39 Replies

Yes
Great idea as this site needs traffic to grow .
I would specify that only inexspensive local material is used which would encourage design .

Only US wood. I like the idea. You’re right, it would encourage unique design over exotic wood.

So how does this work, you make some thing to fit in this box and ship to a random member?

Tony, we need to get a bunch of members to participate, come up with build rules, do the build, draw who you’re exchanging with and then put the box in the mail. So far I’m the only person committed. How about you? Maybe Kiefer is in.

Great idea. I added the link to home page. Thanks!

Martin Sojka, Maker of Craftisian

Been a member here since 2014, first post is to say I’m in on a box swap

Will work wood for food.

That’s a good start papadan :)

Martin Sojka, Maker of Craftisian

I’d be interested in participating!

David, I’ll keep you up to date. Thanks for wanting to participate.
Don

I am in. I think that limiting to a letter sized box, is not what people want on their desktop, I propose a box for desktop use. Be it for pencils, for erasures or a box for the workbench.

By the way, how is the camel herd doing?

—Madts.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

Madts, I sold the herd. Got a pretty good deal on the Saudi Craigslist.

Thanks for joining the box build. You can pretty much build what you want but I suggested the size minimum because I thought it would be nice to keep paperwork in. As more people join up I’ll put out some rules that can be reviewed, discussed and changed as folks want.

Make it any type box but have a minimum size like 350 cubic inches. That would cover like a 8.5 X 11 X 4 if they want that size. I would prefer smaller but deeper.

Will work wood for food.

I will enter, but agree with Madts on not limiting the size. I make mostly smaller boxes and wouldn’t have any space for a 8.5 × 11 interior box anyway.

Dan_P

We’re starting to get participants. Even someone from the UK. Anyone know what it would cost to ship a box to the UK? Right now we have six. How many should we have? I’ll wait until the end of April to see what we can get.

Guess I should get involved in this group a little more. Kiefer got me into the group and for some reason my Wife come home with one of his boxs during a visit last year. I like the idea of local wood as I have some Birch that I milled myself that would fit the bill! Maybe some lacewood trim that I can claim as local as Kiefer gave it to me? Disclaimer my box WILL NOT be anywhere as nice as the Kiefers!

I have a bunch of small bits of something I cut down in the back garden and some nice Wych Elm I rescued from the firewood pile. I’d be inclined to do a swap with other UK members. I certainly can’t participate if we are required to use US only wood.

Also, my box may suck, so yeah… Still .. interested though.

-- Alec (Friends call me Wolf, no idea why)

I’d like to try. i have some Peach wood from a tree that died in the backyard. The wood has been drying for over a year now. I’ve been trying to come up with something to do with it.

Making sawdust is what I do best!

Shipping to UK cost me $90 5lb package plus the recipient had to pay a $50 import fee.

Box swap sounds cool though :)

so, how many EU (what remains of it anyway) members are we?

-- Alec (Friends call me Wolf, no idea why)

Wolf, I think it’s just you and whitacrebespoke. You guys volunteer to swap?

Yeah, I’m in.

-- Alec (Friends call me Wolf, no idea why)

Or find another member in the UK to swap with.

VKD, do you have a layout yet for this box challenge?

Will work wood for food.

Dan, I was hoping to get a few more but I guess our small group can push forward. I need to address the UK issue and then validate that those that said they would participate will in fact participate. I’m assuming you’re ready.

Do not hold your breath guys. DKV VKD aka Deek is an instigate and not producer. If you want to make a nice box do it It would be a nice exercise. I am going to make one as some as my kitchen is finished. This box will be Huge like never been seen before. Just Huge.
But yes a box challenge would be good.

I am ready for the sake of the site.

—Madts.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

Yes I’m in, I have a Maple log in my garage that wants to become a box.

Will work wood for food.

Have any rules been set up yet? As I am new to the site I want to participate.

VKD was running this swap and he has disappeared. I’ve sent him messages from here and LJs and get no replies. I hope he is alright.

