Boxes

Construction details.

Box frames are constructed from solid wood, many with a solid wood top panel. Others have veneered top panels or marquetrey tops. Most of the veneers used are hand sawn by me, some from stock that I have sawn and air dried here where I work. I very much prefer air dried wood rather than kiln dried as it invariably displays clean, clear, bright highlights and colors whereas kiln drying often homogenizes the tones and colors and even turns woods like walnut greyish and lifeless. My sawn veneers are usually about 1/16" thick when finished. I always make the top panels first and boxes may contain as few as two compartments or lift out trays or as many as 15, some hidden or secret. Some boxes may have solid or veneered compartment covers to add design elements to the interiors. Box corners are constructed utilizing the splined mitre which is extremely strong and ensures that no unsightly end grain will be seen. The box interior and the compartment trays or drawers are lined with a suitably colored pigskin leather.There are two basic box types: the lift lid, which is generally of smaller size and having a knob or handle on top, and the hinged lid, usually with a brass lid restraint anchored in the box side. If the lid is not too large or heavy, I may use brass stop hinges and no brace. Occasionally I will add a lock. All hardware mounts are of the best quality brass available. On a few boxes I finish with white dewaxed shellac but more usually I finish with my own mixed combination of tung oil and gloss polyurethane. All boxes are created individually, I do not engage in any production work.