OldTools Archive
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274598 | Brian Welch <brian.w.welch@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Jewelry box ideas |
Galoot emergency! My wife has decided she needs a new jewelry box. She sent me some links for ones she likes. They are expensive and awful (from a woodworking perspective). I refuse to spend our hard-earned cash on any of them. Christmas is 3 months away. I need ideas. I need pictures. I need tips (especially on felting drawers--I know that must be in the archive somewhere). I need lessons learned. I need someone to tell me I can do this in 3 months. This will be antique hand tools only because I don't own any tailed demons or new tools. Step one: take a look at the wood stash tonight. Thanks in advance, Brian |
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274599 | Michael Suwczinsky <nicknaylo@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Three months, you can do this! Regarding felting of drawers (getting a little ahead of wood selection here) I usually cut a piece of card stock to fit in the drawer bottom, then wrap that with the felt or fabric you plan to use, wrapping the edges and taping the material down on the back side of the card stock. Do a test with your materials to check if glueing down the fabric will bleed thru or alter the feel of the material. I would give a design nod to what you were shown, but that is just my opinion. Michael On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 11:21 AM Brian Welch |
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274600 | Greg Isola <gregorywisola@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Hats off, Brian, for bravely going public with this serious challenge... > > My wife has decided she needs a new jewelry box. > Having no sense of the jewelry stash we need to accommodate here, I'll just contribute my preference for a machinist chest-style case with multiple drawers of different sizes. Easy to customize the various drawer sizes, and fun to build--but really I like this style because I find boxes with large hinged lids become additional flat surfaces with stuff on top. Not what you want for a jewelry box. Take care, all of you, Greg Isola Alameda, CA USA |
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274601 | Paul Honore <lawnguy44@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Brian - Here's a plain and simple jewelry box my son made for his mother. http://www.eastconn.com/tools2020/jb1.jpg http://www.eastconn.com/tools2020/jb2.jpg http://www.eastconn.com/tools2020/jb3.jpg Nothing fancy - no knobs - just put a finger on each open side of a drawer and pull out. Believe the main box is Cherry. Not sure what he used for drawers. Think this was made when he taking classes in the Wood Technology program at Palomar Junior College in California. Twenty years later he's a well established cabinetmaker in Boston. He's obviously a much better craftsman than his old man. Best, Paul Honore in Hebron CT ps: anyone need a Kubota tractor |
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274602 | Joshua Clark <jclark@h...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
A long, long time ago, longer than I care to calculate, I made this: https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box1.JPG https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box2.JPG https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box3.JPG https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box4.JPG https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box5.JPG https://hyperkitten.com/pics/woodworking/projects/box6.JPG I had no idea what I was doing, made a lot of mistakes, but my wife loves it. I didn't use drawers because I didn't know how to make drawers. It was all hand tools back then. The design was based on an article in FWW that I can't find now. It's a simple frame and panel design with dovetailed sides. I can recall gluing the whole thing up as one piece then sawing the top off with a handsaw. Josh |
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274603 | Dennis Heyza <michigaloot@c...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
There is one in FW 150 (July 2001) that is (mostly?) a hand tool project, including hand cut mitered dovetails. I can send you the article if you're interested. Dennis Heyza New Baltimore, MI -----Original Message----- From: oldtools@g... |
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274604 | Mark van Roojen <mvr1@e...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Brian wrote: >I need ideas. I need pictures. I need tips >(especially on felting drawers--I know that must be in the archive >somewhere). I need lessons learned. I need someone to tell me I can do this >in 3 months. I've been making some boxes for gifts though not jewelry boxes, which I gather must have drawers. My main takeaway is just that nice wood makes even something very simple look good. - Mark |
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274605 | Paul Gardner <yoyopg@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Brian now has a challenge and a looming deadline... I can't say I've ever built a jewelry box but the internal construction will obviously be dictated by the type and size of the pieces to be housed. But I like the idea of removable trays and perhaps a centerpiece area that can be used for the pieces she wears regularly or perhaps for a show piece that is particularly beautiful and needs to be set apart. While not a jewelry box, this tea caddy design (wonderfully made by fellow galoot and Fleabagger Joe Parker) is the kind of thing I'm thinking could be nicely adapted for jewelry. https://fangornworks.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tea-Caddy/ Joe is also a deft hand with the fabric side of things and I'm very partial to the shade of blue he used for his other projects. https://fangornworks.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tool-projects/i-4sxqTg5/A https://fangornworks.smugmug.com/Woodworking/Tool-projects/i-cjG7Pr6/A Good luck and keep us posted! -Paul, in SF. |
