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..
Cedar Box, we have more.JPG
I thought I might build a few small boxes....T&G was ripped off of those planks....

tried some box joints
Cedar Box, dry fit.JPG
Glue cauls and clamps..
Cedar Box, glue up.JPG
then clean things up..
Cedar Box, clean up, side 1.JPG
Round the corners off a bit..
Cedar Box, clean up, ends.JPG
And..
Cedar Box, sliced.JPG
Slice the lid off...
Cedar Box, opened the lid.JPG


Will be on a search for the right hardware....box is barely 4" tall, BTW.

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

Stay tuned...

[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.

46401767804_53c56262e3_k.jpg

[steven c newman]

Mutt & Jeff?
Ceadr Box, latched front.JPG
Waiting on a coat of varnish around the outside..
Cedar Box, handles.JPG
Handles? Well..just in case they might be needed...
Cedar Box, Mutt & Jeff.JPG
Already started on Version No. 2...
Cedat Box 2..first corner.JPG

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...
Cedar Box 2, 2nd corner done.JPG
Still doing the tails with the scrollsaw...Pins, were with a dovetail saw and a chisel...or two....getting better?

Cedar Box 2, rest of the parts.JPG
Cut the rest of the parts to size......had to plane the top and bottom pieces to the correct width....so, tomorrow's tasks?
Cedar Box 2, tomorrow's tasks.JPG
Corners #3 and #4.....have found a pattern, of sorts...
Cedar Box 2, dovetail pattern.JPG
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..
Cedar Box 2, all the tools.JPG
On the older Stanley Bevel gauges....that pointy end? happens to match a normal dovetail angle.
Cedar Box 2, layout toys.JPG
The newer ones are too angled.
Cedar Box 2, corner #3 start.JPG
Hard to see pencil marks....
Cedar Box 2, more layout toys.JPG
Marked a baseline ( for me to "bruise")...saw takes 6 full strokes to go 1/4" deep....sawdust clings to everything..
Cedar Box 2, scroll saw cuts.JPG
Scrollsaw tried to help out....just refused to follow a straight line...
Cedar Box 2, chisel details.JPG
Old fashioned way...used a selection of chisels to remove the waste....after about 2 hours of shop time....
Cedar Box 2, glued up.JPG
Glue up has occurred....will let this mess sit a day....then clean it all up....

Stay tuned....

[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?
Cedar Box 2, loose lid.JPG
Lid sits a bit loose...no hinges installed...yet..
Cedar Box 2, open lid.JPG
Nor latches, or handles..yet..
Cedar Box 2, corner details.JPG
Seam seems to be a little better fit, this time around...
Cedar Box 2, corner details.JPG
Corner details...

hardware supplies?
Cedar Box 2, hardware supplies.JPG
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

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...
Cedar Box 2, load'em up.JPG
Like installing hinges on Box #2..
Cedar Box 2, both hinges.JPG
Changing out hinges on Box #1..
Cedar Box, replcement hinges.JPG
To smaller hinges....Box #2 had a few high spots...
Cedar Box 2, taking out high spots.JPG
Had...
Cedar Box 2, high spot gone.JPG
Nice and flat...so a latch can be installed there...
Cedar Box 2, latched and handled.JPG
And something to carry it around with...

Boxes were sanded, planed, and sanded some more....wiped down...and then Varnished..
Cedar Box, 1st coat front view.JPG
And.
.Cedar Box, 1st coat, hinge side.JPG

letting these two dry overnight....then see about a second coat....
Stay tuned..

[steven c newman]

Now...about that Tray Project?

Lumber Supply?
Cedar Tray Project, Lumber supply.JPG
Might see about adding a 3rd piece for a glue-up...
Cedar Tray Project, floor boards.JPG
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...

[steven c newman]

Laundry Detail, today.....needed something to do while waiting on the washer....so...
Cedar Tray Project, tray bottom blanks.JPG
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...
Cedar Tray Project, clamps and cauls.JPG
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...
Cedar Tray Project, jointer results.JPG
Edges jointed so they will match each other...
Cedar Tray Project, jointer work.JPG
Stanley No. 2, T-11....then the faces were planed smooth, since one face was rough sawn...
Cedar Tray Project, end 2 smoothed.JPG
Hmm, not any more....scrollsaw to help mill a pair of handles..
Cedar Tray Project, two handles.JPG
And, their rough faces were also planed smooth..
Cedar Tray Project, handle 2 smoothed.JPG

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..
Cedar Tray Project, flatten a panel.JPG
Stanley No. 3, Type 11 went to work.....
Cedar Tray Project, flat and smooth.JPG
So..next Laundry Detail....I can decide what sort of joints to use in the corners...
Cedar Tray Project, corner start.JPG
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..
Cedar Box 2, all the tools.JPG

Film at 2300 hrs....I hope..

[steven c newman]

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

Stay tuned...