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Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

author-gravatar bad_keisatsu Mar 26, 2017

I chose Matt's box 37. I ended up building the box twice. It did not turn out as well as I would have liked the first time because I am still a very inexperienced woodworking. These boxes were made only using hand tools.

Because of its tiny size, there was very little tolerance for inaccuracy. On my first attempt, the miter joints were not very accurate because I cut them by hand and tried to pare it down to a perfect angle. Although I had already made a shooting board for 90 and 45 degree angles, it did not work for the long 45 degree edge of the box. For the second attempt, I first build a donkey shooting board and I was able to get a much more accurate joint.

I also attached the lid poorly in the first attempt. I made a rabbet on the lid and then cut a dado into the sides. This did not go well (see photo) both in terms of accuracy or matching the proportions of Matt's box. For the second attempt, I made a rabbet on the sides and simply cut the lid to fit in perfectly. The results were much better.

The pulls are made of walnut instead of kingwood, and I used some beautiful Japanese paper I had inside the lid and floor of the box instead of blue fabric. Overall I am happy with the results with all its flaws and it was a wonderful learning experience. I still have a long way to go to consider myself a skilled woodworker. Although I have been focusing more on making furniture, I can't wait to try my hand at another miniature box. There is something satisfying about working on a project so tiny.

Thanks to Matt for your inspiration!

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

The first box pieces cut to length

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Making sure all sides are the same length.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Here you can see how I used dados on the side and a rabbet on the lid for the first box. Overall, it didn't work terribly well on a box this tiny. Furthermore, the proportions were wrong when compared to Matt's box. Live and learn!    

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Glue up

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

First box shot before attaching pulls.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Cut 2nd box sides to length.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Using my new donkey shooting board to miter edges.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Cutting rabbets into sides. 

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Overall the fit is much better.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Glue up

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Chisel out space for pulls prior to cutting open the box.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Here are the two boxes side by side for comparison. 

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

The final product.

Photo of Box 37 - Cherry With Japanese Paper

Open to show the Japanese paper!

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