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274606 | joeparker@s... | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Brian - I've always preferred velvet for box linings, and yes, I frequently use a dark blue. No matter what fabric you choose, save yourself a lot of effort by heading to your nearby fabric store (or even Walmart) and pick up a package of "Heat n Bond Ultrahold". This is a sheet-based thermal adhesive. Just cut to shape, iron onto the back of the fabric, and then iron onto the box. Depending on your fabric choice, you may want to combine with Michael's suggestion of a cardboard backing and only use the adhesive in strips on the edges which will be folded under. BTW, the tea caddy was made from sugar pine and veneered. Not the easiest veneer project for a beginner, but if you're comfortable with veneer it is one way of getting the nicest wood. Joe Parker Los Gatos, Left Coast USA |
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274608 | galoot@l... | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Quoting Brian Welch |
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274609 | Darrell <larchmont479@g...> | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
On 23/09/2021, Brian Welch |
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274611 | Kirk Eppler | 2021‑09‑23 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Having read all the responses, the one that resonates most is Esther's, design around the jewelry she owns, or wants to own. Decades back, when I was just starting into WW, and afraid of expensive wood, I bought one for my now ex-wife, and we both loved it. Built along the lines of Josh's box, but bigger, a big bottom section, slightly more divided on the top, maybe two layers of divided trays. I don't recall the Materials or shape, and can't go look for obvious reasons. But I recall a dark walnut type wood for the base, with a subtle banding inlay on top, of appropriate colors. It was on a cherry dresser, so sufficient contrast. That's another thought, where is it going? I would look at the designs she showed, and try to upgrade. Seems some like the individual earrings through a pair of holes, others like those little cubbies mentioned. I've seen lots of the "wall of holes" for earring studs at craft shows, but never see them walking out. Same with the huge array of necklace holders. But yeah, 3 months is scary soon. Just choosing the right wood could take that long. Then deciding pins first vs tails first will be your next tough choice. Then shellac vs oil vs bare wood. Kirk in HMB, who is only partially serious here. On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 11:21 AM Brian Welch |
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274612 | Joe Jerkins <jerkinsjoe@g...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Hi Brian, 3 months should work (unless you slip into a galoot time warp). I had a similar request from SWMBO a couple of years ago. I used a piece of cocobolo (resawn) that I had in the stash. The interior is lined with black felt from Gerstner (glued to the interior with hot hide glue) and a black ring holder I found in a jewelry supply catalog online that I cut to fit. Anyway, pictures here <https://flic.kr/s/aHskQmoF8c>. https://flic.kr/s/aHskQmoF8c Good luck with the project and I suggest not making it too oversized lest you be asked to fill it up. Please keep us posted! Joe Jerkins - enjoying a beautiful evening in San Francisco. On Thu, Sep 23, 2021 at 11:21 AM Brian Welch |
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274613 | James DuPrie <jbn.duprie@g...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
I've made a bunch of them. I base my model on gerstner tool chests - a set of about 9 small drawers over a set of 4-5 shallow wide drawers, but I replace the drop front with doors. Itss a bit more than just a jewelry box (mine have typically gone to family members and very close friends as a 13th year birthday present and they are referred to as 'treasure chests' until the kids are in their later teens, when they become "jewelry boxes"...- family tradition). As far as felting, there 3 basic ways I do it: (From hardest to easiest): ** 1 (padded sides and bottom) take some good archive grade card stock, and cut it just a smidge under the final size needed for a snug fit. Get some good archive grade cotton batting. put a layer of batting over one side of the card stock, wrapping it over the edges, wrap the whole thing in felt, and secure the felt to the back. Try to keep the back as smooth as possible.order of installation matters: first, put in the 2 longest sides - they should be cut so that the ends go all the way to the corner. Next, put in the 2 shortest sides - the ends of these will push against the 2 long sides to help hold them in place. Put the bottom in last - it will press on all 4 of the sides and help hold them in place. I usually use contact cement to glue them in - because it can be removed and repaired fairly easily.... Sides have to be carefully fit so that the "puff" on the top edge doesn't