I got tired of making little trays, and still had several nice scraps of hardwoods to find a used for.   Thought I'd see if I could make little boxes.

Apparently I can.

Lids open:

Started with just hollowing out  the center of rectangular blocks,  then moved on to cutting both the inside and outside from a block for more interesting shapes. 

Used a 3 degree tapered end mill on the inside pocket vector to cut the lid rabbet for a nice snug fit that slips on easy bit snaps tight. 

Blocks seem to appreciate that I've found something nice to make of them.  ;)

4D

Edited August 31, 2025Aug 31 by 4DThinker

Cool idea. I like the variety.

Those are really nice!

I'd have to ask the typical YouTube question:  What would  those sell for?

Ducking and running for cover 😄

10 hours ago, kmealy said:

 What would  those sell for?

Depends on the wood used, size, sanding and finish time, CNC time for setup, bit changes, cleanup time, and how desperate or not I am to get rid of them.  😉 

Probably less than it actually cost to make them. 

4D

I had a short cutoff scrap of 1.5"d red oak dowel which looked too nice to throw away.  Made this little box from it.

I cut the lid from the end grain of another scrap. 

Roughly 1.5" tall without the lid.  Rounded over the top and bottom at my trim router table. Need to sand off a little burn from the bit. 

4D

Edited September 7, 2025Sep 7 by 4DThinker

How do you get the lip in the lid to fit so nice?

1 hour ago, honesttjohn said:

How do you get the lip in the lid to fit so nice?

I use the same vectors for the lid and the box.   When I cut the rabbet on the lid I tell the software to use a 1/8" end mill, but actually use my 3 degree tapered end mill with a 1/8" tip.  No allowance.  Lid slips into the box then wedges snug.  I cut the lid 1/16" larger in diameter than the box, and then fit the lid onto the box tightly and flush trim it to the box on my trim router table.  Last step was to round over the top of the lid and the bottom of the box with a 1/16" radius roundover bit. 

4D

Moving on to see if I can make a box with a lid that pivots open.

Snuck up on the hole for the 5mm pivot pin.  Fit is vacuum snug.  When I find some wood to make the lid from it'll get a hole slightly larger as this pin is snug enough to not rotate easily. Box is roughly 2.4" in diameter.  A dense wood cut off end of a previous rotary project.  It had screw holes in it that I plugged.  Clamped it into my low profile CNC Vise to hold it when the CNC cut the inside.  The outside profile I cut all but the last .5" so I wouldn't cut into the vise. Trimmed off the corners at my bandsaw and then flush trimmed the bottom 1/2" flush to the upper area. Wall and bottom is .18" thick.

Contemplating how to register/stop the pivoting lid when it is aligned with the box. 

4D

Cool. On the opposite side from the pin make a post for a small rare earth magnet and add a tiny metal washer at the same location on the underside of the lid. 

2 hours ago, lew said:

Cool. On the opposite side from the pin make a post for a small rare earth magnet and add a tiny metal washer at the same location on the underside of the lid. 

Great idea, and I'll likely use it on the next box I make.   This one I've decided to have a short section of dowel sticking down near the pivot hinge against the edge of the box. As the lid rotates open the dowel will rotate until it bumps the wall on the other side of the pivot pin. 

4D

Pivot lid one.  Works as designed.   A wood peg hanging down limits the travel.  Bumps against the side when closed.  Bumps against the other side when fully open.

Next challenges include making a more interesting lid and searching for tiny hinges to use for a hinged lid.

4D

Might be a little too fancy, but...

 

https://woodturnerscatalog.com/products/artisan-decorative-box-hinge-kit?srsltid=AfmBOopCxUlfdFPvMbiGJRqMk1TNmpXBpFbc3N51KVCfKmysIlSUxrKd

Squiggle box.  Cut from a cutoff bit of a beech butcherblock countertop.

 

It will get a lid once I find a god scrap to cut it out from.

4D

VERY Cool. You need to find an outlet to sell these 4D; local boutique(s, jewelry store(s), flower shop(s), etc. IMO, these would sell as fast as you could make them. Your design and wood variations as well as the sizes have a niche market.

Edited September 12, 2025Sep 12 by Grandpadave52
Stupid smart phone autocorrect

Now with a squiggle lid.  Still needs some cleanup, sanding and a finish. 

The small roundover bit wanted to burn the endgrain.  Time for a new bit. 😉

4D

Edited September 12, 2025Sep 12 by 4DThinker

First try at a hinged lidded box.

 

1/8" stainless steel pins will be flush after I've had it apart to put some finish on the parts.  

Base is red oak.  Lids are from one piece of white oak. Lids left oversized a bit so I can cut them flush eventually. Baltic birch inserts shouldn't ever split with the pins running through them.

4D 

Another cool design. Loving this thread and seeing your creativity 4D. I'll say it again, you need to find a sales outlet for these or open up an Esty store.

Starting on another hinged box.  This one from a nice block of Claro Walnut. Held in my low profile vise on my CNC I couldn't CNC cut the entire perimeter.  Moved to the trim router table to flush cut the bottom 1/2". 

The flush cut bit didn't like the endgrain sides so some sanding is left to even out the surfaces. 

A lid and hinges still to come.   That will take some contemplation and another day.  😉

4D

Edited September 20, 2025Sep 20 by 4DThinker

Lid made.

Now to clean it up and put some finish on it.

4D