Wenge Jewlery Box

[dino drosas]

I needed to get a wedding gift for a friend so I thought making them a box would be the way to go. I used Wenge for the sides and figured maple for the top. The insert dividers are mahagany and the inside bottom is tan leather. Finished in laquer then rubbed with wax and rotten stone. Made a few mistakes but it will do for the first one.

 

[woodnick]

Looking Good:eusa_clap Sorry! I'm not getting Married.

 

[TracyP]

Great looking box. I really like the contrasting woods!!:icon_thum

 

[WoodWrangler]

Nice box and great wood choice. I really like that Wenge. The leather is a nice touch!

 

[Trent Mason]

Very nice! I love the choice of woods. Looks great! :icon_thum

 

[NCPete]

sweet looking box, Dino.. now let me get this pic off the computer before LOML sees it. She still wants here cutting board!

 

[woodArtz]

Love the Wenge! Very nice work dino!!! :icon_thum:icon_thum:icon_thum

 

[Bas]

Very nice box Dino. Great contrasting woods, and nice extra's such as the splines without making it too "busy". I noticed the grain is continuous over the feet, so I assume it was one big piece and you cut out the middle sections, as opposed to gluing feet on.

If you don't mind answering a few more questions....
The top, is that just glued into a rabbet?
Chamfer along the edge of the top ?
Roundover on the top edge of the box?
How did you do the splines?

As you can see, I haven't made any jewelry boxes yet....

 

[Joe Scharle]

Very nice.

 

[Travis Porter]

Very nice work Dino! How do you like working with wenge? Anything you consider it comparable to?

 

[Canuck]

Very nice work, Dino!!:thumbs_up:thumbs_up:thumbs_up

(With my limited experience, I find that making small boxes with nice tight and square joinery, much more challenging than a large piece like a wall cabinet!:embaresse)

The wenge sure does look nice with curly maple!

I am sure that it will be treasured by the recipient for a very long time.

Wayne

 

[nelsone]

Great looking box Dino!:icon_thum

 

[jeff...]

Pretty Box Dino like the contrasting woods - but then again who wouldn't?

 

[dino drosas]

First, I thank you all for your kind words. I made some mistakes but will know better next time. The Wenge is not in my opinion a good wood to work with. It is very hard and dusty and the ends spilnter and chip out. Very simular to African Blackwood. I had one piece and used it up. I cut out two boxes from it and will probally not use it again (I have another Webge box ready to glue up).

Bas; There is a great article in the April 2008 issus of FW, #197 on building boxes that give all of the info you asked for. The top and bottom are not glued but float in a rabbett so that they do not crack with the wood movement. Box was glued together at the corners only and then the top cut off on the band saw. The splines were cut on the table saw using a 45 degree sled before the top was sawn off. I think that a biscuit joiner jig might even work better for the splines and will let you know .

 

[skeeter]

Dino, very nice looking box. I'm sure your friend will apprecite it.

 

[DavidF]

How did you finish the edges after cutting off on the bandsaw Dino?

 

[PurpleThumb]

Dino, I got married 11 years ago and didn't get a box that "PURTY". Of course my anniversary is Dec. 24th.

 

[dino drosas]

David, I have a 1" carbide tipped blade on my band saw and the cut edges are almost as smooth as a table saw cut. To finish them I lay a piece of sandpaper on a flat surface and lightly rub the entire box on it , sanding all four surfaces at once. Do the lid the same way.

 

[ScottM]

Wonderful craftmanship especially with such difficult wood. :eusa_clap

 

[BKind2Anmls]

Beautiful box! And very nice finish.