extend past the drawer side, or it will quickly wear from rubbing the box frame. One of those niggly fitting things.... ** 2: same as above, but skip the cotton batting. Has the advantage of being able to make sure that all the felt is flat and smooth before installing, and no chance of adhesive leaking through (I keep all the adhesive on the back). Makes getting the sides to come out the right height easier too. ** 3: apply felt directly to inside surfaces. definitely the easiest and fastest. requires a bit of care to make sure the adhesive doesn't bleed through to the felt. Also requires a different order: Bottom first, then sides. I cut the felt a tad oversize, then use a razor blade to cut it into the corner to get an exact fit. I leave the sides a tad tall, and slide the blade along the top edge of the drawer to get a nice clean match to the top edge. I've never attempted the self adhesive felt, or flocking, but I've heard good things about both..... -James |
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274614 | John M. Johnston <jmjhnstn@m...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
I built a spice box that my wife has commandeered for her jewelry box. I built a separate cabinet for fee necklaces. Cheers, John John M. Johnston “P.S. If you do not receive this, of course it must have been miscarried; therefore I beg you to write and let me know.” - Sir Boyle Roche, M.P. |
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274617 | Troy Livingston <horologist@w...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Brian, Lots of cool ideas, beautiful boxes and good advice so far. However it seems to me that she has already done much of the work for you by sending you links to ones she likes. We could send you our favorite design, one that would appeal to you as a woodworker, and when she opens the package you see the "oh, what am I going to do with this awful thing" look on her face. Been there, done that, have the ugly, ill fitting T Shirt as proof. Are the boxes in the links poorly made over priced particle board crap or is it the design of the box that is offensive? I would use her links as a starting point and tweak the design as required. Perhaps it would help if you send us the links for reference. Troy |
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274618 | Troy Livingston <horologist@w...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Thermal based adhesive? Pure brilliance. I wish I had this when I was adding the velvet lining to a box I made in High School that was supposed to house a cap and ball revolver. Only I never got around to making the inserts.... I applied the fabric to slightly undersized pieces of manila file folder as described earlier using white PVA glue. Has anyone tried the Lee Valley flocking kit? Troy |
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274620 | scottg <scottg@s...> | 2021‑09‑24 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
The good news is, almost anything passes or becomes a jewelry box. From something small enough to fit in the palm of your hand to a full blown chest of drawers. If she is a kind woman anything you made for her with your hands will not draw criticism or "defect inspection" so its a pretty sure hit. I would be looking into what space to house it is available. Making something that is a pain to fit into your house I would avoid. A box that miraculously "fits right in" keeps the magic going. I would try to find out her favorite wood or at least wood color for inlays or overlays etc. Everyone has one. I would try to access a peek at what she already has and likes in the way of jewelry. Almost every girl has her favorites. Lots of necklaces that want to tangle is different from lots of rings that want to pile. I would use a hard finish of some kind. Its going to be handled frequently and probably washed down occasionally. So treat it the same as a side table in its finish, so it doesn't prematurely need attention. You really can't miss when it comes to a jewelry box. yours scott -- ******************************* Scott Grandstaff Box 409 Happy Camp, Ca 96039 scottg@s... http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/sgrandstaff/ http://www.snowcrest.net/kitty/hpages/index.html |
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274690 | Brian Welch <brian.w.welch@g...> | 2021‑10‑12 | Re: Jewelry box ideas |
Gracious Galoots, Thank you all for the many tips and tricks and links to various jewelry box ideas. At first I was going to surprise my wife but then I decided I better include her in the process. And what I learned is that despite the many, many things we have in common, woodworking aesthetics is not one of them. A jewelry box made the way I would like to make one is not what she is looking for. And truth be told, I am so rusty that both the outcome and timeframe were probably going to be suboptimal. So a jewelry box is going to be purchased for now, but I have two daughters and I have longer-term jewelry box plans for them. Josh's box (which is based on that July 2001 FWW 150 article--which I found in my files) is probably close to what I will eventually aim for, I think. The other thing I realized is that my wood stash is 80% tiger maple and birdseye maple, which I love. And so in order to get my sawing and planing skills back to where they should be, I am going to make a super gaudy hanging toolbox for myself, which has been on my to-do list for maybe 20 years. Hopefully it won't take 20 years (or even 20 months) to finish, but we'll see. Brian |
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