Seeing this jewelry box featured in the September/October 2021 Fine Woodworking article I thought, "I have to make that!" And, It will make a great Christmas present for my hard-to-buy-for wife.
Fine Woodworking subscription: $99/year
The original plans called for the case and veneer substrate to be made out of walnut. Preferring to work with mahogany, I substituted mahogany for the walnut, but otherwise stuck to the plan.
5.2 BF mahogany at 10.65/BF = $55.38
As an homage to French Art Deco, amboyna veneer with holly and kingwood cross-banding was used on the front panel. Small drawer pulls from Horton Brasses complete the look.
Amboyna veneer w/shipping: $42.25
Quartersawn mahogany veneer (backing): $22.96
3/8" Kingwood banding: $29.56
Knobs: $42.20
Armed with several YouTube videos and how-to articles under my belt, I attempted my first practice veneering and banding project(s).
Vacuum press kit and vacuum bag: $403
They all ended up in the burn can. My veneering was not stealer, and my attempt to combine the banding with the veneer came out awful.
Not detoured, I signed up for "Veneering for Furniture Makers" at the Wood and Shop Traditional Woodworking School (https://woodandshop.com/) in Earlysville, VA. Instructor, Dave Heller (hellerandhellerfurniture.com/ put us to work in the class while imparting information learned from experience. A lot of information, but not a firehose of information.
Class fee: $325
Three nights hotel w/dog: $650
Meals: $237
Of course, when I got home I had to order some more tools suggested by Dave.
Multi-roll tape dispenser: $41.63
Cutting gauge: $63.52
More chisels and gouges: $109
BTW - I am hoping to get Dave as a guest instructor at Shop Class in June 2025. Stay tuned.
Finally, I got an acceptable front panel. Acceptable, but not perfect - let's move on.
The next step turned out to be the easiest, but scary. The veneered and banded panel, after taking such care to make, must be ripped into three drawer fronts. From what I learned from Dave and reading about veneer, this design has a flaw. Veneer does not like exposed edges. I painter's taped the saw line for protection.
Next the drawers need dovetail joints. Six through dovetails at the back, and 6 half-blind dovetails cut into the freshly cut drawer fronts - another chance to mess up the veneered panel. Dovetails were not my forte, and the joinery class I took at Shop Class is getting rather stale. I say "were" because after this project I have developed more confidence.
Again, I returned to YouTube. There are many ways to cut dovetails, and plenty of experts on YouTube. I like The Wood Whisperer's videos, mainly because Mark's voice is easy to listen to. Throughout the video on cutting half-blind dovetails, he repeats, "always saw on in the waste area inside the scribe line." Sage advice for dovetails.
The last step before assembly is to cut dados for the drawer bottoms. To keep the orientation correct and avoid confusion, I stamp a corresponding number on the top edges of the drawer sides. Even with markings, I managed to cut the dado on the wrong side of one of the drawer backs. Thus - more dovetail cutting experience!
The drawer bottoms have stick on felt to complete the look and functionality.
Stick on black felt: $18
Merry Christmas, honey!
Total: $2096.25
I know what you mean. I have ended up buying a lot of tools for one off projects so I guess you can call me a tool nut.
Phil Stallings
Oh that is “priceless!” All too often my beloved bride will say “Oh! I like that.” And like an idiot who never learns, I reply “I can make that!” Famous last words…. Merry Christmas everyone.
-Brian
Dublin, OH