Button Box

[Paul200]

A couple of months ago I was asked if I would like to make a small box to hold two brass buttons. The only conditions laid down were that it was to be made of Oak and Canadian Maple - the rest was up to me. I thought at one point that I'd fallen at the first hurdle when I discovered the price of genuine Canadian Maple in lengths far in excess of what I needed, but a post in this group's 'Wanted' pages resulted in a gift of two lengths from Paul Barnard - thanks again Paul.

I haven't made a box this small or complicated before and I have learned a lot in making it. It's to house two brass WW2 uniform buttons, one British and one Canadian, that belonged to two servicemen of those nationalities who became friends on the way to France. One was the Grandfather of the lady who commissioned the box and it's to be a wedding gift for her daughter, who is to marry a Canadian. There is a small space under the tray for a couple of photographs of said gentlemen.

 

[supertom44]

That is gorgeous!
Does it have a wooden hinge?

 

[paulrbarnard]

Oh wow that is fantastic. I think I should send you all my wood, you make far better use of it.

 

[Paul200]

That is gorgeous!
Does it have a wooden hinge?

Thanks so much Tom! The hinge was a bit of a problem. I wanted to keep the outside of the box clean and simple, spent a lot of time messing about with barrel hinges and did contemplate a wooden hinge. But in the end I went for two captive brass pins - and very nearly forgot the lid when I glued it up!

 

[Puggers]

Right down to the pins holding the tray, that’s a lovely, delicate piece of work.

Great story behind it too and I’m sure the lady who commissioned it and her daughter will be delighted.

 

[Fitzroy]

A couple of months ago I was asked if I would like to make a small box to hold two brass buttons. The only conditions laid down were that it was to be made of Oak and Canadian Maple - the rest was up to me. I thought at one point that I'd fallen at the first hurdle when I discovered the price of genuine Canadian Maple in lengths far in excess of what I needed, but a post in this group's 'Wanted' pages resulted in a gift of two lengths from Paul Barnard - thanks again Paul.

I haven't made a box this small or complicated before and I have learned a lot in making it. It's to house two brass WW2 uniform buttons, one British and one Canadian, that belonged to two servicemen of those nationalities who became friends on the way to France. One was the Grandfather of the lady who commissioned the box and it's to be a wedding gift for her daughter, who is to marry a Canadian. There is a small space under the tray for a couple of photographs of said gentlemen.

Super story, great box! What finish did you use to keep the maple so light?

Fitz

 

[Paul200]

Right down to the pins holding the tray, that’s a lovely, delicate piece of work.

Great story behind it too and I’m sure the lady who commissioned it and her daughter will be delighted.

Thank you! As a rule I don't like commissions but with the long timescale, free hand on design and charming back story I couldn't resist. I think it's delicacy became an infatuation and I've concentrated on very little else!

 

[Paul200]

Super story, great box! What finish did you use to keep the maple so light?

Fitz

Thanks Fitz. That was a cause of concern but eventually I found that my latest tin of Danish Oil, Rustins, was perfect for the job. It's very thin, takes an age to harden and was destined for the bin just as soon as I found a replacement but it did the job in this case. Funnily enough I saw a post on here recently complaining about it, but maybe I'll hang on to it for use on pale woods in future.

 

[Paul200]

Oh wow that is fantastic. I think I should send you all my wood, you make far better use of it.

I very much doubt that Paul, you showed me what you had made with it!

 

[Paul200]

I handed the box over today and the lady is delighted. Here's a couple of photo's with it's intended contents. So nice to become part of someone's family history.

 

[paulrbarnard]

I handed the box over today and the lady is delighted. Here's a couple of photo's with it's intended contents. So nice to become part of someone's family history.

Nice. My Grandfather was in the Royal Engineers during WW2. He was evacuated from Dunkirk then spent the rest of the war installing radar stations.

 

[Paul200]

Nice. My Grandfather was in the Royal Engineers during WW2. He was evacuated from Dunkirk then spent the rest of the war installing radar stations.

I find us mere mortals history far more interesting (and much less annoying ) than the stuff we were force fed at school