Western Red Cedar Jewelry Box

[Gecko]

Well here is a box that was commissioned by a lady at work. There were a few bumps while building it but I did learn a few things.
1. Juniper makes my shop (and house) smell like a BO and my family has told me that I can't use it anymore. So I am getting rid of what I have. It is too bad as it is a beautiful wood.
2. Cedar is a bit to soft to work with for me. It sure is nice for hand work, but if you look at it wrong, it dents. I won't be using it much.
3. Lacquer is a really nice finish.
All in all, this box is the best box with a drawer I have made and is probably the best box I have made at all.

One nice thing about this box is the people involved it. Western Red Cedar came from Cedarman for the price of shipping, Juniper came from Mountainwood when I saw him at the 2 Daves shop tour last summer on the Washington/Idaho border, and the Eastern Red Cedar came from Stretch when he heard I needed a small piece. Also a big thanks to Stretch for his patience in talking me into and teaching me how to do a Lacquer finish.

Official description:

This Box is made from Western Red Cedar with a Juniper top panel. The inside of the lid is lined with Aromatic Eastern Red Cedar. the feet, pulls, and keys are Juniper. All four corrners are grain matched and allow the grain to flow around the body continuously. The dimensions are3 8" x 6" x 4.5" tall. the inside has a tray that is divided into 2 spaces. There is also an undivided drawer in the bottom. The box is finished inside and out a drying oil with the exception of the inside top panel. This was left raw to provide a nice Cedar smell. The outside was then finished with Laquer and buffed out with a coat of Canuba wax. The hinges are made by Brusso and are self stopping at 95*. The liner is a velvet type material.

$175

[sachbvn]

Gecko - that is a great looking box (as are the maple ones you posted) - I love how you have the drawer beveled as it shuts - very nice detail. I like this box a lot, I think some of your other ones are really fantastic, so....while I'm glad you are really happy with this one - don't discredit some of your other work - they are great too!

Zac

[Ruffnek]

That's a very attractive box and a great story about where the various woods originated. It also shows just how different Western Red Cedar and Eastern Red Cedar are in appearance, not to mention texture. Once you have worked with both, there is no confusing them.

The Juniper, however, surprises me. I've never worked with it but always thought of it as similar to Cedar. I didn't realize it was so light in color.

You will have to show me that four-corner grain match sometime. I always end up with a mis-match on the fourth corner.

The box is outstanding. Thanks for showing.

[boodrow]

Gecko I know she will be proud of it , very nice job and finish
Boodrow

[Stretch]

Very nice Gecko, I'm proud to have been involved with this one, even in a small way. That ERC looks way better as a part of that box than it did sitting in my burn pile. ;D

[Gecko]

Mar 21, 2010 17:45:34 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

That's a very attractive box and a great story about where the various woods originated. It also shows just how different Western Red Cedar and Eastern Red Cedar are in appearance, not to mention texture. Once you have worked with both, there is no confusing them.

The Juniper, however, surprises me. I've never worked with it but always thought of it as similar to Cedar. I didn't realize it was so light in color.

You will have to show me that four-corner grain match sometime. I always end up with a mis-match on the fourth corner.

The box is outstanding. Thanks for showing.

Interesting thing about the Juniper is that is the dark heartwood. The sap wood is really light in color. In board form it looks dark like cedar until you put it next to Cedar. It is a nice wood to work with. It is like the Eastern Cedar as far as hardness.

I will try to do a tutorial on the way I do a 4-corner grain match sometime soon for the archives.

[Joe Lyddon]

A COOL beautiful Triple Decker! ;D ;D

Very nice and functional!

I'm sure it will be appreciated! ;D

Good job! ;D ;D

[maverick31]

this box is fantastick. I like the wood choice,design and finish. really really AWESOME!!!!!!

[elizabeth]

The finish is beautiful and I also like the wood. But I'm with Zac in how impressive the drawer detail is. Really like that miter in the inside. Just beautiful.