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The Editors Mailbox

This mitered box is perfect for...what?

Stephen Scott, associate editor

1 user recommends

I'm happy with the way the miters came together for this box. A pair of tablesaw sleds - one for the miters, another for the key slots - helped me cut the joinery. And yes - I only cut the keys into one corner.

Steve Scott

This surface needs some cleaning up, and the glue line seems slightly heavy, but I'm encouraged by the results.

Steve Scott

I'm happy with the way the miters came together for this box. A pair of tablesaw sleds - one for the miters, another for the key slots - helped me cut the joinery. And yes - I only cut the keys into one corner.

Photo: Steve Scott

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Need your help figuring out to do with this small box, which I made from scrap pine in my shop last week. It has no lid, and the interior dimensions are 4 1/4 in. by 1 7/8 in. by 2 3/8 in. deep. This make it useful for...what exactly? I thought it might make a nice tabletop caddy for small salt and pepper shakers, but I'm not completely sold on that idea, and I'm open to suggestions. So please fire away.

I didn't really have a use in mind when I made the box. I just wanted to practice my miters for the flag case that I wrote about recently. To help make sure the mitered ends are cut squarely, I made a dedicated miter sled for my tablesaw like the one recommended by Gary Rogowski in issue #162. It made a huge difference for me in getting miters that mate fully over their entire length.

I also experimented with using keys from the same stock, for a low-contrast look. I want to use a keyed miter at the top of the flag case, but I don't want it to be too showy. I'm afraid the pine-on-pine look turned out a little too low-contrast, though.

I also discovered, the hard way, that it's best to plane away from the corners when trimming those keys flush. Otherwise they tend to chip out a bit at the very corners. That's something I'd have known ahead of time if I'd read Rogowski a little more closely.

Anyway, soon enough I'll stop practicing and find some nice cherry to make that case. Until then, thanks for reading!

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Comments (2)

sscott writes: Pascal,

I think you might be onto something there. It's funny, because I've been tossing pens into it while it sits here on my desk, but they don't know whether to lie down or stand up, and the whole affair winds up looking a little sloppy. Your idea is a touch of class - thanks!

Posted: 8:13 am on April 21st

pluttger writes: He Steven,

Got a solution for you... Take a piece of ebony or other dark wood you have lying around, make a couple of slanted (3%- 5%) holes in it with a slight taper coinciding with your nicest pens (or turn a couple from the same wood) and you have a piece that will be discussed each time someone comes into your office... Did you make that will be the most asked question and it wil remind you of your labours outside of you editors office or cubicle.

Cheerio..

Pascal
Posted: 1:35 pm on April 20th

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