Description

The box design follows a contemporary styling of particularly balanced proportions and optional feet of exotic woods such as Queen Ebony from the Solomon islands, Blood Oak or Gidgee.

The box has a removable unhinged lid of either English Oak or Queensland Silky oak and is lined light Australian cedar.

This cedar, once well seasoned, is very mild and stable allowing the maker the freedom to fix it in place without the need to use a panel within a groove construction.

The show-wood has been selected from fine seasoned woods such as English Oak, She Oak, Australian Red Cedar or Silky Oak.

The maker can choose to use Queen Ebony, Blood Oak or Gidgee for the handle and optional feet.

The show wood is finished using Tung oil. This method has been used by generations of designer craftsmen to give a very rich subtle and durable finish. It can be waxed and burnished to a high sheen if that is preferred

There is the option to use Limed Oak finish in the case of the English Oak show wood.

Dovetails are a very elegant strong and versatile way of joining wood. They also look very good. Well made joints are a testament to a high degree of skill and mastery.

 

This course covers some further very important skills which are a natural progression and a consolidation of the joint making modules and a gateway to more complex designs.

Hand skills will be practiced in more detail with particular attention to the sharpening and use of cutting tools, marking out and skilful use of the dovetail and coping saw.

The most important skill of carefully setting the mouth size and use of the smoothing plane will be discussed as will the use of the bevel edge chisel in cleaning up.

The traditional methods of setting out of the dovetails and the order in which the pins and tails are cut will be shown.

Participants will be shown the technique of oil finishing.

Depending on experience the box will take between 6 and 12 hours to complete.

Video Option

We would like to see students at our studio but realize some may be too far away or alternatively wish to work at home.

We have produced a professional real  time HD video narrated by Cal as he constructs the box .He shows all the techniques and processes in clear unhurried detail allowing the maker to work at their own pace

The Box kits and the video can be obtained from www.thinkinghandstudios.com.au and www.arc-services.com.au