This is not the Steven Newman quality as this is a rush job.  My widow neighbor lost her husband 6 years ago.  Last November she lost her oldest son expired from loneliness and not caring for himself.  This box is not the best quality but will do.  I still have to make the drawer and will post a couple of pictures with the drawer made and installed.  

 

 

 

This cedar tree grew in the back yard of my wife's childhood family.  It was blown down during Hurricane Ivan.  On this photo, I thought the phone camera light would work.  I did not know it looked this bad until I was editing it for size.  A couple more to come....

 

 

This is where the drawer will go.  Need to do some sanding on the dowels and corners.  And, need to make the drawer.

 

 

 

I can't tell you why the top lid appears that it is short, but it does overhang by 1/16" .  As you can see I need to sand with 180 grit before applying either poly or sand and seal.  If I could afford the lacquer, I would apply that, but that would mean to purchase $30 for a gallon of lacquer, plus a catalyst from Sherwin Williams, plus an air gun to spray it.  So a decision has to be made.  Stay tuned......

Edited May 6, 20206 yr by FlGatorwood

Wonderful way to to assure the tree lives on 

Looks great!  For small jobs like that I use brush lacquer and thin it out some and spray with a critter spray gun.

 

  found them here:  https://www.amazon.com/Critter-Spray-Products-22032-Siphon/dp/B00006FRPJ

 

BearPaw set me onto these, I like the mason jar application.  Clean up is a snap.  I keep one jar of clean mineral spirits and when done just use that to spray through and I am done.  Put the lid on the paint, lacquer or whatever and again all done.  

Looking good Steve. I'll have a birch box to post soon. Sort of a rustic look, but my daughter thinks it's beautiful, so that's all that matters.

I forgot to mention that the panel that separates the top compartment from the drawer compartment is masonite that I had left over from about 20 years ago.  Also the bottom is masonite and the drawer runners are shims of cherry.  The top compartment is for a shirt that he wore and his graduation mortar board.  The drawer is for merit badges he earned for something at his church.  

 

Thanks, gentlemen, for the very kind comments.  

Edited May 6, 20206 yr by FlGatorwood
additonal thoughts

It looks very nice to me.

That is looking very nice Steve.  What a wonderful gift to be given from that tree.

Nice box.  I like it.

Got a couple of hours today to do some more.  First, worked on the drawer.  After editing the picture, I realized the length was right but I forgot to measure the width.  Drats!  Foiled again.  Easy adjustment.  Measure and cut or is it cut and measure?  Anyway, this is a dry fit.

 

 

Do you see the mistake in the lower right corner?  That will be gone when I have to cut it off and remake it.  No problems.

 

Also, I cut these to go around the bottom of the box.  Will mill down and rabbit for the box to fit in.  Then will make a small design on the bandsaw.  It's going to be a challenge.  

 

 

 

Will return tomorrow with updates.  I hope to have the masonite bottom in the drawer and maybe have the sticks milled for designing.  Don't touch that dial!.....

Edited May 7, 20206 yr by FlGatorwood

That is some pretty cedar!!

Got some more time and made some progress.  I forgot to show how I sized and sanded the sticks.  Will also show where they go.  Here we are sanding them to size and smoothness.  

 

 

 

Took off too big of a bite.  Had to adjust the quill.  

 

 

 

In the meantime, turned these pulls from some scrap pear.  Not exactly the same, but close enough.

 

 

 

Use a single screw on each side to attach faceplace, drawer and pulls.  McFeely's 2" flat head screws.

 

 

 

Remember those 3/4" X 3/4" sticks.  These are they.  Just on each side.  Like I initially stated, not up to the quality of Steve Newman, but I am happy for this.  Will post finished products tomorrow.  Don't touch that dial.  

Edited May 12, 20206 yr by FlGatorwood

Looking great !

Coming along real nicely Steve.  Those dowels on the ends, is it an optical illusion, the way the panel was cut, or what makes them have an oval shape?

Nice!!

That is going to look fantastic.

Today, I learned that I am so wrong about so many things.  So, you will see that her son died in September vice my posted November.  And, I really screwed up portions of the box.  But, I'll live with it.  There are more mistakes than I can keep up with, but I am finished with it.  So, here are the finish pictures.  

 

 

 

Little pads from Lowe's to allow the top to rest with space between the box and lid.  Also, Cal, you can see here some of what I did with the dowels.  Mitered joints need some reinforcements as the end grain does not have the strength when glued.  So, the dowels are something that I had in the garage.  I don't remember the type of wood the dowels are made from.  If you have access to a drill press, place it at a true 45 degree angle, and drill the hole completely through.  I highly recommend that you have a backer board when drilling as it prevents chip out.  The other option is to drill until the tip of the bit shows and then turn the box around to drill from the other end.  So, these dowels are through the corners to give support.  Glued and cut off with a Japanese saw, then sanded smooth giving the oblong effect.  One picture will show a mistake about 2 dowels for the drawer.  

 

 

 

So, here is inside the lid.  I hope the family has no objections.  

 

 

Finish is my weakest link if producing something.  I simply used Minwax Wipe On Poly.  Yes, it is polyoneverything.  They can paint it if desired.  The first 2 coats were placed on 180 grit sanded wood.  After the 2nd coat, I sanded with 400 grit.  I applied another coat and sanded with 600 grit and applied one more coat.  Here is another side view.  I tried to keep the dowel uniform, but as you can see, I forgot to put them through the drawer face.  But, I suppose it can be argued that it makes it clear that the drawer face is different from the remainder of the box.  

 

As previously stated, not up to par with productions of Steven Newman, but my best.  

 

 

 

Thank you everyone for your support about this project.  I really appreciate your comments.  

Edited May 12, 20206 yr by FlGatorwood

We are our own worst critics. The recipient will only see a beautiful hand made tribute.  

 

Nice work

 

Besides Newman is on crack or something, almost like Norm Abrams.

Start to finish in 30 minutes.

Looks great. A lot more detail went into that box than any of mine. I'm sure she will love it. I've found that Varathane finish works well on small boxes. Same difference as the Minwax. Easy to apply without all the mess, no brushes to clean.

Edited May 13, 20206 yr by Al B

Nice job on that one. Like the inscription.

I haven't completed a project yet where I didn't look at it and see mistakes.

Like Gunny said, they will see a beautiful box made from a special tree by a special person.

Great job overall Steve.