This is in response to Gene volunteering sharing information about these beautiful boxes.  I hope those of you who have tried them, can post some information of tips and cautions.  Also, I hope that those who don't have the experience can and will post questions regarding them.  Here is a link to the book with the patterns in the back.  She does make the request to not make them for sale.  

https://www.amazon.com/Building-Beautiful-Bandsaw-Ventura-2000-12-02/dp/B01K9139SE/ref=sr_1_1?crid=9W51DP6E3O6N&dchild=1&keywords=lois+keener+ventura&qid=1589760262&sprefix=Lois+Keener%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-1

 

The patterns are in the back of the book.  They are on graph paper but shrunk to fit into the book.  So, take them to the copy store and enlarge them so that the blocks are 1" square.  Then you can trace these onto the laminated or chunk of wood.  

 

Gene, I can hardly wait to see what you and AlB post regarding your experiences.  

I widened the distance between the stalks to make it easier to sand. LOTS of sanding.

Thanks Steve, beautiful boxes!

3 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Thanks Steve, beautiful boxes!

Say who is this new guy who claims to be John Morris?    .......and he is smiling

2 minutes ago, Gerald said:

Say who is this new guy who claims to be John Morris?    .......and he is smiling

ya that be me. Pretty recent pic, last year. Gained a little weight in my face the past 10 months, from meds, but off the meds now, and moon face should start to disappear. In other words, the avatar is a better looking guy before my face swelled up, but I'll be back in shape soon!

Gene, when I did that Lotus, I did all my sanding before assembly.  I assembled the 2 pieces of onto the pecan base with McFeely screws.  Of course, I made sure that the dry fit was all tight and looked good.  

 My avatar is one of those boxes and solid cedar.  I have another one over on Shopsmith forums.  

 Then a side view and the holes where the worms ate to kill the tree.  

 

I had to add some cedar to make it the 6" from front to back.  But, the dogwood is very beautiful to me.  This is the first time I ever worked with dogwood.  

 

 

The bottom reveals some story board.  Unconventional, I know, but complete history.

 

Gene, you did an awesome job on yours.  What woods did you use?  I see the base is different from the posts and the drawer facings are different.  Or, did you simply stain it the different colors?  

Edited May 18, 20205 yr by FlGatorwood

20 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

I widened the distance between the stalks to make it easier to sand. LOTS of sanding.

This is probably the only one of Lois Keener Ventura's designs that I never attempted. Gene did a masterful job with his version. Bandsaw boxes do require a bit of time sanding, and this box has to be unbelievably time consuming hand sanding  the separate drawers and getting between them  I am in awe of what Gene accomplished here.

In the interest of motivating others to  build band saw boxes, I thought I'd post another of Lois's boxed that I built a while back. This box was done using Brazilian rosewood and cherry. The design is on the same idea as the last one posted by FIGator with 4 levels.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 18, 20205 yr by Al B

Al, your turned out so much better than mine.  Great wood choices.  And, a great job.  

4 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

Al, your turned out so much better than mine.  Great wood choices.  And, a great job.  

Only in your minds eye Steve.

Steve, I used black walnut for the body. The drawer fronts are curly maple. The base and drawer pulls are walnut, also. 

 

 

 

It appears very dark.  The fronts are beautiful.  It also appears that you used black felt or flocking for the drawer inside.  Am I close?

2 minutes ago, FlGatorwood said:

It appears very dark.  The fronts are beautiful.  It also appears that you used black felt or flocking for the drawer inside.  Am I close?

Yep. They're flocked. Flocking is much easier than felt. I can do felt in a box with square corners but felting band saw boxes is way beyond my skill set....and patience. 

This is like listening to players at an all-star game. 

Is there anyone here who does not know what flocking is?  There is a pump gun like the old sprayers we used to have for spraying for bugs and flies in the house or spray poisons on the vegetables in the garden.  You fill part of the gun with the powder of felt like material that you want to be inside the drawer or box.  Before spraying, you apply a particular glue and allow it to dry to a tack. Then you spray the glue areas with the powder felt and it sticks.  After it drys some, you can dump out the excess.  You can use a small brush to clean up some, but you want to be very careful that you don't go through the flocking that you intend to keep as the drawer liner.  Here is a link:  

 

Gene and Al, do you use a drum sander to clean up the drawer openings?  Do you sand at all?  Any tips on sanding quickly?  

Looks like we're all getting into boxes these days.   Gotta find something to do.

2 hours ago, FlGatorwood said:

Gene and Al, do you use a drum sander to clean up the drawer openings?  Do you sand at all?  Any tips on sanding quickly?  

I use a Rigid oscillator where I can. I modified it to accept 6" long sanding tubes. Sometimes, a 6" long sanding tube, on a piece of all thread , and chucked into dill, works. But, good old hand sanding comprises a good portion of the sanding.

I hand sand and file inside the drawers. I cut strips of wood from paint sticks and glue sandpaper to sand flat surfaces, and wrap sandpaper around dowels for the curved corners in the drawers. This was the method I had used in model building. Flocking is my preferred draw finishing method because of the ease of using it, but felt probably does provide a more classic look. The spindle sander works well for the curved surfaces around and in the box body. Obviously, you want minimal sanding on the drawer openings and exterior of the drawers to prevent large gaps around the drawers. 

Edited May 18, 20205 yr by Al B

1 hour ago, Al B said:

I hand sand and file inside the drawers. I cut strips of wood from paint sticks and glue sandpaper to sand flat surfaces, and wrap sandpaper around dowels for the curved corners in the drawers. This was the method I had used in model building. Flocking is my preferred draw finishing method because of the ease of using it, but felt probably does provide a more classic look. The spindle sander works well for the curved surfaces around and in the box body. Obviously, you want minimal sanding on the drawer openings and exterior of the drawers to prevent large gaps around the drawers. 

I cheat, Al. If necessary, I make separate drawer fronts to conform to the opening.