends of these slips....I also made a 4th slip...just in case :rolleyes:

Waiting on glue to dry....might as well go shopping?

[steven c newman]

Clamps were removed....box didn't look too bad....tried the top bar for a bit..
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Didn't quite get the notch deep enough?
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Better than being too deep, right...

Set up the Stanley No. 2246A on top of my tablesaw,,,
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Set at 45 degrees....finger clamp Visegrips to hold the front feet in place...
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1st slip has been cut to size...and glued in place..
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Ends cut to that 45 degrees miter joint....one down..only 3 more to go

Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Decided to cut the plywood panel for the bottom of the box...lay out..
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Bandsaw to try and follow the lines...needed a little fine tuning.
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Then a test fit..or 3...
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Third time's a charm :D

Slips? second one has been cut..
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And installed with a bead of glue...repeat for the end slips...
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And...while test fitting the top bar...plane a little off the top? I snapped one of the repairs back off..:mad:
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Letting that sit..rub glue joint...and sized the two lid panels.....and then worked on the beveled edges...
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Not sure of the angle...seems the match up well with the top edge of the sides... Have to bevel both edges of both lid panels....and, when I get a bit of room, I can plane the lid panels flat and smooth...

Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Floor board did not want to sit flat on the slips...we have ways...
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A spot of lunch, then go to the shop....remove these clamps and cauls...then set to work making some dividers....thinking either 6 of 8 compartments? Going to reinforce the peaks with a gusset....have to allow for the lids, though....IF the dividers work out well enough...I may work on the lids, some more.....we'll see..

Stay tuned...film at 2300 hrs...:D

[steven c newman]

Well, lets see...gussets were made and glued in place..
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Dividers were milled, notched, test fitted..
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Then installed in the box, along with the top bar...
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Then a forest of clamps and cauls shows up..
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Which left the 2 lid blanks to smooth ...

[steven c newman]

Notches?
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Center divider was notched to match. Center divider and the other 3 were also planed flat...
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There is a screw head sticking up about 1/8"....acts as a plane stop. Leaves a dimple in the end grain.
Lid blanks...
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One face on each blank was still rough sawn, and the glue joints needed smoothed out...
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Sargent VBM #414c to get them close...
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Then the Stanley No.3, Type 11 took over......still has the original iron, BTW....needed a bevel milled along the edges..
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Let the Sargent handle that chore....waiting on glue to cure....or Tuesday to show up with the wind..

Stay tuned...:D

[steven c newman]

Well, Tuesday showed up wind wind and snow this morning....yuck. Errands were ran, and I'm now back home.....I suppose I should do a bit of work in the shop..after Lunch?

Need to remove the clamps.

Clean up all the glue joints, round the corners a bit...

Start fitting two lids...maybe add the hinges?

Sounds like a full day....Stay tuned :D

[steven c newman]

Clamps removed? Check..
Top bar planed flat..
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Check. Glue joints cleaned up
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Check...first lid fitted?
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Check...and installed?
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Check...2nd lid fitted..
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Check...and installed?
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Needed helping hands.
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handles installed on the ends...and the 1st coat of varnish...on the outside of the box...
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I think that will do, for one day...

Stay tuned...

[steven c newman]

Outside has been hand sanded to 320 grit. Insides were varnished..
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Then, with the outsides all wiped down clean...2nd coat was brushed on..
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More about how the grain looks, than about the smell.....( food items carried out to the grill this summer...Don't need them smelling like Cedar chips...ruins the Hickory smell)
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8 spaces inside...Salt, Black Pepper, Ketchup, Mustard, Onion powder, garlic, hot sauces, mayo/tartar sauce.....haul them out to the grill in this box....close the lids when done..
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"Lord of the Rings" lock? Smallest Lowes had in stock..

Will let this sit a day, then a rub down with 0000 steel wool...and call it done....
Thanks for looking in..

[Michael J Evans]

I really like that Steven. Good use of excess wood and functional