Friday 30 September 2011

Brass catch

                       
These photos show a little brass plate which is designed to hold the drawer shut.
The drawer won't have a handle . It will spring out when it's released from inside the box. And the box of course is locked with a secret mechanism.

Thursday 29 September 2011

Lots of Pieces

A much better day! The drawer runners are now all made, the sycamore lining is nearly finished and I've now got a fairly clear idea of where I'm going - which is the important bit...
The photo is of the best way to cut the thin fillets which go either side of the drawer.
I think what's been making things so slow is that everything must slot together without glue because all of the insides need to be accessible to adjust in years to come.

Wednesday 28 September 2011

A days work

I can't believe how little I achieved yesterday.All I managed to do was fit the drawer - or refit it because I already fitted it once before the box was glued up and I made the drawer front for the other end of the box
I did make part of the front and back lining and I did a lot of thinking.... Maybe I'll have a surge today.

Tuesday 27 September 2011

Glued up

Finally the box is glued up!

I'm now faced with the decision of whether to finish the outside of the box or to make all the inside pieces first. Insides I think because once the lid is hinged it might be more difficult to work inside the box.

Monday 26 September 2011

New week

It's a new week! which means a new begining, new resolutions and things. I don't think I did too well last week - almost an entire week and only one small relatively simple drawer to show for it! This week I will do better.


I'm pleased to say that I didn't darken the workshop door yesterday (Sunday) well, I did, but only to mend the lawn mower - I'm not sure by the way that you can get away with shortening the starting cord - but I didn't touch a box or anything box related. So I shall bounce into my workshop this morning fresh and raring to do some serious progress on this stationery box. Actually Chris is away today so it's a good day to really concentrate and hopefully get the carcase glued up.

Saturday 24 September 2011

drawers

I can hardly believe that I spent almost all day making just one drawer! But it's true that's pretty much all I had to show for the days work. I did make a rough box from red wood (softwood - something I scarcely ever use) which was a prototype but I'll tell you more of these boxes once I get under way with them.



Back to the drawer. I did cut four pieces of ripple sycamore before I found a piece I liked and it is of course dovetailed on all four corners and I guess I did get through the days paperwork but still, one drawer....

Friday 23 September 2011

Museum acquisition

Can I blow my own trumpet a little? I guess I can blow it here - that's what blogs are all about aren't they?
I've been commissioned to make a box for Tullie house Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle! They want a box for theit permanent collection! I'm quite flattered.
the box they want will be a jewellery box a little bit like this one:


Fortunately They don't want it before Christmas!

Thursday 22 September 2011

Stationery progress

And yes, that title is meant to be ironic... well at least it feels like that sometimes. Just very slow progress. Here's a first pic of the stationery box
It's european burr walnut. A fantastic piece of wood. I can only show the back hinges - wooden of course - here as at the moment if I showed the front of the box you might get a clue to the opening mechanism. Peter

Wednesday 21 September 2011

I'm Back!

I know, I bet you thought - here's another blog started off all keen and like so many blogs and diarys it's fizzeled out.
Well it hasn't! I've been away paragliding in Spain. Flying with vultures. Fantastic!
But what of boxes I hear you ask, I didn't log on to read of flying around Spanish mountains., what's the next jewellery box?
Well the answer is it isn't exactly a jewellery box, it's a stationery box but the trouble is that it's got a secret locking mechanism so I shall have to be a little careful with what photos I publish - otherwise it won't be a secret!
Not a piece of jewellery in sight but I'll get back to boxes soon.

Friday 2 September 2011

Velvet inserts

Ring boxes once again took up most of the day.Making the little foam and velvet pieces is very fiddly work and as usual several hit the bin because the glue - only a microscopic dot- got onto the surface of the velvet.


The writing slope is now waxed and the very final job is to glue the lid pivots in place. So I have made it - the customer is coming this afternoon!

Thursday 1 September 2011

Wild Service Tree

I'm making ring boxes! Wild service tree is a wood I have only recently discovered. It is very dense, can be beautifully finished, close grained and is perfect for these little ring boxes. I am just sorry that I have only got a limited supply. In fact come to think of it I have never seen any in any wood yard other than when I bought these boards.