Eventually you get a little bored with making a straightforward box with butt-joints, so you make them with mitered corners. Then, you realize how tough it is to make perfect miters and you move on to something else. Sometimes you do tops and bottoms inset in rabbets. Sometimes you don’t.
Category: Boxes
Tea Boxes (or Whatever-You-Want-In-It Boxes)
I’m not entirely sure what the impetus for making these boxes were. Some things just kind of come to you as an idea and you run with it, knowing exactly where the idea originated. Sometimes, though, something comes to you for no reason and you run with that.
The original box that led to me making these was made with Birch plywood scraps — its size and shape was dictated by what was left and the box was no bigger than what I had on hand. Well, despite being made of scraps, I was pleased enough with how it turned out that I decided to make some more. But this time I wouldn’t use Birch scraps — I didn’t have any more to use. And this is where walnut-veneered plywood came in.
These boxes measure (Note: all sizes are very close to this, but may vary from item to item as they are made by hand, not a computer):
- Exterior — 9.75″ x 9.75″ x 5″
- Interior — 8.75″ x 8.75″ x 3.5″
- Bottom Trays has 9 (nine) 2.75″ squares
- Upper Trays have 9 (nine) 2.5″ squares (Except for the one which has two trays of approx. 2.5″ x 8″
There are four varieties here. All have four have 9 cubbies in the bottom. The , three of them have 9 cubbies up top, one has two small/long trays:
- Nine (9) divided bare wood cubbies in the bottom, with a tray of nine (9) unlined divided cubbies above
- Another Nine (9) divided bare wood cubbies in the bottom, with a tray of nine (9) unlined divided cubbies above
- Nine (9) divided faux-flocking lined cubbies in the bottom, with a tray of nine (9) faux-flocking lined divided cubbies above
- Nine (9) divided faux-flocking lined cubbies in the bottom, with Two elongated sliding/removable upper trays above also lined with faux-flocking
Though these boxes were made of plywood — good plywood — they were all made with love. Each is edge-banded in solid wood, hiding the layers of plywood within, but still retain the stability plywood offers. As always, there are imperfections in the boxes — that’s the beauty of handmade. You can see a slight router accident on the back of one of them one and there are other bits of character that truly give these pieces character.
While I might call them ‘tea boxes’ you can put whatever you want in them — use your imagination.
You can buy them here…
Reclaimed Wood Double-Wine Boxes
Imagine looking at a pile of old wood that somebody means to burn, but seeing something useful in it instead. That’s the story of my wife and the fence.
So, in the middle of this pandemic summer, the wife and I have been getting lots of little projects finished — why not? Can’t really do anything else, which has mostly been fine anyway. Well, one of the projects was building a shed and replacing some privacy fence around the corner of our yard. That whole project is coming together a bit slowly — the shed is up and that’s working out fine, but the fence is another story. Turns out getting treated timber for posts is a bit of an ordeal right now. Who knew?
Anyway, with the posts we did have I was able to replace two sections of fence and after taking down the old ones I leaned them against the side of the shed, intending to break them down and burn them. At least, I was. Because right about then the wife wandered by and saw the fence and wondered if it could be salvaged for something. Instead of looking at the fence and seeing fire wood, she saw a project. Of course, she’s not a woodworker, so the project was for me.
One thing the fence became were these wine boxes with sliding lids. The fence was broken down, planed to a uniform thickness, and the best of them were glued up into panels. Then, they became boxes.
Naturally, as these are made from reclaimed wood, the boxes have a naturally rustic feel, with all the expected charm and imperfections you get from reclaimed wood.
There are four available, if you want one for your very own. You can buy them here. Holds two wine bottles of your choice. (Wine shown is not included).
Joe Made A Thing 