Box making books or guides

[JR147]

I want to start improving and possibly even finessing my skills by making a few boxes. I wonder if anyone has any recommendations for books, guides plans or videos to watch to get some instruction and some inspiration. A quick trawl through Amazon threw up a lot of options so it would be good to get any recommendations from people who have used them. Two I saw that looked promising were Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Box Making and Wooden Boxes: Skill Building Techniques for Seven Unique Projects by Dennis Zongker.

I've had a look at a few YouTube videos as well from a lot of the usual suspects as well, but if anyone has any specific recommendations of good videos that would be great as well. I did like the look of the Wood Whisperer Guild Humidor project as well, but at $90 it might be something to work up to!

I have a small but reasonably kitted out workshop and aside from planer / thicknesser I have access to most equipment such as benchtop bandsaw, router table, small table saw as well as an improving selection of hand tools.

Cheers

Jon

 

[marcros]

I would suggest one of Andrew Crawford's books https://www.amazon.co.uk/Book-Boxes-Com ... 667&sr=1-1 is very good.

or Peter Lloyd's https://www.amazon.co.uk/Making-Heirloo ... aking+book

If you buy secondhand from amazon (or elsewhere) you would get both for less than £15 to your door.

for inspiration, have a look at Ian Hawthornes website http://www.hawthornecrafts.com/box-hardware/, as well as the authors above.

interesting site here http://www.mekwoodworks.com/52-boxes.html

 

[JR147]

Great thank you, I'll check them out.

 

[Ttrees]

Rob Cosman has a few videos about box making.
He has a recent youtube video on the wood hinge for boxes
He has also made a beautiful jewelry cabinet you should look up while your on his channel
Good luck

 

[JR147]

I do like Rob Cosman's stuff, I'll check that out.

 

[sunnybob]

forget the rest, make yourself a coffee, and watch an expert at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hmITWr ... vidhenry32

 

[twodoctors]

forget the rest, make yourself a coffee, and watch an expert at work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hmITWr ... vidhenry32

He looks like Captain Picard with hair...

...cool router bit though.

 

[twodoctors]

And then there's always bandsaw boxes...

 

[sunnybob]

I have the birdmouth cutter after watching him. It makes brilliant boxes.

 

[JR147]

That looks great. I might need a few attempts to get close to that. What did you use for the lining?

 

[marcros]

some further thoughts (I am ignoring anything with more than 4 sides- the same principles may or may not apply).

The simplest and fanciest boxes all have 4 sides, a top and a bottom, joined together somehow.
The sides... the simplest joint is butt jointing. This is not the best method, both aesthetically and structurally. Alternatives are a rebated joint, mortice and tenon, mitre, dovetail, etc. Ian Hawthorne uses a lock mitre bit. Choose which you want to use and go for it. The recipient of the box doesn't care, the only person who does is you, and other woodworkers! Personally, I find mitres a pain, because of clamping them. I tend to use the rebated joint, and put a contrasting stringing to cover the exposed end grain. Sounds fancy, but isn't! Easy clamping, and a solid nice looking joint. It isn't the joint that makes Ian Hawthorne's boxes better than mine- it is the general craftsmanship and the design!

The lid- this isn't rocket science, so have a look at what you like, and copy it- it will have to be a panel of sorts in a groove, or a rebate joint. There isn't much else that it can be. You can curve it, shape it, etc.

The base is much like the lid.

I like rebates and housing joints because they are easy to do by hand (record 043) or on the router table, depending on my mood.

You can lift the quality of your boxes by lining with some nice material- I use some pigskin, and by using decent hardware- I use solid brass butt hinges which are about £5 a pair. I can't afford the specialist box hinges at £30 + a set because my boxes are usually gifts. The solid ones that I use are much better than the cheap plates things though.

The other important thing, in my mind, is the proportions- I usually use roughly 3x2x1, but others work- when unsure, I make something from paper to see how it looks!

The books are good inspiration, and will take you through a few projects. I use them for methods and inspiration, rather than to make the projects. once you see something that you like, work out how you could make it- remember, if you get the "wrong" joint for the sides, it probably won't matter.

 

[sunnybob]

With a good router table at your disposal, 4 sides is boring.
Dave henry shows how to make 6, 8, and even 12 sided boxes with just two cutters.
Follow his instructions and you dont need any jointing skills to make impressive boxes.

That box was made when i was only 18 months into a brand new hobby for me, starting with ZERO woodworking skills or experiences, and nobody to teach me in person.
That box had sticky backed felt, available from any big craft store. i have now made several good looking boxes using flocking for the drawer and internals.

Heres the inside of the mantle piece clock i finished this week. Black flocking throughout, excuse the rubbish picture, I have no photographic skills either;

 

[JR147]

Excellent, thanks both. Really appreciate the time taken to reply and lots of ideas. The books were to get me started with some of the basics and then give me the confidence to make my own.

 

[Racers]

This a good one for ideas

400 wood boxes https://www.amazon.co.uk/400-Wood-Boxes ... wood+boxes

+1 for Peter Lloyd


Pete

 

[AndyT]

On YouTube, I like Steve Hay, on Woodworking Masterclass. He's good on the basics, using hand tools. This series covers what he calls a pencil case - which is a box with a sliding lid. He starts simple and adds extra ideas bit by bit. Very adaptable design and clear presentation.

Old School Pencil Case: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL ... z557MKOix6

 

[marcros]

Rob Cosman has a few videos about box making.
He has a recent youtube video on the wood hinge for boxes
He has also made a beautiful jewelry cabinet you should look up while your on his channel
Good luck

I spent last night looking into the wooden hinge. I really like the idea and am going to try it out- hopefully I can drill the dowel on the lathe.

 

[JR147]

Me too! I saw that Classic Handtools stock his dowel drill jig as well.

 

[Glynne]

You mean like: -

Made on the lathe yesterday.
The lighter coloured one was made in one piece and initially drilled with a 9.5mm (3/8") spur tipped bit. I then used a 2mm bit located in the hole made by the spur tip to drill the rest. Bit superglued in place.
The darker one was made in 2 sections. The larger barrel again drilled (through this time) with 9.5 mm bit and then I turned a cylinder 9.5mm diameter to fit inside.
I've only tried them on softwood but they seem to be OK. They will obviously wear but I'm not likely to make that many of the hinges.
I ordered and received (under 24 hours) a core box bit from Wealden's and I have some 2mm steel rod on it's way from eBay so I should be good to go.