Beggineers box

[Andrew1]

Hi looking for some advice please.
Looking to build some small jewellery boxes approx 300 x 200mm.
Does anyone have any recommendations on plans, what stock and where to purchase materials. Want to use this to practice joints as well

 

[marcros]

I would just sketch it out and make your own plan. I would suggest 100mm high, give or take and 12mm timber.

buy your hinges first, to make sure they fit.

 

[Andrew1]

Hi Marcos, thanks for coming back. Any suggestion on wood type, don’t have a preference as these are for practice

 

[marcros]

whatever you can get hold of really. Pine is probably best avoided for practicing your first dovetails. if you wood that you get doesn't suit a particular joint, use another and have a play with a finishing technique.

where are you based? that may help somebody tell you where to get some timber.

 

[Andrew1]

Hi, just outside spalding near Peterborough, there seems to be shortage of places to get timber, other than the DIY chains, any suggestions appreciated

 

[marcros]

have a look here. https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/local/

this place isn't local to you, but may be an option if you don't have the means to plane and prepare boards https://www.britishhardwoods.co.uk/timb ... imber.html

if you are really struggling, try to find a timber merchant, rather than a b&q, wickes etc. Select a couple of boards of decent knot free softwood. You can use that to cut rebates and other joints. It just isn't ideal for dovetailing unless you have some experience (and I don't!). there are so many different ways of joining a box at the corners, I would just select another. My favourite is to rebate the ends fairly deeply, so that the front and back are framed with 3 or 4mm of ingrain from the side. You can pin these with decorative dowels if you want. you can cut the end short and add a piece of stringing. you can rebate the front and back instead. plenty of options with that single joint.

for some inspiration of what can be done with "boring pine", there is https://www.architecturaldigest.com/sto ... -furniture

when you draw your plan, you will start to generate more questions, so ask away.

 

[loftyhermes]

Mac Timbers is near Peterborough. http://www.mactimbers.com

 

[Bm101]

I bought some small bits from Mactimbers at a wood show. (Beginner here too). Well pleased.
Good people. No affiliation at all apart from that one experience. Just got the impression of 'genuine nice folk'. Search them up on ukw forums and you will probably find good reports.
Don't be put off from phoning them up and explaining your circumstances. People don't mind beginners, they mind pretenders in my experience. From the impression I got they would be happy to spend a little time with you on the phone or at the yard and talk through what you might need.

Also. Really. Don't be scared of loft extensions. Look out for 1st floor scaffolds.
Any loft extension will normally have a high turnaround skip outside. As long as you ask the fellas they normally wont mind you tidily helping yourself to literally shed loads of PAR pine off cuts not to mention mdf. They might look at you a bit funny(who cares) but you are saving them money so they love you really. :wink: Don't take all the old and crap sh*te. Bide your time and just take decent size waste that suits your purpose. Old rafters and joist might be tinder dry but they are probably full of nails too.
Once you start getting in the habit you will never buy crap diy shed then later builders yard PAR again. It has it's place and now it's free. Say hello to practice joints and gratis diy timber.

*fistbumps everyone *

 

[Ttrees]

This is one which might be of interest
[youtube]87vbqCQUigE[/youtube]

 

[Andrew1]

Thanks all for the suggestions and the video link.

 

[Freddyjersey2016]

If you are serious about jewellery box making, I recommend Taunton's Complete Illustrated Guide to Box making by Doug Stowe (It uses American practise for table saws - dado stacks, no crown guard...). Lots of good photos and ideas.

Also if you are looking for small quanities of timber - take a look at the Hardwood Offcut Shop - near Brentwood in Essex - https://www.facebook.com/thehardwoodoffcutshop/ - very close to M25

Also for inspiration take a look at this box by Chris Tribe - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLpscqZM8To - not a simple one!

Also Andrew Crawford's site is worth a look - https://www.smartboxmaker.com/