For anyone who is interested
in the making process these 3 pages will give you more of
an idea of how my boxes are constructed. The images were
taken whilst making a small set of jewellery boxes, one
example is shown on the left. Please click on the thumbnails
to see a larger photograph.
Having
prepared the box parts and marked out where I want the dovetails
I am ready to begin the making process. Hand-cut dovetails are how
I joint my box carcases. I use a Japanese handsaw to cut the tails
first. The mirror enables me to stop the cut before the mark on
the face I can't see.
To
work efficiently I cut all the tails for the ten boxes at the same
time.
The
next stage is to mark out where the pins are in relation to the
tails. I have made a simple jig so that I can cramp the parts securely
at right angles to each other. I then use a sharp scalpel to mark
out the pins.
Here
I have cut close to the scalpel line with a saw and removed most
of the waste.
An
aerial shot of me paring slithers of wood down to the scalpel line
with a very sharp chisel.
Time
for a dry run. I use a block of wood to protect the box parts as I
tap the joints together. Not too much force should be needed to close
the joint up otherwise the wood will split. If they go together with
hardly any force needed the joint is too sloppy.
When
I am happy with the dovetail joints I can carve my logo. On these
boxes the logo is on the inside back face. You can also see a groove
for the bottom.
Moving
on to the lid now. This image shows all the lid components before
assembly. This is known as a frame and panel lid. The solid panel
fits in a groove in the frame and is not glued allowing it to expand
and contract freely depending on the moisture content in the wood.
You can also see the frame joints before glue-up. These are called
"bridle joints".
I
use a sharp block plane to " clean up " the lid parts.
Gluing
up the lids. This jig allows me to apply pressure on 4 sides at the
same time.
