Box-Making
Basics
Design,
Technique, Projects
by David M. Freedman
Softcover
230 x 275mm
134pp
Published by The Taunton Press, Connecticut, USA.
R.R.P.$34.90
ISBN 1-56158-123-2
Boxes with a Slab Lid
Beveled Box with a Rabbeted
Lid
Lever-Action Pen-and-Pencil
Box
Keeper Box with End Inserts
Keeper Box with Raised Lid
Panels
Keeper Boxes with Two Tiers
His-and-Hers Ring Boxes
Stationery Box
Box with Two-Piece Swivel Lid
Box with Bookmatched
Two-Piece
Lid
Box with Blind Pin Hinges
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 113
While at first glance jewellery-style boxes may appear to be just smaller versions of full-size chests and blanket boxes, there are many differences in their construction. Small boxes are built for appearance rather than strength and the size of the components warrants a different approach to woodworking techniques.
Box-Making Basics by David Freedman covers a range of design ideas and techniques to assist woodworkers who have some experience success with their initial box-making efforts.
After a discussion of timber selection, box dimensions, designing to avoid movement and stress, matching grain, finishes and adhesives, the first box-making technique is for a box with glued mitred corners reinforced with wooden keys or splines. This construction is then used for three different projects - Box with a Slab Lid, Bevelled Box with a Rabbeted Lid and a Lever-Action Pen and Pencil Box - each with a single piece lid.
The next chapter discusses joining two or more boards to form a lid, decorating the lid with veneer or inlay, and forming the box shape with the carcase and lid combined until they are separated on a table saw. The related projects are a Keeper Box with End Inserts, Two Keeper Boxes with Raised Lid Panels and a Keeper Box with Two Tiers.
Further chapters cover the installation of slot, pin and butt hinges, routing a finger relief, adding a lid support and making internal dividers. The remaining projects are His-and-Her Ring Boxes, a Stationery Box, Box with Swivel Lid, Box with Book-matched Two-piece Lid, a Box with Blind Pin Hinges, a Sunburst Jewellery Box, Box with Ball Feet, Classic Jewellery Box and a Southwestern Box (decorated with zig-zag fretwork).
By breaking box-making down into individual tasks, explaining these in detail with relevant diagrams and photographs, and using projects to provide examples of the techniques involved, Box-Making Basics is a practical and comprehensive introduction to the world of box-making. The 15 boxes included in the book also make Box-Making Basics a valuable resource for project ideas.
Photos: Black & White
Units of Measurement: Imperial
Contents
Introduction
Basics
of Box Making
Elements of
Good Design
Selecting Wood and Preparing Stock
Finishing
Mitered
Boxes with One-Piece Lids
Techniques
Projects
Boxes with a
Slab Lid
Beveled Box with a Rabbeted Lid
Lever-Action Pen-and-Pencil Box
Boxes
with Decorative Lids
Techniques
Projects
Keeper Box with End
Inserts
Two Keeper Boxes with Raised Lid Panels
Keeper Box with two Tiers
Boxes
with Slot Hinges
Techniques
Projects
His-and-Her Ring Boxes
Stationery Box
Boxes
with Pin Hinges
Techniques
Projects
Box with Two-Piece Swivel
Lid
Box with Bookmatched Two-Piece Lid
Box with Blind Pin Hinges
Boxes
with Butt Hinges
Techniques
Projects
Sunburst Jewelry Box
Box with Ball Feet
Classic Jewelry Box
Southwestern Box
Metric
Equivalence Chart
Index
Sunburst Jewlery Box
Box with Ball Feet
Classic Jewlery Box
Southwestern Box