nearly new....Please read, your help and advice is needed

[Yorkie]

Evening all......or morning to those of you who may be out on the razzle

My best mate's brother who swims for GB in the paralympic team has asked me to make a box to display his medals won over the past 12 years.

I've had a good look over the interweb and have found some amazing pieces of work. The thing is, i've been a joiner for little over a year mostly making doors and windows and have attended college studying towards my C&G level 2, so don't have alot of experience but I believe I have the ability (all pieces of work over marked over 95%)

I just need to get an idea of how to make these amazing pieces. What book/s would you recommend I read so I can practice?

I'm also thinking of taking a course to get some hands on experience but have told my friend that it will be some time before I can create something.....although I know it actually takes years to become fully competent. Any recommendations on courses?

Your help and advice would be much appreciated as i've managed to start my dream of working with wood after turning my back on the catering trade after 10 years working over 70 hours a week

Cheers, Yorkie
[/b]

 

[joiner_sim]

=D> Welcome to the forum!

Hi,
I've been in the trade now for 5 and a half years, trained as a carpenter & joiner, but I'm now working mainly in the workshop as a bench joiner, producing similar work as you. I started making small items of "fine joinery" (if thats the word) after about 2 years. And I found that just a little more time and care is all thats required. If you've got the skills then why not just jump straight in and have a go? Maybe start on some softwood or cheap hardwood, or even the stuff I'm sure you would have lying around like me.

Simon. :wink:

 

[SVB]

Hi yorkie,

Firstly please pass on my congrats.

Have a look at the following, I am doing a course with this chap later in the year (and will report back here) but he does some very readable and clear books that may be useful.

Simon.

http://www.fine-boxes.com/index.php

 

[BradNaylor]

Hi Yorkie,

Welcome aboard. My advice would be to get yourself a copy of this book.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Complete-Illust ... 946&sr=1-1

It covers all aspects of cabinet construction in a very clear and up-to-date manner, as well as things like tool use and timber selection.

I would also recommend any book by Jim Tolpin

Cheers
Dan

 

[Derek Willis.]

Yorkie,
I make and sell a Table Top display Cabinet, that is very well suited for this, one went for watches, one for medals, another for jewellery etc, here are 2 pics. showing the finished result,and if you like you can P.M. me for any details and I can arrange to send you a c/d of construction details and work in progress pics.
Derek.

 

[busy builder]

Hello Porkie, :wink: glad you found it. Hope you get the advice you are looking for.
You'll find everyone here as helpful as the other site.

 

[Benchwayze]

I like that case Derek! Very nice indeed.

And Yorkie... Congrats to your friend. I think you found loads of advice here, so good luck with it.

 

[Ironballs]

Hello and welcome, if you have a dig through the projects section on here you'll find that a very helpful chap called Wizer has been compiling an index of all the box building threads as a reference guide. Should be right up your street.

Cheers

Damian

 

[Yorkie]

well thank you all for your replies. Have had a busy few days so haven't been able to reply until now.

I forgot to mention that i've picked up a multico mortice, multico bandsaw, Jubilee lathe, pillar drill, dewalt radial arm saw and a minimax U31 - planer thicknesser, spindle and rip saw in one for not alot of money and am planning the space to get them up and running....exciting times i tell ya

I saw the fine-boxes website, would be very interested in finding out how good it actually is. Thought it was alot of money for not alot of time in my opinion.

The box i would like to make is going to be a bit of trial and error. The boss has told me i can have some decent size scraps of soft/hard wood, Pine and Idigbo, so i can practice and then i can have some sapele, iroko and oak any of these good for box making?

Here's another issue which i must overcome first though. I need to lay the medals firmly inside the box, but be able to remove them for people to touch and wear...how would i do this? some type of foam covered in velvet maybe? But how would this cope with prolonged use?

Think thats it for now....thanks again for all the replies and info, its been great

Yorkie