Boxes for graduating Laurels

We have 8 Laurels that graduated this past week.  Decided to make wood boxes for them and invited the Young Women leaders to write letters to the girls. 

Finished up on the boxes on Wednesday and then started the finishing part.  Sanded to 220, then did four coats of wet sanding, starting with 500 grit and ending with 1000 grit paper.  Makes the wood nice and smooth.

This box is quarter sawn oak with a gum wood lid.

 

 





This box is eucalyptus box with walnut lid.

 



 This box is cherry with walnut lid.

 

 

This box is coffee wood and gum wood top.

 

 

Did something different with these boxes.  Cut all the rabbets, or grooves on the inside of the boards to hold the lid and the bottom.  Cut and fit the lid and bottom to fit in the box and glued it together.  Then made a jig to hold the box on it's corner and cut rabbets in the corners to glue in the "keys" on the corner.  That gives extra strength to the corner and the boxes.  Then cut rabbets on the outside of the box to cut the lid off of the box.  That creates an inner seam or lip for the lid to sit on.  All kind of magical.  Fun to try different things.

 

Got a bunch of letters from the current and previous YW leaders and the plan was to give the Laurel's their boxes on Sunday.  Not one of the graduating Laurel's was at church on Sunday.  Bummer.  Wait until next week!!