I made my daughter a jewelry box and later made this "Ring Box" as an accessory. 

I made it out of Satin Walnut. Many refer to this wood as Sweet Gum. The grain is unbelievable!

It has hand cut dovetails all around on all four corners....

 

 

Brass hinges....

 

 

The actual ring posts are on an insert that is removable. This makes for any custom one that can replace it. 

Rings will not fall off of posts when the lid is closed.

 

 

You will note the alignment posts. This ensures the lid will always line up and the sides stay flush.

 

 

Thanks for looking!

Feel free to comment, ask questions and "thumbs up 👍" if you like it!

Cheers!
MrRick
 

Gorgeous! 

 

I've turned some Sweet Gum but it didn't have that beautiful grain.

 I'd better not let SWMBO see this. 

54 minutes ago, lew said:

Gorgeous! 

 

I've turned some Sweet Gum but it didn't have that beautiful grain.

 

Thanks lew 

 

31 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

 I'd better not let SWMBO see this. 

 

Ah c'mon! Take the risk!! She'll really be happy with you. Add another "Attaboy" to your arsenal. You need as many as you can get because one "Awshit" takes them all away. 

Nice project. Does not look like sweet gum we have , also known as poor man's walnut. These are turned end grain so may not show all that a flat sawn plank would.

 

Note this whole log was like this. Most do not look this way. I have found SG grain to be nondescript until it spalts, but it does take dyes well also. 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by Gerald

Definitely mine is Sweet Gum (Satin Walnut). However the photo seems a bit on the yellow side for reasons I can't explain. Maybe reflected light. Anyways..Here's a shot of some scrap that I just took. It is the leftover from making the above ring box. 

 

Edited January 12Jan 12 by MrRick

Generally speaking Sweet Gum here is not a popular wood due to all the gum balls (which have kind of spurs) they produce and they are invasive. The wood is a very light color and light in weight also. I use it mostly for making snap tops because of the light color for adding decoration. They can grow absolutely huge.Had a swing attached to one when I was a kid. It does spault beautifully . I guess it never got popular because it varies so much in character.

Did you know...

 

Sweetgum Wood ( Satin Walnut) is used to make veneer, plywood, cabinets and furniture. Also the gum from these trees has been used as chewing gum and even employed to concoct medicines and salves to cure a variety of ailments, treat wounds and serve as an important ingredient in adhesives.

23 hours ago, Gerald said:

 ..... I guess it never got popular because it varies so much in character.

 

Where I live in the Northwest there are Fir, Pine, Spruce, and Hemlock trees everywhere. In between them are endless amount of Maple trees, Cottonwood, Dogwood, Alder, and some Birch. There are others too. On our street the city planted European Hornbeam trees on the easement in front of everyone's house. I thought that was unreal. Hornbeam is beautiful hard grain wood that yesteryear was used for tool handles. 

I've pruned a few branches. 🙂

Uses of sweet gum do go way back but now just a nuisance. We have all the trees you do except Spruce,Alder and Hemlock. In addition we have a huge variety of White and Red Oak trees . I think there are more than 800 species in the US as it cross pollinates.  Also Black Cherry, Walnut, Chinese Tallow (invasive and allergenic to some),   Elm, Ironwood in smooth & rough bark, pecan ,and many more species I just cannot think of now. Pine contributes to the largest forestry industry employment , hardwoods come behind this but I have never seen a hardwood plantation.

Gerald... never heard of Chinese Tallow. What's it like. What's it similar to next to other woods?

It is an invasive species . Wood is very white.Also called Popcorn tree for the shape of the fruit. It turns well but most of us avoid it as several club members came up to be allergic after turning a bit of it. It grows all over the place , has a heart shaped leaf. Can grow 7 to 13 feet in a year.Grows to 30 to 40 feet. The stumps will resprout and the only way to get rid of it is poison.

Sounds like Poison Sumac. Nasty tree. Sends underground runners all over the place. Very hard to kill.