Ammo Boxes

[motownmartin]

A colleague at work approached me a few weeks ago and asked me if I take on any jobs/commisions, I said that I haven't yet but depending on what it was I could be persuaded. His hobby is shooting and he has just got his license and he wanted some ammo boxes for his .22 cartridges, okay I said, i'll give it a go, what sort of design do you have in mind I asked, please yourself he said, as long as it's got what other boxes haven't, he said that he would have to pay around £30 for a basic plain box but wouild pay at least twice this for a bit more detail.

I came up with these but they cost more like £200 each :shock: with all the time I spent on them.

This one is made from Spalted Beech and Oak

And this one is made from Yew and Oak

There is strip of Oak at the bottom and near the top, they also have Oak cornerposts and hinges

And the inside

I have used magnets rather than catches to keep the lid closed

You may or may not have noticed the I made a mistake with the Yew box, the idea was to keep the dovetails in alignment but I cut the wrong side of the line and ende up with half a dovetail where the top meets the bottom, if you look at the Beech box close-up, you will see what its meant to look like, I suppose it's a good job I didn't use 2 contrasting woods else it would have stuck out like a sore thumb.

I am finishing them with Danish oil, only have One coat so far.

 

[Rich]

Very very nice Martin, you must have a lot of patience for such detail, I take it that your friend knows that the ammunition has to be kept seperate from the firearm, and the firearm must be kept in a locked metal cabinet.
regards Rich.

 

[motownmartin]

Very very nice Martin, you must have a lot of patience for such detail, I take it that your friend knows that the ammunition has to be kept seperate from the firearm, and the firearm must be kept in a locked metal cabinet.
regards Rich.

Thanks Rich, there is a lot of patience needed but once done there's a great sense of achievement.

Yes, my friend does know the rules and regs, its all part of getting his license.

 

[Paul.J]

Very nice Martin
The Yew is me favourite.Both nice colouring and finish.
Is there a reason why the inserts are above the opening :?:
Would it be worth putting a covered foam pad in the lid to stop any rattling,if there is any rattling of course.

 

[motownmartin]

Very nice Martin
The Yew is me favourite.Both nice colouring and finish.
Is there a reason why the inserts are above the opening :?:
Would it be worth putting a covered foam pad in the lid to stop any rattling,if there is any rattling of course.

Thanks Paul, there are 2 reasons why the insert is protruding, 1 is easier to access the ammo and 2 it helps to locate the top so it stays flush with the bottom half.

I did think about foam in the lid but thought I would leave it with the customer.

 

[Philly]

Very nice, Martin! Top job,
Philly

 

[Mike.C]

Very nice Martin, very nice indeed. You have certainly got used to using the Incra quickly =D> =D>

Cheers

Mike

 

[9fingers]

Nice work indeed Martin.

I think you are realising though, the problem with such commissions. People have little idea how long things take to do and really the effort can only be reduced by making reasonable quantity batches where jigs come into their own. Then the products become less unique ( ok I know that is wrong but you know what I'm getting at) as so attract a lower price.
Not everyone in the shooting party would want the same box design.

I get a similar problem with my metalworking shop. People say 'Oh you've got a (lathe, mill etc) could you just knock me up a widget to do this or that.
By the time I've understood their back of envelope requirements, re-designed it to work, sourced the right materials and then do the job, a whole weekend can be consumed.

I tend to 'bill' these jobs in terms of bottles! 1, 2 or 3 (or more) bottles of good wine bring a number of hours pleasure to my wife and I and seem a fairer exchange than hard cash.

Bring back Bartering!!

I intend to retire soon and once I have honed my woodskills sufficiently, I may take on some commissions if asked to. I intend to set a minimum price of all the materials (and maybe a few extra boards) plus a bit for wear and tear on tools and maybe any special tooling purchases. I will derive the pleasure of working with the wood and know none of my pension will have been spent on the job. I will see how that works out.

Bob

 

[motownmartin]

Philly, Mike & Bob thanks for the feedback.

Mike, I really do like the incra set up, once you get used to using a datum face the repeatability of it is spot on and you can also adjust a measurment by one thou, coupled up with the router table its absolutely brilliant.

Bob, I know what you mean, I made 30 of those hinges and it took me a whole day but I reckon if I made one pair it would have taken me half a day.
To make those boxes pay I would have to make at least 10, maybe 20.

You mentioned retirement, well i'm not there yet, 50 last week but would like to retire at 60 doing one or two commisions. But first I plan to build a bigger workshop while the funds are still coming in

 

[Mike.C]

Martin how did you make the hinges?

Cheers

Mike

 

[9fingers]

Philly, Mike & Bob thanks for the feedback.



You mentioned retirement, well i'm not there yet, 50 last week but would like to retire at 60 doing one or two commisions. But first I plan to build a bigger workshop while the funds are still coming in

I'm just a bit ahead of you but on a similar plan. 54 now planning to escape just after 55. Started building the workshop 3 years ago and gradually equipping it ready to spend a good proportion of my time making sawdust and furniture for the home.

Bob

 

[motownmartin]

Martin how did you make the hinges?

Cheers

Mike

Mike, I used a 3/8" bullnose cutter to round off the ends then used the incra to cut like a box joint and finally drilled them with a purpose made jig, i wanted the incra one but it was too much.

 

[Mike.C]

Thanks Martin

Cheers

Mike

 

[TheTiddles]

I used to shoot .22 at school (well, not literally at a school, but you get the jist) and we never used wooden blocks due to the risk of picking up dirt on the round and it wearing the inside of the barrel, just an observation...

What make jig do you have for the hinges? I want to do as you have done, make a whole load of them in one go for future projects

Aidan

 

[motownmartin]

Aiden, this jig is made by jointech, have a look here http://www.jointech.com/optaccess.htm

 

[woodbloke]

Martin - good looking boxes ...quite like the hinge arrangement at the back. I wonder what the customer finally paid for them? The cost of the timber for a couple of small projects like this ain't a lot, but I 'spose it's the value of your time plus any special tooling that needs to be taken into account - Rob

 

[motownmartin]

Martin - good looking boxes ...quite like the hinge arrangement at the back. I wonder what the customer finally paid for them? The cost of the timber for a couple of small projects like this ain't a lot, but I 'spose it's the value of your time plus any special tooling that needs to be taken into account - Rob

Hi Rob, Although these hinges look the part there isn't a lot of surface to glue and unfortunately one has come away already, I think that I will put some brass screws in to secure them better.
The customer is going to get these at a knockdown price as he will introduce my work to his shooting club, mind you his fellow marksmen will have to pay around £75 :wink:

 

[Kane]

I'd be interested in why he wants boxes like that (ex-shooter and curious )

 

[OPJ]

Very nice boxes Martin. I wouldn't worry about the little mis-hap with the dovetails as everyone will be too busy looking at those wooden hinges, which are also very nicely done.

 

[Gary M]

Beautiful Martin, well done =D> =D>

I came up with these but they cost more like £200 each :shock: with all the time I spent on them.

Unfortunately Martin i know exactly what you mean
:roll: :roll: but we just keep plodding on !

I wouldn't worry about the little mis-hap with the dovetails as everyone will be too busy looking at those wooden hinges, which are also very nicely done.

Couldn't have put it better myself Olly
Cheers,
Gary.