Hey Folks,
For Christmas presents this year, I made some stationery boxes. You know, old fashioned, analog pen and paper communication devices. Anyway, I couldn’t tell you much about them, at the time, because I wanted to preserve the surprise. Now that it’s Boxing Day (heh, heh), I can tell you about them.
I typically make these boxes out of whatever offcuts I have around the shop. But in the case of one of them I have been saving the wood for nine years. Nine years ago, I built a small chest, out of Hawaiian Koa, for my god-daughter. I’ve kept the offcuts hoping to come up with a good project for them, and decided this was the one.
![Image](https://fremontoccasionalwoodworks.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/img_2179.jpg?w=800)
The other box (top of the photo below) is for her sister, and is made of offcuts from the African Makore table that I posted about earlier this year.
![Image](https://fremontoccasionalwoodworks.files.wordpress.com/2016/12/img_2178.jpg?w=800)
Both boxes are simple mitered corner construction with runners for a small till for envelopes, etc. The runners, and recessed top and bottom panels, reinforce the mitered corners, and a good hide glue holds it all together. Finish is a wipe on polyurethane.
The boxes are made all of one piece, with a dado cut into the inside length of each side piece. Once the box is assembled, I cut an intersecting dado along the outside of each side and a telescopic lid results. A reserved key piece made prior to assembly allows for a precise location of the last cut.
![Image](https://fremontoccasionalwoodworks.files.wordpress.com/2016/04/img_1808.jpg?w=600)
As a gag, I included the following, Thank-you Note Template, in each box. It’s totally unneeded in this case however, as both young ladies are conscientious writers.
THANK YOU TEMPLATE*
DEAR (RECIPIENT), (TODAY’S DATE)
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE (GIFT), I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT. IT IS (INSERT GRATUITOUS HYPERBOLE, E.G., “THE BOMB”).
(RELATE SOME RECENT INTERESTING, HUMOROUS, AND/OR SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN YOUR LIFE).
(INCLUDE A SINCERE WISH FOR A GET TOGETHER AT SOME FUTURE OPPORTUNITY).
WITH LOVE,
(YOUR NAME HERE)
(INCLUDE OPTIONAL AFFECTIONS, E.G., 00XX, HUGS AND KISSES, ETC.)
*TO BE HAND WRITTEN
Although I enjoy making boxes, particularly as gifts, it’s time to get started on furniture again.
Cheers,
Tom
_________________
"There is no path to peace, peace is the path."
Mohandas K. Ghandi
![Image](https://fremontoccasionalwoodworks.files.wordpress.com/2015/09/untitled-image.jpg?w=22&h=23)