Tissue boxes

[motownmartin]

Since someone posted a thread on a tissue box they made, I think it was newt, I wanted to make one of my own, so I did, in fact I made a couple out of Yew.

This wood was a nightmare to work with, it was a load I picked up cheaply from ebay, trouble was it was full of splits, I used about 1 cubic foot to make these 2 boxes and came up against all sorts of impurities and on a number of occasions had to glue it all back together :shock:

Anyway they are still not finished, need a fair bit of wax filling in places but here are some pics of them so far. I wanted to get these out of the way so I can start my competition entry.

The 2 different sized boxes fit the large mansize and medium sized Kleenex tissues

 

[joiner_sim]

looking good, are the lids attached somehow?

 

[maltrout512]

Two nice boxes there. Your problems with the yew are very common when it has been left to dry. Yew will develope hair line cracks which may look like nothing but will cause all sorts of problems when you come to use it. I try and use the yew as soon as possible after cutting. Most items that I have made (when still green) have had only the slightest of movements and have not cracked.
Even still they both look very good. Maybe make splits etc a feature.

All the best

 

[motownmartin]

looking good, are the lids attached somehow?

The lids are fixed and there is a couple of slide in boards at the bottom which I haven't finished yet due to not enough prepared timber

 

[motownmartin]

Maybe make splits etc a feature.

I find it difficult to work the wood with the splits.

I have done some boxes with Yew before and not had a problem, I would say that the timber was far superior quality but less figured.

 

[OPJ]

Nice work, Martin. Looks like it was well worth persevering with.

 

[motownmartin]

I found time to complete the bases today, you should be able to see how they fit into the slot then slide to either end.

 

[OPJ]

I do like the base design as well. Smart thinking, there. :wink:

 

[motownmartin]

I do like the base design as well. Smart thinking, there. :wink:

Thanks Olly, it was Pete Robinson that made the suggestion to do it this way, I would have got there myself eventually, don't tell him though :lol:

I might make some out of Spalted Beech, maybe a little easier to work with.

 

[joiner_sim]

I like the idea of the bases, its like one of those picture puzzle games you got as a kid, having to slide them about! Well, not quite, but its what it reminds me of!

 

[devonwoody]

Nice boxes Martin, I will have to make one for myself.

Know what you mean about Yew. I've got some and I now use it as backing when on the T/S or Router table to prevent tear out. Shame because the grain can be quite attractive.

I suppose veneers made from a board would be the way to go?

 

[newt]

Martin very nice, I made mine out of spalted sycamore that was from the garden

I have had several folk ask where I bought it from, I am making a couple more at present. The Yew looks very nice, I think yours are more elegant.

 

[motownmartin]

Martin very nice, I made mine out of spalted sycamore that was from the garden

I have had several folk ask where I bought it from, I am making a couple more at present. The Yew looks very nice, I think yours are more elegant.

I thought it was you Pete, thanks for the idea, as far as looking more elegant, people have different tastes but I know what you are saying, I like to round off the edges, I do it with most things I make, small things anyway.

 

[devonwoody]

Martin, purchased a tissue box last week in preparation for making a box.

However did you research the situation, are all boxes and brands roughly the same size?

 

[newt]

The boxes seem to be the same size, however the opening for the tissues varies.

 

[devonwoody]

So a larger aperture is better in this instance :wink:

 

[newt]

Yes, or you can just cut the cardboard aperture on the tissue box to suit.

 

[motownmartin]

Martin, purchased a tissue box last week in preparation for making a box.

However did you research the situation, are all boxes and brands roughly the same size?

I measured a couple and they were different, the biggest difference was the height, that could be accomodated though by putting another slot for the base to slide in.

I didn't measure any of the openings.

 

[motownmartin]

Yes, or you can just cut the cardboard aperture on the tissue box to suit.

I made a template for the ones I did, I used the card from the box opening and made a complete top with the opening just Drilled for the correct radius at the ends, then cut it down the middle on the table saw, this left one half too small but the other half perfect, then cut the remainder out on the bandsaw and cleaned it up with whatever (sanding) you have at your disposal.

I did make the top in 2 halfs then glue together.

 

[newt]

I also used the cardboard from the opening as a template, I then cut out with a fretsaw.