Walnut Box w/ Mitered Dovetails

[Jeff Craven]

Here are some pics of the box that I just finished for my girlfriends birthday. I sketched the side to make sure the slots would be on the mitered section of the dovetails. The outside is oiled & the inside is only waxed, because I'm not sure what it will be used for yet.

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/4977/img8231df2.jpg (http://img260.imageshack.us/my.php?image=img8231df2.jpg)
Laying out the pieces & the shooting board that I just made to keep this box square:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/6052/IMG_8232.jpg
Beveling the top & bottom with a 5 1/2, then a block plane:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1234/IMG_8238.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5125/IMG_8241.jpg
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8209/img8242xa7.jpg
The inside of the joint:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/7413/IMG_8242L.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/9642/IMG_8243.jpg

All done:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/3232/IMG_0080.jpg
The bottom:
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/5408/IMG_0083.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/2338/IMG_0084.jpg

[Jeff Craven]

A few more pics:
http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/4574/img0088nv9.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1575/IMG_0081.jpg
http://img256.imageshack.us/img256/1392/IMG_0082.jpg

[Fred Gross]

Very nice work! I have used that same dovetail with a bottom miter pattern and really like it. Is there any reason you did the sides on the raised panel first before the ends? I only ask, because when I did the sides first, I had a little tearout/blowout that I had to touch up with a few light passes down the sides.

[Martin Shupe]

OK, I need to try a mitered dovetail.

Your box looks great, but I have a question or two.

How did you cut the miter? Handsaw? Tablesaw? Bandsaw? I would guess handsaw.

How do you make sure the miter joint "matches"? I mean, when I cut my dovetails, they aren't perfect, but they are pretty close. However, with a miter, I would think you would really need it to be a perfect match, or the gap in the joint would be blatently obvious.

I'm going to get around to these someday soon, but would like to know more about it, so that my first attempt isn't a disaster.

Yours look great, and so does your box!

Thanks!

[Mark Stutz]

Jeff,
Very nice. Thanks for the shots of the unassembled joint. I'm still working on plain dovetails, let alone mitered ones. Are secret mitered dovetails next?:D :eek:

Mark

[jonathan snyder]

Very Nice Job Jeff! I sure like walnut.

Jonathan

[Jim Dunn]

Real pretty. I like the way you wrapped the grain around the corner. Sweet!

[Alan Turner]

I saw this box in person at the Montgomery County WW's meeting this past week, and it is a bit better than the photos. Jeff is a galoot. All was by hand.

Nice work, Jeff.

[Howie French]

Jeff, what a nice job. As someone who is just getting started with
using more hand tools, I really enjoy these posts.

Excellent work !

Howie

[Jonathon Spafford]

Great piece and beautiful wood.. thanks for posting all the pictures!

[Jim Becker]

Beautiful work, Jeff. Those mitered dovetail ends turned out wonderfully!

[Zahid Naqvi]

Jeff, that's a real nice box, and thanks for posting the step by step I learned a few things along the way.

[Jeff Craven]

Thanks for all of your comments. :)


Very nice work! I have used that same dovetail with a bottom miter pattern and really like it. Is there any reason you did the sides on the raised panel first before the ends? I only ask, because when I did the sides first, I had a little tearout/blowout that I had to touch up with a few light passes down the sides.I don't know why I did the side bevels first, but I didn't have any problems with the end grain.


How did you cut the miter? Handsaw? Tablesaw? Bandsaw? I would guess handsaw.

How do you make sure the miter joint "matches"? I mean, when I cut my dovetails, they aren't perfect, but they are pretty close. However, with a miter, I would think you would really need it to be a perfect match, or the gap in the joint would be blatently obvious.I scribed a line at 45°, cut slightly outside the line with a handsaw and pared to the line with a chisel. I undercut the insides of the miter, so that there wouldn't be any material pushing the two pieces apart. I did cut through the line on one corner, so I made up for it when I cut it's mating piece, leaving a little extra material. After sanding the corner to break the edges, it is barely noticeable.


I saw this box in person at the Montgomery County WW's meeting this past week, and it is a bit better than the photos. Jeff is a galoot. All was by hand.

Nice work, Jeff.Thanks Alan, especially for giving me this piece of walnut. Your handtools course and your generosity have really helped me enjoy woodworking.

[Ken Werner]

I really admire those mitered DTs
Ken

[Stan Suther]

Thanks for showing the close-ups of your hand work. I'm working on dovetailed drawers for a small walnut chest of drawers and found you work inspiring. What oil did you use for outside finish? I'll be finishing the chest soon and have previously used Watco oil, then paste wax on walnut with decent results, but I'm open to other brands and ideas.

[Clint Jones]

Jeff what did you use to finish the outside of the box???

[Jeff Craven]

The first coat was Boiled Linseed Oil thinned with Mineral Spirits 1:1. Wiped on generously, then wiped off the excess. The next day, I wiped on a coat of straight Boiled Linseed Oil & Wet sanded it with 600 grit, then wiped off the excess. That really smoothed it out. I would of liked to add a coat of shellac, but I'm not ready for that yet.

[Jim Shaver, Oakville Ont]

A Great Box Jeff,

I really appreciated the progress shots too!:)