Final Build
Construction
Full sized plans
Prepping lumber
Dad helping adjust the belt sander
Cutting rabbets on the router table
And here they are! The base of the box will fit in nicely
Edge gluing maple for the box base
Tenon jig used on the table saw to cut the splines
Precariously balanced
Barely visible 1/8th inch of the table saw blade for cutting dados
Cutting rabbets with a Varitas medium router plane with an 1/8th inch blade
So satisfying
Dad in his shop arranging the dust collection system for the band saw
Pretty fun to see the dust collection layers!
Starting the glue up
Came upon a miscalculation in my plans!
Cutting miters for tiny inset pieces
Coming together!
Main section writing surface
Lower section writing surface
Lower section opened to see the inset pieces that allow the writing surface to sit flush
Prepping to cut the dovetails for the drawers
Hand made jig to mortise the narrow hinges
Used the drill press to mortise in the lock mechanism with a little hand chiseling as well
This cut was terrifying
Cleaning up the edges of the routed out writing surface for the leather
Gorgeous custom gilded leather! I spent an embarrassingly long time smelling it...
Dad made a little box with my scraps. Perfect place to test out my finishing technique!
So rich!
Nice view of the book matched lid!
Back side walnut figure featuring my gorgeous brass stopped hinges (which I didn't seem to get any pictures of the mortising process for...)
Like father like son
Adhered the leather with water based wallpaper paste
Had to stretch the leather a bit when I realized I routed the writing surfaces without the hinges in place, causing the measurement to be off. (It flattened out later, don't worry!)
Messed up the gilding in the stretching process though :'(
Used a piece of green fabric edging from my grandmothers old sewing kit
Used the same edging as a tie for the key