Tommy MacDonald's 207 Woodworking Community • View topic - A larger run of Doug Stowe designed boxes

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Mon Jan 24, 11 7:55 am

A couple of weeks ago I started prepping stock for a run of boxes. I had made four of them in Zebrawood for Christmas gifts.

I really enjoyed making these and wanted to experiment with some more wood choices, so I'm doing a much larger run...25 of the Doug Stowe design, plus another half dozen or so of my own design. I'll take advantage of the tool set-up along the way to maximize shop time. Here's a link to my latest write-up on the boxes, reswaing the stock on the table saw (a first for me.)

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... ision.html

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 11 1:55 pm

I was finally able to get back out into the workshop last night, after two weeks of pretty cold temps here in Minnesota. I’m prepping stock for the next run of boxes I’m making. Check it out...

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... -down.html

I’m looking to work in a few smaller boxes on the side as I’m building the Doug Stowe designed boxes and have these small, book matched pieces of Marblewood and Bubinga.

I’ll need to plane these down to a 3/8 inch thickness and I don’t have a drum sander. I’m thinking of ganging them together, back to back, but I’m concerned about that little hop you often get when running shorter pieces through the planer.

Any thoughts or advice on planning such short stock?

Ritz · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 11 3:24 pm

My thought for running short stock through a surface planer DON'T! That is extremely dangerous!

Surface plane long pieces before cutting to length.

To get away from snipe at the leading or trailing edge of the board, cut a board (pressboard works nicely)the width of the planer, and a good couple feet to extend on either side of it. The leading edge (feed side) of the board will have a stop under it so it will not move and clamped it in place. Then adjust the thickness accordingly and take light cuts. Remember to surface both sides equally to relieve any built up stress in the wood!

And NEVER stand directly infront of the feed side, I have seen planers catch a board and fire it right out of the machine.

Have a GREAT day and the boxes are looking Awesome!

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 11 3:50 am

Thanks Richard. Good advice. Unfortunately, these pieces came to me already cut to these short lengths. I was considering some sort of sled to run them through the planer, but I decided to set them aside for now.

Maybe this is a good reason to spring for a drum sander! Now I just have to convince my lovely bride! :lol:

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 11 3:53 am

It was a nice and toasty 33 degrees here in the Twin Cities, so I found myself back out in the shop!

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... rnoon.html

It's so much nicer working in the shop when you can't see your breath and your fingers don't go numb!

tiny · **Posted:** Sun Feb 13, 11 3:56 am

Hi Pete.

Why buy what you can build? A drum sander is a fairly straight foreward project well within the ability of most wood workers and the money you save can be spent molifying your lovely bride for some other "extravigance".

Paul
the little guy

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 11 3:19 pm

I'll have to check that out Paul. Have you found a good set of plans, or built one yourself?

I was able to get some more work done...sanding and some layout on those fancy Padauk pieces.

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... ng-up.html

tiny · **Posted:** Wed Feb 16, 11 7:22 pm

There are quite a few guys over on LumberJocks.com that have built them and some provide step by step directions. Check them out.

Paul
the little guy

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 11 10:28 am

I'll check it out Paul. I just joined up over at Lumberjocks last week.

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Mon Feb 21, 11 10:31 am

Even with about 18 inches of snowfall (and over four feet of drifting!) the workshop was humming. I’ve got all of the box parts cut and prepped for assembly of 34 boxes (35 if you count the tester box.)

Here are a couple of the dry fittings…some Birdseye Maple and Padauk.

More pics and a hint of my illusions of NHL glory can be found on the blog. :lol:

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... round.html

Digging out in Minnesota,
Pete

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sun Feb 27, 11 2:13 pm

I was able to complete the glue-ups on the boxes. It's been pretty cold again here in Minnesota, so I moved the operation into the house.

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... -glue.html

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 05, 11 11:25 pm

This week I built a slot cutting jig for box corners, and today I made it back out into the shop and got some cutting done. I'm adding the corner splines to about 2/3 of the latest run of boxes.

Check it out...

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... th-it.html

Ritz · **Posted:** Sun Mar 06, 11 7:05 am

I like the way you labeled for short and long, taking the thought process out of projects with jigs is helpful. Also I noticed in your glue up pic, do you spread the glue and then clamp? Looking good, has it warmed up any?

Pete Harbin · **Posted:** Sat Mar 19, 11 12:21 pm

I was finally able to devote some time to finishing up some of the boxes. The ten for the school fund raiser were completed last weekend and shipped off to Maryland. Most of the rest are complete and just waiting for a clear finish. I’ll be trying a Watco Danish Oil finish for the first time this weekend on a few of the boxes.

http://secondwindworkshop.blogspot.com/ ... ready.html

Hopefully I’ll be able to carve out a little time this weekend to work on the handful of boxes that still need lids as well.

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