Will work wood for food.

This Box thing has to get going.

I propose:

1: Make a box using no glue or metal fasteners. Wood fasteners are OK.
2: Disassemble it.
3: No finish. To be provided by new owner. Cuts down on VAT.
4: Put it in a shipping container/envelope the cheapest way and send it. That way the Brexit guys can also play along.

As to who gets what, I am open to suggestions.

—Madts.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

Did this thing get off the ground?

I’m participating in a fishing lure swap. There are 2 kinds of swaps they do on my fishing web site.

For one kind, there are a relatively small number of participants, like 10 or fewer. Each participant makes the same number of lures as participants and everyone gets one lure from everyone else.

For the other kind, everyone makes 3 lures each. Each participant can make whatever they want, but all 3 are alike. Then, through a lottery, everyone ends up with 3 lures from random builders in the group. Another way of distributing them is a little more complicated, but almost the same. Everyone votes for their favorite 3. Then all the number 1 votes are randomized to pick who gets their #1 favorite, then again for the #2 favorite, etc. In the end, nobody gets exactly what they voted for, but you’re slightly more likely to end up with at least one you wanted.

A box is a lot more work than a fishing lure so it should be limited to making one box. I would suggest the following:

1) make any kind of box you want, any size you want. You’ll be the one paying for shipping so that will factor in on the size. But other than that, no limitations.

2) the box should definitely be completely finished. No flat pack, unassembled, etc. Make a finished box including whatever hardware you want to use.

3) sorry to our friends across the pond, but this should be limited to in country swaps only due to shipping costs. We can have multiple swaps. One for Merry old England and one for the US and A, and one for the great white North. Seems like there are enough participants in each country to make it worthwhile. The cost of shipping internationally is simply prohibitive. I, for one, will not ship internationally.

4) someone (from each country) needs to take the helm. If no one else volunteers, then I can do it for the USA swap. Please step up!

5) each lucky recipient should be lucky – that is to say, the swaps are determined randomly. The swap leader will figure out how to make that lottery happen. I would put names in a hat and have my 3 year old draw them out (5 at a time LOL – he can’t help himself). Or random number generator or whatever you decide as long as it’s random.

6) there needs to be a finish date. We’re all busy so it needs to be a reasonable date. My lure swaps are usually 3 or 4 months. That gives everyone plenty of time. As of today, I would suggest October 1 mailing date deadline.

7) there should be a dedicated forum for this so progress pictures, Q&A, etc can be shared. Part of the fun is looking at what everyone else is doing and gleaning new information. It’s not Christmas morning. No need for surprises. Martin, would you please set that up? Thanks.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. I volunteer to organize a USA swap. If everyone agrees to these guidelines, or has other suggestions, or wants to take the lead on a swap, let’s do it.

For me, my only strict requirement is that I will not ship internationally. Sorry, it’s just too dang expensive.

Losing fingers since 1969

Looks like the forum part is already set up. :-) I didn’t notice because the format is not a traditional internet forum. So there’s one thing done! Already making progress!

Losing fingers since 1969

Brian – Sounds good to me! Take charge!

Ok we just need a list of participants. Who’s in?

Losing fingers since 1969

I’m in, and I agree on any size or type of finished box.

Will work wood for food.

Ok that’s 2 confirmed so far. I’m going to start another thread called US box swap 2017.

For the record, I really hate the idea of excluding other countries, and on this site anyway, that means excluding the best talent in my humble opinion. But I think the swap has more chance of success by making it easy for the participants. I hope someone picks up the ball and runs with it for Canada and GB/Europe.

Losing fingers since 1969

Canada should not be a problem as far as shipping goes.. I want one of Klaus’ boxes.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

I am not making a box, because I am thinking outside (or inside) the box.

Tor and Odin are the greatest of gods.

Be the box, Madst. Be the box…

Losing fingers since 1969

If you limit the box size, you may knock band saw boxes out of the loop.