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Speaking of boxes… just realized I didn’t post some shots of the finished tea box project. Here it is… Spanish Cedar box with walnut/Birdseye maple lid. The outside of the box is finished with walnut oil and beeswax, the lid is French polish. You can see this entire project ( and many others ) on my membership site; details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworking #woodworkingproject #boxmaking #boxdesign #frenchpolish #frenchpolishing #handtoolsonly #handtoolwoodworking #madebyhand #toronto #leslieville #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqTHRSHuRuv/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Now that the box joinery is complete and dry fit it’s time for the lid. I asked my apprentice what species I should use and this is what they came up with. A lovely combination of walnut and torrefied, birds-eye maple. This probably isn’t what I would have chosen but now that it’s in front of me, I think it looks great! It’s nice to be able to draw ideas and opinions from the people around us. As makers, we’re often alone with our thoughts and designs… having a second opinion from someone you trust is always a welcome change-;) new episodes of An Unplugged Life are up! Details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworking #boxmaking #boxdesign #design #handtoolsonly #boxtops #handtoolwoodworking #unpluggedwoodworking #madebyhand #walnut #birdseyemaple #toronto #leslieville #gerrardstreeteast #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CqAgIWCgSZI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The box is assembled ( no glue ) after the bottom and middle divider is fit. The middle divider is captured in stopped dados. The top edges of the divider is shouldered so I could round over the top edges and not create gaps in the joinery. Next step is the lid and then onto the finish. I’m not planning to glue this box as it will serve well as an example piece for our 5-day box making courses and will be beneficial to be able to pull it apart to see what’s going on inside the joinery. This is a great example of the kind of project you could build in our course: It Starts with a Box…Details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #boxmaking #boxdesign #handcutjoinery #handtoolsonly #learnwoodworking #woodworkingclasses #torontowoodworking #unpluggedwoodworking #joinery #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp5Kxz5OgvU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Making and fitting the box bottom… Spanish cedar is rabbeted on all four edges. The rabbet plane is used for most of the work and then a shoulder plane to sneak up on that perfect fit. New episode of An Unplugged Life, details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworking #woodworkingproject #boxmaking #boxdesign #handcutjoinery #joinery #unpluggedwoodworking #handtoolsonly #handtoolwoodworking #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp2V25wOnDI/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

The dovetails are complete. Through dovetails with rabbeted backs to eliminate the need for stopped grooves. New episode of An Unplugged Life, details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #dovetails #dovetail #dovetailjoint #boxmaking #boxdesign #spanishcedar #madebyhand #handtoolsonly #handtoolwoodworking #handcutdovetails #handcutjoinery #handmade #handcrafted #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cpx3a38Jmwj/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Dovetails for the Tea Box… full scale drawings and then execution… less surprises this way. These are “through dovetails” which usually means stopped grooves are needed. In this case, the grooves run through and the dovetails are rabbeted, thus removing the thickness of the rails where the grooves come through! A great solution when stopped grooves aren’t ideal. New episode of An Unplugged Life is up; details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworking #boxmaking #boxdesign #dovetails #dovetailjoint #joinery #handcutjoinery #handtoolsonly #madebyhand #design #spanishcedar #toronto #leslieville #gerrardstreeteast #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpsEEg4Acqf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Next step in our tea box project are the grooves. These will hold the box bottom and sliding lid in place. The tool for the job? A plow plane. This is one of the most enjoyable and reliable joinery planes available… easy to set up without too many bells and whistles. In short, it does what it’s supposed to do. New episodes of An Unplugged Life, details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworkingproject #boxmaking #boxdesign #handtools #handtoolsonly #plowplane #veritastools #unpluggedwoodworking #madebyhand #torontowoodworking #toronto #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpfasrrOaYU/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Step two, dimension the carcase parts. Spanish cedar will be great for this project; the clean aesthetic, the aromatic quality of the wood… although it’s a rather soft wood, care must be taken as it’s worked so not to bruise or damage it. And it goes without saying that razor sharp tools are essential. Part two of the Tea Box is up! Details on the Unplugged Woodshop website. #theunpluggedwoodshop #anunpluggedlife #woodworking #woodworkingproject #boxmaking #boxdesign #handtoolsonly #unpluggedwoodworking #spanishcedar #itstartswithabox #toronto #leslieville #unplugged (at The Unplugged Woodshop) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpaKrUUO7_N/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=