A box for Elsa

[wheelinround]

Fletty got two centres drilled this afternoon would be still out there but I think that chilli I had for lunch may have caused a tummy upset.

You didn't leave much room for error.

[cava]

If I ever get around to retiring I might do some commission work ... but that will probably be because I no longer need the therapy !

Well if you ever get around to retiring, I have a commission for you! Serious.

[AlexS]

Really enjoying this, but sympathising with you over the disasters. Hope they're done with.

[wheelinround]

Plan B seems to be working. I used the 60mm diameter WASP bobbin to sand an arc in a scrap piece and offered up my (rough) shaped prototype ring.

Attachment 254868

The fit looks OK but I wont refine the method until I have the final CIRCULAR rings to try.

feeling a bit better....

fletty

I am amazed not one (unless the mods deleted them) comment re-your rings.

[Christos]

I am amazed not one ........ comment re-your rings.

Sometimes it just has to be above the belt.

[fletty]

.... ah hah, my drill press mounted WASP sander that I have never even unpacked. I opened it and found that one of the bobbins is 60mm diameter!
PLAN B is to make 3 new drawers , offer each piece up the the WASP 60mm bobbin sander, SAND the recesses and assemble the drawers .... again! fletty

I think this was the third drawer I put into orbit

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so, in accordance with plan B, I assembled the WASP

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made 2 new 'tubes' to cut the drawers from ..... (a preposition is a word you should never end a sentence with.....)

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disassembled the tube and put the faces against the sanding bobbin after marking both the centre and depth of the arc

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the sanding bobbin left a smooth and accurate arc

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which, when dry assembled, accepted the rings that I picked up from wheelinround today, thanks Ray

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the drawers that I didnt trash in my momentS of madness still needed to be arced but couldn't be done on the WASP ... so I did them with half round rasps and files and dry assembled them with black felt on the base

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... and now I'm back on track

fletty

[wheelinround]

Fletty I hope they all fit. Felt looks good and should highlight the Huon her trinkets in years to come.

I guess we should call you Gandalf wizard of the boxes

[fletty]

This has been an unusual box to make. It was designed and made like a caravan. All of the internals were made and finished before the box itself was assembled and glued around them. My great fear, and constant nightmare, was that I was going to unintentonally glue, trap or sieze some part that was supposed tp move!
Today was the day ... glue up day! All of my fears and most of my clamps were going to be tested today
After a traumatic 10 minutes or so the bits were assembled, the glue brushed into dozens of places and the clamps applied....

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.... and then all I could do was wait.
Several hours later I released the clamps and tried all of the bits that were supposed to move AND THEY DID so I tested the bits that shouldn't have moved AND THEY DIDNT.
I havn't decided on the hinges yet. Groeneaj gave me a pair of beautiful 'smart hinges' but I think the sides are too narrow so I have finished it so far without hinges. This has made the sanding and finishing a bit more difficult but, at the end of the day, this is how it looked with just 2 coats of shelac...

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When the lid is opened, the Australian crest surrounding the letter E provides a space for A4 papers AND.....

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hides 7 little felt lined secret places

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the first tray comes out of the well

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and then the well itself can be lifted out

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to give access to the hidden compartment in the bottom of the well

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after this, an few magic incantations ... and finding the catch, allows the false bottom of the big compartment to be opened

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Is it finished? No, not yet, more finishing, decision and fitting hinges, a bit of cleaning, more felt lining... have I shown you all of the secret compartments ... NOT BL**DY likely!
But, right now, it looks like this, all of the moving bits do .. and I'm a happy little fletty

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thanks for coming on the journey, fletty

[Scott]

thanks for coming on the journey, fletty

Thoroughly enjoyed it so thank YOU!

[crowie]

This has been an unusual box to make. It was designed and made like a caravan. All of the internals were made and finished before the box itself was assembled and glued around them. My great fear, and constant nightmare, was that I was going to unintentonally glue, trap or sieze some part that was supposed tp move!

elsasbox45web.jpg

thanks for coming on the journey, fletty

No, THANK YOU Alan for taking us through a "master class" in box making....
the end result is beautiful and a big credit to your skill & patience's.
Cheers, crowie

[Dengue]

Thanks Alan, this has been a wonderful journey for us, lots to learn and admire. The end result was a beautifully crafted box that I am sure she will cherish more and more as she gets older.

Many thanks for sharing this journey

[wheelinround]

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

That's gorgeous; well worth the hair-pulling!

Just out of curiosity, what are the eternal wall thicknesses? I hope that you show us the hinges you finally select & the finished product.

[enelef]

Very nice Fletty, very nice indeed.

[AlexS]

Lovely result, Fletty. The circular compartments came up well, and the whole box looks great.
How thick are the walls? If you have 10mm the SmartHinges will fit.