This was a commissioned project, a Thank You Gift from a Friend to her Employer (a Proud University of Michigan Graduate) for all that he has done for her…
It was requested to be in the form of a “Treasure Chest”, with a curved top… The idea of a chest put me in mind of Steamer Trunks and the construction was loosely based on that… The “Bands” around it were my suggestion, and are inherent to that idea… The style is “Rustic Chic”…
It is held together with wooden dowels or pins, a few yards worth, and no glue was used or harmed during the making…
No metal was used either, excepting in the tools appropriate for such work…
All but the sides is Quarter-sawn Lumber and gave some interesting results, particularly in what is normally quiet and reserved Cherry…
Bubinga was used for the sides and Cherry for all of the “Hardware”…
Since the Michigan “M” is Yellow, Pau Amirillo (Yellowheart) was used, and that dictated the hue of half of the lid’s stripes and the latch levers…
The darker Stripes are Sapele and the bottom of the chest is 1/2” Birch Plywood…
All of the doweling is store-bought Poplar…
A ruler was another thing un-used on this project, but I did use one to measure its final size, 18” X 11” X 8 1/2” for the box proper (excluding the hardware)…
Thanks for your time! Comments are, as always, greatly appreciated! :)
3 November 2014
Mike, in Concord, NH - A candle loses none of its flame by lighting another candle...
When I heard you use the term " thickness describer ",
well, that was just funny ! Like the high tech tools you used
for the arc also . Fun watching you work : ) . Very , very
nice design .
this is one of the most beautiful boxes ive seen made mike, i just love that you made everything…it sure does inspire me to make some nicer boxes when i get that way again, thanks for sharing so much of the build, a great box, i hope who gets it will appreciate all the work …
Thanks for the Kind Words my Friends!
The College was edited in the story to reflect the proper meaning of the letter on the front…
It was pointed out to me, that there are two Universities with Michigan in their titles, and I surely didn’t want to say the Man went to one when he actually went to the other!!
Mike, in Concord, NH - A candle loses none of its flame by lighting another candle...
Thank You John! I wrote a seven-part blog in real-time while building that on the LJ site... If you have a few minutes to kill, and are interested, you can find it beginning on this page, towards the middle of the page... Re-read it tonight myself :)
Mike, in Concord, NH - A candle loses none of its flame by lighting another candle...
fantastic box, and no glue, impressive. ill have to check out your blog, im interested how those lid latches work. love the proud box joints. your a real master at doing wood hinges.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
