Spalted Sycamore Blanket Box with Walnut Hinges

[MikeG.]

This is a very recent project, and is my first experiment at posting images on this forum...........fingers crossed!!

The sycamore was from a huge tree I cut myself then had planked, before I stacked it in the normal way about 7 or 8 years ago. Unfortunately, this isn't the way to deal with sycamore, which apparently should be stacked vertically........Result: I threw away two thirds of the tree as rotten, and didn't have high hopes for the rest. It was covered in white fungus and black mould. I just put it in the back of my garage and forgot about it for 3 or 4 years........
......then had a little play. I was thrilled with what I found, and made this really simple box to show off the wood.

It is finished with Rustins Plastic Coating, because the wood is so soft and porous that my normal waxes and oils were useless. The wood is in parts softer than balsa, and just so damned difficult to work! It had to be soaked in sanding sealer at virtually every phase......even to cut the tenons!

It is the first time I have ever made a piece of furniture with contrasting timbers, and I thought the walnut hinges looked OK with the sycamore. Hope you like it.

Mike

 

[MikeG.]

Yeeha.....that seems to have worked!!

 

[Green]

That is superb.

 

[Fecn]

That looks really great.. love it

 

[Harbo]

I like it and those hinges - great -well done!


Rod

 

[MikeG.]

Cheers guys....thanks very much. You were all very quick off the mark!

I am making bedside tables to match at the moment. I guess I'll post those pictures when they're finished.

Mike

 

[davegw]

Very nice - and I'd love to know how you made those hinges!

 

[MikeG.]

Thank you Dave.

I did a complete run-through of the hinge-making on another forum. I don't know how the powers-that-be would feel about a link through to that, but at the moment I haven't the time to repeat it on here. (I should be working!!!).

I'll happily put a link on if someone could let me know about the etiquette.

Mike

 

[marcus]

Beautiful - I love how the wildness of the timber is set against the regular, formal design - works really well...

Marcus

 

[davegw]

Thank you Dave.

I did a complete run-through of the hinge-making on another forum. I don't know how the powers-that-be would feel about a link through to that, but at the moment I haven't the time to repeat it on here. (I should be working!!!).

I'll happily put a link on if someone could let me know about the etiquette.

Mike

I don't think anyone would mind Mike, but if you're supposed to be working - don't worry there is no rush

 

[woodyone]

Amazing i really to do spalted wood and the wooden hinges just finish it off.

Well done.

Woody.

 

[MikeG.]

Dave,

here is a link to the other forum where I did a step-by-step slide show of hinge making.....http://www.getwoodworking.com/forum/forummessages/mps/dt//UTN/1596/last/1/V/5/SP/

It is not much more than a glorified finger joint........far and away the most difficult thing to do is drilling out accurately for the pin. The pin is a galvanised nail with the head and point cut off (sophisticated, huh??), and the sycamore pellet is terribly shallow to preserve the strength of the hinge.

If anyone feels I shouldn't link to another forum........I did ask!!..........but do feel free to remove it if deemed inappropriate.

Woody,

thanks! (I think!!!!........there is a word or two missing from your post, methinks!)

Cheers

Mike

(edit) PS Sorry Marcus, I missed your post earlier. Many thanks for your comments.....much appreciated.

 

[woodbloke]

Good project here, crisply done. I like the use of that spalted sycamore...I have a small amount in the 'shop outside and will be be doing something with it later...not sure what, maybe a box of some sort - Rob

 

[MikeG.]

Cheers Rob......
..........if your spalted sycamore is anything like mine its a sod to work with. I'm afraid you will need to use some sandpaper!!

Mike

 

[Ironballs]

I think it looks excellent all round and those hinges work really well. My personal preference would be to replace the stainless screws in the hinge with either brass or black screws - minor thing though and well done for persevering with the tricky wood

 

[MikeG.]

I agonised over those screws!! I cut the head off a few and placed them in any number of different positions to try and work out what was best. It took me an hour to decide where to put them! I contemplated using countersunk screws and having walnut domed plugs.........or flush contrasting pellets (what was I thinking!!!). What I really wanted was some dome-headed brass screws........but just couldn't find any.

I will certainly be replacing these when I find exactly what I want.

Appreciate your comments.

Mike

 

[marcus]

What I really wanted was some dome-headed brass screws.

Like these? http://www.isaaclord.co.uk/productDetail.aspx?product=835&subCat=48&parentCat=7/48

What might look really lovely - and would be super strong - would be copper boat nails secured with copper roves underneath....

Marcus

 

[MikeG.]

Yep, they're the ones, Marcus!! Thanks.....

Don't suppose you have a picture of those copper boat nails.....?

 

[marcus]

You drive the nail through the rove ( a copper washer), snip the end off, then tap the stub with a ball pein hammer until the copper of the nail merges with that of the washer. So you get a copper nail head (which would be counter sunk and so flush) on the outside, and a sort of blob of copper on the inside.

It's not at all hard to learn, although you would need a couple of tools you might not have - and to do a few practice ones! Am happy to advise if you want to give it a go.

Marcus.

 

[MikeG.]

They do look smart! Very smart indeed...

My worry is that this timber is so soft that amalgamating the copper with a hammer would certainly lead to damage to the sycamore.....and furthermore, I'm not sure whether the apparent random location of the copper on the underside of the lid is the sort of look I'm after. But it might be.......! I'll look more closely tomorrow when I can see again.

Thanks for taking the trouble.......

Mike