airman1

Very cool design and execution. How are the hinges tightened so they stay in position? Care to share any of the other construction details?

Beautiful box. I love Cocobolo and oil-based finishes; I don't usually use them together, though. I don't know what a neutral oil is unless you're referring to the color but as Cocobolo is true rosewood (a species of dalbergia), oil finishes won't properly cure unless the wood is sealed with shellac or other sanding sealer first. What method was used here?

I too have used PVC pipe as a steam chamber and would caution anyone who plans to do so that PVC gets quite soft at normal steam temperatures. The first time I used PVC for this the pipe was only 4 feet long and was supported in the middle yet both ends sagged within minutes of applying steam and the pipe also collapsed to an oval cross section. I also used a threaded pipe cap to seal the end (with a vent hole in it and using Teflon tape to minimize sticking) and when the pipe changed shape from the heat the first time the cap fell off. The chamber worked OK otherwise but plan for these problems and provide adequate support for the pipe.

I'm with DDolphin. With apologies for being a glutton, I'd love it all: a new dedicated year-round shop, the tools I need, the best materials and the time to make them what they want to be. If I had to pick one, it would be more time.