Maple w/ Curly Spalted Maple box

[Gecko]

Here is a small box I made to play with a couple of ideas and to try my hand at a Lacquer finish again. It is 3" x 5" x 2.75" tall. Hinges are standard and the box opens to 185*. One thing I tried was to miter the top edge at 10* to see if I liked it. Looked pretty slim at the edge where it meets the top panel. I tried it again on the next box I am in process with and went a bit thicker there. The other thing I tried was to cut out the side miters and replace with a contrasting wood. I like the look on the front, but still not sure how I like the way it looks on the lid. As to the finish, I soaked the top panel in Watco and gave the rest a a wipe down with it. Then I applied 2 coats of brushed on Lacquer. Sanded down a bit with 600 grit and did another coat. I then lightly wet sanded with 600 grit and polished with med and fine pumice. Then I polished with rotten stone and buffed with a coat of wax. I give the finish a c- grade. I am having a hard time knowing how thick the Lacquer coat is. I am afraid of sanding through it and cant really tell if I have or if I can sand a bit more. Hence the box is not a 100% glass surface. I would have re-applied some more Lacquer coats to this and worked it down again, but since it is destined to be a gift box for one of my daughters friends, I decided to just leave it as is.
Opinions on the mitered top edge and the sides would be appreciated.

[boodrow]

Gecko from the pic the finish looks fine to me , overall that is a beautiful box. The top piece is just awesome.
Boodrow

[Joe Lyddon]

Gecko,

Clever way you square-filled the corners! COOL!

Beautiful top... Mitered top looks good... especially, the corners.

[Ruffnek]

I like it, Gecko. I really like the inlaid corners. If the edge weren't too thin, it would have looked better IMHO to continue the inlay onto the lid, also.

That spalted, quilted top is awesome.

[Gecko]

Apr 3, 2010 15:21:40 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

I like it, Gecko. I really like the inlaid corners. If the edge weren't too thin, it would have looked better IMHO to continue the inlay onto the lid, also.

That spalted, quilted top is awesome.

Do you mean to have continued the corner inlay around the outer edge?

[sachbvn]

*drool* - I LOVE those spalted corner pieces you made!


Zac

[Ruffnek]

Apr 3, 2010 17:01:05 GMT -6 Gecko said:

Apr 3, 2010 15:21:40 GMT -6 Ruffnek said:

I like it, Gecko. I really like the inlaid corners. If the edge weren't too thin, it would have looked better IMHO to continue the inlay onto the lid, also.

That spalted, quilted top is awesome.

Do you mean to have continued the corner inlay around the outer edge?

No, continue the inlay on the 10 deg. miter part. See edited pic.

[deepsplinter]

I like it, Gecko. Those inlaid corners set it off.

MAN, that is SOME quilting, too. Looks like it needs sanded smooth.

[Gecko]

Thanks. That top panel was loved by the people who saw it today.
Cody, I like your idea. I am now thinking about how to go about it.

[gomer]

Gorgeous box. I love that top and inlay on the corners. That is some tedious work. You pulled it off nicely.