Prototype Writing Box

[Mr Ed]

Thought I'd post a few pics of a prototype I have just finished for an oak writing box. I've ironed out quite a few details and issues in making the first one, so there will be a few changes in the next one, which I'll sequentially photograph and write up for F&C.

There are a couple of things that I'm not entirely happy with, but I'll keep them to myself for now and would welcome comments on what you think of it.

Thanks for looking

Cheers, Ed.

 

[shim20]

nice, i like it, like what you have done with the front and the hinges look neat. what finish is on it oil?

 

[wizer]

oh yeh, I like that. I can't imagine what you'd change

 

[Mr Ed]

Thanks Guys,

The finish is blonde shellac, about 12 coats and then a couple of coats of Liberon Black Bison wax rubbed back with 0000 steel wool.

The hinges are Brusso JB102's.

Cheers, Ed.

 

[Ironballs]

It looks good and very well made, nice finish too. The only bit I would change is where you have sawn through to create the lid, your lip is relying on the strength of the glue only rather than a complete joint as you have half a dovetail. Shouldn't be a problem, but it is an area of weakness

 

[opener]

I like it Ed, the bulbous front and the recessed top. My only minor criticism would be that the top might be a dust trap.

Cheers
Malcolm

 

[Mr Ed]

First prize to Ironballs for spotting the obvious mistake - on the next one I'll be changing the position of the split line and increasing the number of tails so there is 1.5 tails above the split. I actually realised the mistake before I cut it, but having already cut the tails with 3mm extra on one of them for the kerf, I had to plough on.

In actual fact the lid seems quite sturdy, especially with the lining glued inside, but I'll still change it on the next one.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Philly]

Ed
Like it - nice!
How about making the lid panel flush wit the top of the frame - rather useful if you mean to write on it :wink:
Cheers
Philly

 

[OPJ]

I like it, Ed. I was going to suggest you could perhaps do a bit more with the top but then again, as Philly has pointed out, you're supposed to use the top for writing on! :wink:

 

[stewart]

Very nice, Ed - I particularly like the expanse of end grain on show.

 

[Mr Ed]

By writing box, I mean something to sit on your desk and contain paper and pens, not to write on top of. In the same way that shoe boxes contain shoes, you're not meant to put them on your feet and walk around in them!

Cheers, Ed.

 

[Karl]

By writing box, I mean something to sit on your desk and contain paper and pens, not to write on top of. In the same way that shoe boxes contain shoes, you're not meant to put them on your feet and walk around in them!

Cheers, Ed.

:lol:

Now that made me laugh!

The rather bulbous front is the only thing i'd meddle with. But looks a great piece nonetheless.

Cheers

Karl

 

[DaveL]

Very nice, Ed - I particularly like the expanse of end grain on show.

Must agree with Stewart, the rays in the end grain look very nice, I know on some things the end grain often hidden but this is a good feature.

 

[Paul Chapman]

something to sit on your desk and contain paper and pens

Very nice, Ed. If it's to contain paper and pens (and maybe letter opener, perhaps) would it be better to have partitions so that you could keep the different items separate - or perhaps something on the inside of the lid for the pens? And what about envelopes and stamps? If it's just a plain box, the contents might tend to become jumbled.

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[Ironballs]

Ed you don't have to have equal spacing between the tails or equal tail size, you could have a thicker tail in the middle and smaller tails at the top and bottom, that way the cut for the lid would sit between the tails rather than through one of them. Could be quite a nice design feature.

Further thought (god bless red wine) you could have a 1,2,3 of tails number 1 being the smallest and at the top in your lid and number 3 being the thickest and at the base. If you were being really clever then the tails could not only be of different thicknesses but extend to different depths in the rail....

 

[Rob_H]

May have to make one for the desk in the study - very very nice piece - Rob

 

[gwaithcoed]

Excellent piece of work, I love it, couldn't fault it if only I could cut dovetails like that

Alan.

 

[Mr Ed]

Thanks Guys,

Paul - The plan was to fit the interior with a removeable sliding tray for pens, running on a slim side rail a bit like this one I did here;

I thought I'd make one long thin tray running front to back so its the right size for pens. I plan to leave the bottom of the box clear, as it has been sized to fit A4. I didn't bother doing it on his one as its only a prototype.

Ironballs - I will give some thought to the tail sizing, although generally I prefer equal sizes. I've always done the split line on a tail, although I've seen other boxes with the split on a pin (some of Peter Lloyds for instance). I'm not sure it always looks right though, but I'll certainly think about it.

Cheers, Ed

 

[Woodmagnet]

Very nice box Ed, i too, especially like the end grain on the front.
If that's just a prototype, i can't wait to see the real thing.