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Paul Fitzgerald
12-24-2007, 12:45 PM
My fiance and I have decided to make keepsake boxes to give away at our wedding. We want them to look like little presents that are 3 1/2" square. Here's a picture I've been working off of:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=77837&stc=1&d=1198516891 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=77837&stc=1&d=1198516891)

I'm trying to finalize the design so I can make a test box or two out of poplar. If everything works out, the next step is to choose wood species and a finish to mimic our wedding colors, which are apple and champagne. Here's a SketchUp file I've been working on:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=77839&stc=1&d=1198518235 (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=77838&stc=1&d=1198516891)

The box has 1/4" thick sides and an 1/8" top and bottom. The sides have 1/4" x 1/4" box joints. The bottom will be slid into an 1/8" dado prior to final assembly. The top will be fit into an 1/8" rabbet during final assembly.

I think I'm going to make the dado and rabbet for the bottom and top on the router table during the dry assembly. I'll do the same thing for the rabbets on the top and bottom assemblies so they fit together.

Designing such a small box is an interesting challenge. I'm worried some of the hunks of wood around the rabbets and dados will end up being too thin and compromise the integrity of the box.

So... If anyone has any suggestions to make the boxes stronger, nicer to look at, or easier to make, assemble and/or finish, I'd be very appreciative!

Thanks a bunch!

Paul

Paul Fitzgerald
02-03-2008, 6:26 PM
Just a little update. I've made a few small changes.

The slots and rabbets are made with the box slot router bit from Lee Valley.

Paul