Another Box

[David R. Pennington]

Here is another pine dovetail box. I made spliced rope handles and cleats for them out of white ash. I made double angled mortises to attach cleats. One tapered heart pine pin will secure the cleat and can be driven out in case the rope handle ever needs replaced. The lid has double mortises into rails on each end so it won't warp. they are secured with heart pine pins as well. I forged "fishtail" strap hinges. I still need to make a hasp. I just gave the box a coat of milk paint. I'll sand it back some and nail the hinges on with home made nails

http://s1239.photobucket.com/user/DavidPflint/library/
   

[oldfox]

Very nice work..thanks for sharing the process

[hanshi]

That is excellent craftsmanship.  Very nice!

[Kermit]

Nice! I don't have the patience to fuss with dovetails in most softwoods, especially pine. When someone has wanted it done, I cut the pins by eye and use them to mark out the tails. I'm curious about the wedged attachment for the becket cleats. Got a photo of how that works? I use copper rivets and roves to attach the cleats so they can be removed and new rivets used to reattach when new beckets are needed. Seeing your photos is almost as good as looking over your shoulder while you work. I like seeing how others would skin the same cat!

[David R. Pennington]

Kermit. I just cut the mortises at an upward angle from the outside. All the pull on the handles is usually at an upward angle so this only pulls them in tighter. I put one tapered heart pine pin in at the bottom of each cleat that can be driven out from the inside should the handles need changed.  I have an old handmade rocker here that has the slats pinned with heart pine pins. For years I thought they were nails till one day I looked at them in the bright sunlight.

[Kermit]

Very clever! I've never seen that method. Your idea?

[Mark Elliott]

I love fine joinery!   Well done!