A Letter Box

[BrokenolMarine]

Some of you know that I have added leather work to my hobbies. Tools accumulate and if you don't find a way to keep them organized, you spend way too much time trying to find the tool you need rather than working. Recently, I just added a new tool rack to the leather bench, expanding both the width and height of that rack by a foot or so in each direction. A few days after I finished it, I added the paper towel and thread rod across the center to make THAT even more efficient.

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One thing that has been a thorn in my side has been the Stamps that allow me to create words, the LETTER stamps. They came in a foam lined tray, but it took up a lot of room in the drawer and of course the letters are backwards on the head stamps and hard to read. Facing down, the small reference letter is about 1/32" tall and even with my "Opti-visor" on, hard to read. I had been playing with the idea of a box of some sort to keep them neatly stored, but I would need a reference... to make them easy to find. The idea ping ponged around in my head for a couple weeks and I finally worked out a solution and I figured I would get to it. I was planning to make a cane out of a 2x2 of black walnut, and was planing it on the bench when I discovered it was mahogany hiding under the grime. The letter box project was born.

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I laid out the letters on the bench and shuffled them around to figure out the layout. Once I was happy, I got my measurements and then cut out the frame of the box. I then cut the dados in the top and bottom edges, the tested the fit under pressure with the band clamps. I cut the luan panels for top and bottom, again, tested the fit under pressure, then I glued it up with the top and bottom panels, in essence gluing the box closed.

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I had extra materials basically worked up, so I made an extra box. I decided both would have inlays. Leather for the letter box, and spalted maple for the second, which I decided to gift to Miss T to use in her shop. I started on the inlays while the glue set up on the boxes. I tooled a leather pattern and fit it in the letter box.

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I cut and shaped a spalted maple insert for the sewing box. I treated the insert with a base of Watco golden oak to bring out the grain, then two application of natural watco to deepen and enrich the grain. Looking good.

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24 golden oak and natural.jpg (425.43 KiB) Viewed 841 times

[BrokenolMarine]

I went back to the leather insert and using colored dyes, accented the pattern I had carved. It really popped, but would be toned down with antiquing.

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After drying, the antique was applied, and then carefully removed, to highlight the pattern. A lot in the high areas, leaving more in the areas that needed accent and / or shadows. Turned out pretty good.

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I planned to add reference strips under the lid of the letter box. Kinda like a "Box of Chocolates," You know, so you'll know what you are gonna get. I cut the strips, then stamped the letters in the proper order to match the lines of stamps.

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I antiqued the strips to darken the natural leather and make the letters pop. They turned out well. After the antiquing dried, I applied two coats of finish.

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[BrokenolMarine]

I used some off cut walnut from the junk box to make rails to go between the stamps in the bottom tray of the letter box, this would keep the stamps organized and create a space below them for the snap in handles. The large stamps didn't work in the box and there were only a few of them. They would stay in the drawer. I would also have rails between the reference strips under the top ....

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Once the oiled rails dried, I began to assemble the components. The project was coming together. The lower tray looked pretty sharp.

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The top didn't look too bad either.

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I inlaid the leather in the top of the box as well.

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[BrokenolMarine]

While the glue was setting on the letter box, I glued in the maple inlay, and put it in clamps. It was left to dry overnight.

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The next day was the day the hinge was going on the leather box. I went with a brass piano hinge to deal with the weight of the mahogany top. It was a bit larger (taller) than I really wanted, but it was what I had and this is MY working tool box, not a show piece. It'll do donkeh, it'll do.

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The hinge worked out well. Box opens and closes, and is basically done. I will give it another couple coats of beeswax and it'll go on the shelf, in service.

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I have just a bit more on the sewing box. I worked this afternoon on the guides so that Miss T's top remains centered when she removes and replaces it. Cut them from Walnut off cuts, and once they were sanded and shaped I glued and clamped them. When the glue has set, they will get watco natural oil as well, then two coats of beeswax and that box will be done.

My next project? A scabbard for the UTV? A gunbelt? Knife and Sheath with inlay? Who knows, maybe I'll frame in the wall to replace that roll aside door in the woodshop. Something to stay busy.

[markiver54]

Nice work as usual. I sure know what you mean about getting the shop organized. Thats why I have 2 or 3 of certain things that I couldn't find until AFTER I bought new ones.
The boxes look great!

[CT_Shooter]

Something to stay busy.

Beautiful work, Marine. Thanks, as always, for sharing it with us. Love it.

[CT_Shooter]

My next project? A scabbard for the UTV?

I have a leather scabbard for a scoped rifle that has never been used. It's yours for the asking. I'd love to see you decorate and use it.

[BrokenolMarine]

Back out to the shop this afternoon. The glue dried on the walnut guides, and I got the entire box oiled with Watco Natural. Can you say Ooooh.

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If you look closely in the picture below, you'll see the walnut guides glued to the right and left sides of the bottom tray. They ensure proper alignment of the top when Miss Tina puts the top back on. All she has to due is pay attention to the grain pattern on the front of the box and match that. The top only fits the one way.

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The boss said she loves the contrast between the spalted maple and the mahogany. Perfect compliment for one another. This project was like most of my others. I start with a basic plan and have no problem changing directions or modifying the vision as I go... my plans are flexible and I enjoy the problem solving. My first career was all about rigid adherence to the SOPs and rules and regulations. Kept us safe while flying. I was good with that. I still have no problem working from Blueprints or plans when the tasks call for it, have drawn a few myself and the jobs were very successful.


Let's color this one done. Only thing left is the waxing.

[markiver54]

I can and will say oooh!!
Beautiful.

[fortyshooter]

Man... some fantastic leather and wood crafting !!!!

[BrokenolMarine]

My next project? A scabbard for the UTV?

I have a leather scabbard for a scoped rifle that has never been used. It's yours for the asking. I'd love to see you decorate and use it.

Thanks for the offer, Check your PMs.
I'd bet I could find something to send in return... even though you didn't ask...

[Centaur]

Muy bueno!!

[clovishound]

Great work.

[graywolf]

Can’t say much more. Nice, really nice.

[BrokenolMarine]

One last task on the project. I went out this morning and waxed and buffed the wife's box for her sewing room. She says she'll keep the extra feet for the machine in it. I love the smell of the beeswax, and the soft luster it adds to the boxes. I am a tad jealous that Miss T got the best grain and of the complimentary contrast of the mahogany and the spalted maple. They really set one another off.

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But, I guess that's the way it's supposed to work. Aren't they supposed to get the best of us? She does so much for me, so I WANT her to be happy.
She lit up when I handed it to her, that's my reward for the work. Her smile...

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[markiver54]

That IS a beautiful box! What's not to love about it?

[navvet8189]

Coming from a woodworking hobbyist, that box is beautiful. Great work.

[BrokenolMarine]

Coming from a woodworking hobbyist, that box is beautiful. Great work.

Thank you sir....
Are you on the Woodnet forums? There are a couple of us from Here, there.
Lot's to see there.

[navvet8189]

No i'm not. I'll have to check it out.