Wave Box

[Ruddy]

A number of years ago I saw a box on another woodworking site that caught my eye and ever since has been on a mental To Do list. My thanks to the original poster.
The box uses a combination of Teak for the main body and Australian Cedar and Kauri for the inlaid lid. I drew the lid design using Sketch Up and a copy of that is included below.
The lid was made using a sandwich of the Cedar and Kauri and pasting the Sketch Up image to the sandwich. The individual lid parts were then cut out and reassembled on to a 6mm thick ply base before then cutting the lid to size. This technique makes two lids at once.
The box measures 230mm x 145mm x 80 mm high and is lined with a purple pig skin suede and the box has been finished with numerous coats of Wipe On poly.
Simple magnets help keep the box closed. I chose not to attach a lid lift as I thought it may detract from the feature lid.

wavebox.JPGwavebox2.JPGwbox4.JPGfLAGLID3.png

[ajw]

Looks great. I've filed this away, so I can shamelessly copy it one day.

Cheers,

ajw

[AlexS]

Nice work! I appreciate your reason for not having a lift, but perhaps if you followed the pattern on the lid in the shape of the lift...

Anyway, looks great.

[spokeshave]

Awesome, very eye catching.

Steven.

[double.d]

That lid really pops but its doing my head in. Do the pieces diminish in size towards the corner or is it just my eyes?

It's a stand out box well done.

[woodPixel]

That lid is magical! Agreed with DoubleD....its acidic!

[Fumbler]

Brilliant, very moving............

[Ruddy]

Thanks for the comments.Double D, the Sketch Up drawing was done with perspective in mind and no matter which angle you view the lid ,it always appears corrugated.

[Christos]

That is a really nice looking box. I am loving the effect that you had created.

[artme]

Great workpersonship there!! Love the box even if it does make play with the eyes!!!

[crowie]

Beautiful Ruddy....

[Rex Ashwell]

Ruddy, that is a beautiful box. The lid is sensational and something that I intend to try as I'm not above emulating someone else's good idea. From your description I am assuming that the inlay pieces are not veneer but cut from thicker wood. If that is the case please tell me how you cut them so perfectly. I'm sure I could cut veneer with a knife as smoothly as you have done these but doubt that I could do it with a bandsaw.

Rex

[Ruddy]

.Rex, Thanks for your comments. Send me a PM if you want a copy of the Sketch Up layout.
When making the top, I prepared a piece of Kauri and a piece of Cedar about A4 size and put them through a drum sander to about 3 to 4 mm thick each. These were sandwiched together using a not too aggressive double sided tape. The Sketch Up image was then pasted to the sandwich and then the pieces were cut out accurately using a fine scroll saw blade. Each piece was numbered and then separated. The pieces were then glued using PVA in order onto an A4 sized piece of 6 mm ply. You will find you will get a perfect fit.
The A4 sized assembly can then be accurately cut to fit the box.
Would love to see your result.

[Rex Ashwell]

Thanks Ruddy,

That confirms pretty much what I thought. Small problem for me is the lack of a scrollsaw so I'll have to think a bit about how I'm going to proceed. Veneer is one option and, of course, the addition of a missing tool is another, although I imagine there is a degree of skill required that may take more than a little practice to acquire. I do really admire the result you have achieved so I'll just have to get my act together and figure out how I'm going to do something similar.

Anyway, thanks for the information. I don't really need the Sketchup layout as I just printed the diagram from the thread and I can blow it up to whatever size I want. As a project this may take a little while but I'll certainly post results for you when I have some. In the meantime can you recommend a reasonable scrollsaw.

Rex

[woodPixel]

Hi Rex, Ive an Excalibur 21" which is fun to use, but I really don't think you need one. Try using a fretsaw, such as the Knew Concepts (if you want to get fancy!).

Have to admit, I have the KC and its great. It is used all the time with a simple cutting board.

Very cheap and results can be pretty amazing. See Patrice Lejeune and Patrick Edwards for a demo on amazing handsaw skills (well, he uses a thing called a Chevallier too). They have a range of boxes that defy belief.

One can do a great deal with the very most humble tools.