Hinge Lid Boxes from Scrap

[glenn bradley]

I ran into a finishing problem on a recent project. While I percolate on how to get out of it I used up some scrap for some boxes.

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They are about 7" x 9" x 6" high. Walnut dovetailed cases, maple or red heart floating tops and bottoms, maple, leopard wood, or red heart pulls, lift out trays.

[Bob Riefer]

Boy oh boy, I always love your work Glenn! In this case, the asymmetrical knobs really catch my eye, and how the grain carries to the lid is very nice. I especially like the one with the cherry? lid

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Very good looking boxes, (box falls short), ... lovely artwork!

[Mel Fulks]

Glen, Those are beautiful ! I see them as Tea Caddys, precious casks for precious tea, which in earlier days was always locked and often
kept in locked cabinet. I find the knobs a bit too whimsical for such serious stuff ! Great work.

[Lee Schierer]

Really nice boxes. Tell us more about how the floating tops are fitted into the banding of the lids.

[Jim Becker]

Good thing you didn't scrap that "scrap"...nice!

[glenn bradley]

Really nice boxes. Tell us more about how the floating tops are fitted into the banding of the lids.

I use part of the profile of a raised panel bit for the top profile on the 3/4" material. The second shot shows a previous box project lid and a piece of test scrap.

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I then use an FTG blade on the tablesaw to cut the joinery. First a groove to provide the overlay portion of the profile.

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I then lower the blade and cut the bottom portion of that profile shorter to make the tongue that fits in the grooves on the box sides.

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I also use a bowl bit to provide a carved look under the lid leaving only 1/4" of material for the bulk of the floating panel's surface.

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This reduces weight and helps things balance well when the stop hinge function engages when opening the lid. The bottoms do not get this treatment and act as a ballast.

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This box is smaller than the other three due to the size of the scraps on hand. I will keep this one near the door to the shop. It will hold my Rx shop glasses, cleaning cloth, and other personal paraphernalia :).

[Mike Henderson]

Wow looks great. That's a lot of work to do those floating tops. Congratulations on developing that technique.

Mike

[Lawrence Duckworth]

Impressive use of scrap wood. ….corner detail, inspiring!

[Lee Schierer]

Thanks for posting details of the lid construction, I may borrow that idea in the future.