August 30, 20169 yr Popular Post Well, I released the lid from the clamps.....lid was a hair undersized compared to the box......should have measured a third time. Grabbed a couple planes, and put the box on a diet Those darker lines? Shadows from the drop cords. Planes are a #60-1/2 and a Craftsman #C3 ( Millers Falls No. 8) There is a shadow line around where the lid meets the box. Gave the Cherry a splash of Alkee-haul to highlight the grain, if any.. I guess there is a bit of grain. Hinges? Brass ones, package says ACE hardware, price tag said $3.49. These also have nails to install them with. Will need to bend down the part with the curves, as these ar a bit too wide. This is before the grain got a bath.. Still undecided about what will go into this box...yet. Right now, trying to decide on a Cherry Friendly finish....maybe a latch or a knob? may add brass corner plates? Less than$1 in wood, right now. Hinges were from a yard sale tub of parts.....maybe $2 for the tub. Working in the shop? Priceless.... Edited August 30, 20169 yr by steven newman
August 31, 20169 yr Good job on the save for the missed size top. I like garnet shellac for cherry to even the color, could be only a single coat. Then varnish for protection.
August 31, 20169 yr Nice looking box, indeed. If you have some le3ft-over wood try some finishing samples. Just make sure the wood matches exactly the one box is made of. That way you will get best replica of the finishing look. Garnet Shellac is mentioned. You may also try jell stain. I had great luck with Old Masters brand. Although I haven't tried their new formula. Be careful on corner hardware. Size does matter. Also, make sure it is made of mood brass. Some on the market are too soft.... don't care for them. Tony
September 1, 20169 yr Author Had some leftover 1/2" stuff, cutoff from the lid glue up. Beltsanded it almost smooth, then handplaned it as smooth as I could. Experiment is to coat one face with a Witch's Brew that I use.....the other face will get a mix of BLO and clear gloss, 50/50. No stain in the second batch. Just got home from picking up the BLO and Varnish...and a latch. Have started installing the hinges, needed a piece on the inside of the lid, to catch the too long nails. It was too thin back there, anyway....1/4" Now about a strong 5/8" thick. Letting the Witch's Brew cure for a while.....while I look around for something to mix the other stuff in. Looks like I have a bit of fitting to do, gap here and there between the lid and the box....might have a plane to do that...somewhere... BTW....there is a 7' long slab of 8/4 Cherry still leaning up against my house...with bark along both edges..I think.... . Top HALF of it.... Towards the bottom ...my mistake....bark is only on one edge... A bit of sap wood....This 7' long slab of Cherry was also the same price as that short slab......$1 each... May have to cut this one down a bit....too long for the shop..
September 2, 20169 yr Author Give this a try...... Sample piece, with the Witch's Brew cured out, Lots of tearout, no wonder this is a scrap piece.....Next Sample ( flipped the board over) with a BLO/Varnish mix....Hey, I did find a jar to mix it up in.. Might do for this project? Mix wound up being 70/30..Blo to Varnish.... I fought all evening with the hinges and the latch, but they are on... Thinking of keeping that shadow line. Box is all sanded down, needs a good wipe down tomorrow after all the Cherry flavoured dust settles out. Then we'll see how it look....
September 2, 20169 yr Author Have a "seal coat" of the BLO/ Varnish mix on the box right now, awaiting it to cure out, before I go any further. Will need rubbed out, and then another coat or two. Not sure IF I will do the insides, yet. Not even sure about what will go in the box....depends on what this "Bandit" picks over the weekend....Just missed out on a Stanley 71 last year at the Tractor Fest.....may try again this weekend.
September 2, 20169 yr Author Just gave the finish a scrub down... Have it sitting up on a benchdog, and a scrap block... Might need a couple more coats.... Pile of toys sitting on the bench? Might need to clean the bench off...again...
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