Turn a little box

This is a quick guide with pictures of how to make one of these

Basic Instructions for making a box from a Home Of Wood small blank

You may use these instructions as a guide but please be aware that all safety considerations are the sole responsibility of the reader. The author accepts no liability.

Use appropriate PPE and ensure all tool and equipment instructions are read and followed.

Instructions and pictures for Home of wood Courtesy of Andy Coates RPT

Starting with 2 Home of Wood small blanks. A will make the box and B will provide the tenon.

Mount A in suitable chuck jaws. True the face using either a long grind spindle gouge or a small bowl gouge.

True the face surface flat.

Taking a cut from the edge towards the chuck true the blank to a cylinder. Be careful not to cut in to the chuck jaws. Cut close but not up to the jaws.

Take the blank to a parallel cylinder and take a finishing cut to improve surface.

Reverse the blank into the chuck jaws. Note how the jaw contacts the wood all along the gripping edge. This is because the blank is the correct size for the jaws and reduces marking the blank.

True the face surface.

Mark 1/3rd down the blank and part off using a 2mm parting tool. Keep the cut straight. If required stop the lathe and complete parting with a slim pull saw.

Remove the remaining blank and mount the second blank. Turn a slight hollow and leave a flat edge about 5-8mm wide on the face.

True up the side surface ensuring it is at 90 degrees to the flat edge you created previously. Abrade these two surfaces to a finish then mark 10mm along the side from the edge.

Part off the marked piece at the 10mm mark.

Re-mount the larger of the two original pieces. Measure the diameter of the parted off piece from the 2nd blank and transfer this dimension to the face of the mounted piece.

With a small parting and beading tool cut a recess 4-5mm deep to the transferred dimension.

Using a spindle gouge with a long grind remove the waste to bellow the depth of the recess.

Leave a flat ledge (90 degrees to the wall) at the base of the cut and ensure beyond this flat or slightly hollowed. Test fit the disc cut from blank B. Apply CA glue around inner wall and flat.

Align the grain between the pieces and knock the disc in with the dished surface innermost. Apply CA activator.

Using the small parting and beading tool cut in parallel with the lathe bed, leaving a wall of 5mm on the disc

Cut through until the cut enters the wood of blank A. Look for a clean glue joint. If required take further light passes until the joint is clean and true

Hollow out the interior using a spindle gouge cutting from centre outwards towards the wall of the box.

Check the depth you are hollowing. Make the interior flat leaving a 5-8mm base thickness. A 3/8” parting and beading tool can be used to flat the interior base

Abrade and seal the interior.

Apply oil or wax as preferred.

Mount the parted off section from blank A. Measure the glued in tenon on part one of blank A and transfer this dimension to the face surface of part two.

Using the small parting and beading tool cut a recess to take the tenon on part one.

Remove central waste with the spindle gouge as before.

Make the interior face flat and abrade to a finish. Do not abrade the wall of recess...you want the lid to be a tight fit at this stage. Seal and finish the surface. A decorative feature can be added if required.

Oil or wax.

Remount part one and push the lid into the tenon. If the fit is tight enough you can clean up the lid top surface just on the friction fit. If loose wrap with masking tape to secure and turn lid flat.

Abrade the side and face surfaces to a finish. Apply sealer. 2-3 coats

Apply oil or wax finish. Buff.

Remove lid and remount base section on the tenon. Apply light grip to avoid marking the tenon. (NB: diameter of tenon is very close to perfect size for jaws). Clean up base and side edge. Make the base slightly concave

Abrade base and side edge. Seal and finish as before.