One thing I’ve always loved about woodworking is the abundance of new things to try. I enjoy the process of figuring out a new process, a new technique, trying a new style, and find it as a great source of enjoyment.
When I recently bought a shirt to help support YRTI’s YouTube Channel, I knew that he said he’d include his wax finish with the first couple shirts purchased. What I didn’t know, however, was that I’d get a much larger box than expected, that included not only the shirt and wax, but also a hand made box, and some snacks!
I was surprised and pretty excited by that. I used the box in the intro to my Veritas Box-Maker’s Plow Plane video, but in shooting the footage for that video, I also wanted some background footage of using the plane. I decided what better way to use the plane for the video clips than to make a box for someone kind enough to surprise me with one as well 🙂
I wasn’t content to just make another box, I wanted to try something new. Anyone who’s familiar with YRTi’s videos knows that he’s often trying out new things for himself as well, so I hoped he’d appreciate that aspect of it (even if it’s not perfect). I decided to try a live edge box for the first time. I’ve turned live edge bowls before, and I did a live edge epoxy river wine rack, but haven’t tried anything like this.
The box itself is made from cherry that I’ve had for a while. The rough stock I started with was 4/4, so I decided to resaw it to be around 3/8″ thick once finished. The joinery for the corners is stopped rabbets on the ends with the top portion mitered. I don’t like mitered corners, although that would have probably been easier than what I did. I wanted to use the miters to get the more continuous live edge all the way around, but wanted a little more strength in the glue up by adding the rabbets.
The walnut lid of the plane is a panel rabbeted on 3 sides, that slides in a groove on the three live edge pieces. I had also never done a finger pull with gouges before, which I decided to try on this lid (after it was otherwise done, naturally). Both aspects worked out pretty well.
The bottom panel is also made from walnut, and sits in rabbets all the way around the bottom pieces. I also decided to take his channel logo, and the image he uses as his avatar (I think? I don’t know), and laser engraved that on the box as well. A nice little surprise once you open the box, so he doesn’t forget whose box it was.
I also had a test panel that I decided to finish and send along as well, also of walnut. One last thing I wanted to try out for the box maker’s plane video was to see if I could manage to cut an angled groove. Normally this is a bad thing, as it means you were tipping the plane over in use, but this time I actually did it intentionally. I basically used it like starting a rabbet plane on a knife line, but never tipped it upright. The result was the little live edge stand for the display panel. It’s made from part of the resawn back piece of the box, so it matches along with the live edge theme.
He seemed pretty happy and appreciative of it when he finally got it (a misstep on my part with the shipping meant it took an extra week and shipping label). I had also included the first bottom that ended up not being the right size, so he’s got an unfinished walnut panel with the same thing engraved on it as the box bottom to play with too..
The finish on the box was a couple coats of shellac, which was scuffed (sanded? buffed?) with yellow scotchbrite pad, followed by soft touch wax, applied with the same yellow pad, then buffed with a cotton rag. I’ve become pretty fond of this finish, after using it on a forum box swap piece a few months ago. It’s got a nice low sheen, and feels really soft to the touch.
Anyway, that’s the box and the story, thanks for checking it out!
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