Mini-Trunk

Black Walnut and Quartersawn White Oak

December 2011

I built this little "mini-trunk" for the lady I fell head over heals for 21 years ago!  Initially, my thought was for her to use it for cosmetics and such.  However, upon seeing the box she decided she'd use it for sewing supplies.

Resawing a couple slices out of a nice piece of walnut I've had sitting around for a few years....

Trying out my new box joint jig on my router table....

Got the walnut sides joined to the quartersawn white oak ends...

Joints came out acceptable for my first attempt (more below)...

Complete box assembly...

Block sanding with some good Mexican brew...

Box stained up...

Hardware and handle installed...

Lift out tray in the top...

Satin liner "sub-countracted" to a friend....

Top tray stained....

A couple close ups...

Things I'm happy with:

• I really like the contrast between the quartersawn oak with the nice medullary rays and the nice grainy piece of black walnut.  This is especially prounounced on most of the box finger joints.  

• I like the overall look of a miniature steamer trunk that resulted from the brass corner guards, etc.

Things I need to improve on:

• Those box joints are anything but a 'gimme'.  I have heard them referred to as "elegantly simple."  I'm not really sure where the "simple" part comes in.  Once I get my jig dialed in though I will be able to fine tune them so I find the happy medium between 'so loose they have visible gaps' and 'so tight you break stuff trying to force it together', which is where I ended up here.

• Next time, I'll try to put the freakin' hinges on right side up.  OOPS.

All in all, another fun project that left my skills a tad improved.

Random woodgrain for page background - Quartersawn White Oak

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