jewelery / music box

[tlcneeded]

im undecided on the finish to use.
i was inspired to make this box after seeing geckos boxes.
store didnt have brass hinges so i had to setle for black for now.
i forgot to say how big it was it's 16" 1/4 L x 8 1/2" W x 6 1/4" H
5 different woods walnut,white and red oak,pine, and maple i do believe i could be wrong. but, the multitudes of wood is a concern of mine as for finishing it.
i am interrested in all responses towards the finish on this box
i was going to do poly but, it may deserve better. i haven't did but, poly and paint so please comment i want to here from ya.
thank you

[scottd]

Excellent job! Small boxes can be a bear. I've got a small box that I started almost a year ago sitting in the corner of the shop. It kicked my butt so bad I'm thinking about using it as firewood.

Great work!

Scott

[dburkhart]

very nice

[Leo Voisine]

Looks awesome from here.

Ya know - sometimes we think that a think needs to have poly, or shellac, or lacquer or something like that.

Not so

Oh yeah - those are great "proctective" finishes against wear and tear and moisture - but - do you NEED that on a box like that. I think not.

I will bet - a couple of coats of nothing more that paste wax would do just great.

[Stretch]

Looks great! Leo may be right about the paste wax, but I'd still do the hand rubbed lacquer finish we talked about the other night.

[lockman]

Depending how much it gets used IMHO. I have used paste wax with nothing under in the past and with use you have to re-wax to make your work look as good as is new. My feeling is lacquer or some other finish underneath would be in order.
But what do I know (not much), I haven't finished as many things as you guys.
tlcneeded, you may want to listen to the other guys on this.

[Leo Voisine]

Nov 12, 2009 17:38:26 GMT -6 Stretch said:

Looks great! Leo may be right about the paste wax, but I'd still do the hand rubbed lacquer finish we talked about the other night.

My first thought to respond with was to do a hand rubbed finish. I still would likely lean that way, but I think we sometimes lean that way too much. I think too - that sometimes we are afraid to ruin the work we do, by finishing it.

I would trust Stretches suggestions over mine - as he has FAR more experience than I do.

[Joe Lyddon]

Looks great!

That white thing in the bottom... is that the Music part of it?
If so, how is it turned on/off?

I think I'd tend to use an oil... BLO or mineral (cured good)... followed with shellac & wax.

[Beamer]

WOW! check that out! Nice work Gerald!

[tlcneeded]

That white thing in the bottom... is that the Music part of it?
If so, how is it turned on/off?

yes the white thing is a wind up music box wind it from the bottom of the box.

[dcarter636]

If you want to increase the contrast between the different bands, a penetrating oil will do that. BLO will add a warm golden hue to most of those woods, especially the pine, while increasing the apparent depth of any figure in the woods. Tung oil would also increase the contrast and figure with less gold tint. Following up with something like a hand rubbed tung oil finish or danish oil like Watco offers would make a nice matte finish that would be reasonably durable, or go with shellac, or lacquer, or oil base poly for a glossy finish.

[woodmannie]

See Gerald, I told ya these guys would help out. Love the box.
My thought on finish, how bout just an oil finish. My bro got me headin that way(he's BIG into renn. period. Even wants me to make him a table like they had). Ya gotta apply layers over time, but it does bring out the naturaL beauty.'

Tom

[Doug B]

Very nice music box. I'm sure it will turn out very nice no matter what finish you put on it. I would go with whatever you are most comfortable using.

[Gecko]

That came out nice! So when are you going to start the next one?