This urn is for a good friend of over 25 years.  She saw the urns I build for my husband and me, and asked if I would be able to build one for her.  We met at my lumber source and they didn’t have any “typical” walnut boards that were of the dimensions I needed so ended up with a live edge section that would allow me to have the width and thickness that would be ideal (recall the issues I had with my husband’s with having to add “thickness”).

So, first step was to do some measuring and get my track saw out to create the board with the needed dimensions. As a side note, I find this Makita track saw to be a super addition. Although it may not be part of every project, when I need that function, this saw does an amazing job with high cut quality. 

Had a few spots that I need to use some CA glue – Starbond to the rescue.  I had recently gotten some of the dark brown and that is a winner when working with walnut. 

With the board cut, I needed to work on layout.  Decided to go with a “three-side” grain match rather than try to resaw as this board wasn’t thick enough (at least for me).  I followed the same basic process as I did with prior boards, to cut the bevels with my sled and then “clean up” (as I simply cannot get that fence perfect) with my miter gauge. 

The top was from another slab (looked like from the same tree), and the grain was pretty wild.  I used a jig on my table saw to cut the tongue and then the bevels along the top.  Having the added holes in the jig for added clamps has been a good revision that provides for a better hold of the wood on the jig. 

When it was time for glueup, I had a mental misstep as I didn’t tape up the joints.  This resulted in a very stressful step as the pieces were sliding all around.  I had done a dry clamp-up but still am baffled at why I didn’t use blue tape across each joint. Anyway, no actual tears were shed (felt like it), and I got the top and sides glued.  I did use space balls in the long sides in case of any wood movement, and to help center the floating panel.  Had to deal with my bevels being open. Added walnut splines as she liked the more subtle look compared to the maple splines I used on my husbands. 

The cross was one I had done previously.  I tried a few others but then had issues with trying to route an edge.  I need to develop a better and safer way to do those (I know – hand tools!!). 

Went with the first one

Glued on cross carefully.

Base is a floating panel where the frame is from the cutoffs from the slab I used for the box.  Inner panel was from a recut piece of walnut I had in the shop.  I think this provides a nicer base than my prior two as no end grain is showing.

LOT of sanding and chamfering the edges.  That all went OK.

The base will be held in place by screws that are countersunk into the bottom.  All pilots are drilled and I did a test fit that worked out fine.  I had taped the outline, then determined the locations on the base and drilled through with a smaller bit, then clamped that on to the base and drilled through those holes slightly, removed the base and drill the pilot holes completely.  I expanded the holes in the base with a larger bit and also made the countersink. Used the Rockler jig for that which work nicely. 

When I went to add the finish (Odie’s Oil), I noted I had glued the cross so the one “non-grain wrap” corner was toward the front left corner – very bummed by this, but overall it does “match” ok so non-wood workers would not likely take note.  The grain on this one is really swirling around and the colors vary throughout the piece.