Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
Perfect fit lidded boxes...
Brian Gray in Sandusky, OH
>I've been turning lidded boxes lately ala Raffan's book.
I've been wondering if I should wait a couple of days or even longer before making the final adjustments on the lid fitting.
I've noticed that on the lathe, and immediately after turning, my lids fit perfectly....nice suction fit. Exactly what I'm after.
Then after time, they generally loosen up a bit.
Advise?
Re: Perfect fit lidded boxes...
Barry Irby
>The current issue of the AAW magazine has an article on fitting lids on boxes. They advise among other things doing the heavy hollowing on the lid and box and waiting a few days to cut the final join.
Makes sense to me. Even if your wood is dry and well seasoned, you are both inducing stress and relieving stress. There will be some adjustments even if they are slight.
I have not made that many boxes, but if I find a suitable piece of wood perhaps as an off cut, I turn it to a cylinder, cut dovetails for the chuck on the top and bottom, cut the top and bottom apart, and rough hollow it, Then I tape them top to bottom and throw them into a bag for later. It they are green I let them dry a year or longer.
Re: Perfect fit lidded boxes...
Mike Schwing from Md.
>I'm no box making expert. I've had similar experiences, they fit great on the lathe and later on don't fit so well, but sometimes months after that they're tight again. I suspect heat generated from turning, sanding, and lighting expands the wood and when it cools it contracts and the fit gets sloppy.
A very cool trick is to lightly moisten the mated surfaces of a box that has gone sloppy. The wood expands and the joint usually returns to a nice fit, and stays that way, too!
I figure that wood is never, ever, REALLY dry. It'll stop losing moisture in one season, but gain it in another. The environment it was turned in will likely be different than the one it lives in later on. Too many variables to worry about. Not everyone likes a tight fitting lid, either. My wife doesn't like to have to hold both the bottom and top of a box to open it, she just wants to lift the lid off. That kinds of fit I'm good at producing!
Re: Perfect fit lidded boxes...
John Lucas
>Brian
I find that wood moves with the seasons and box lids fit differently from season to season. If it's a small box turned end grain they fit better and stay that way. If it's turned side grain you'll always have trouble.
I make my big boxes with a loose fit lid. The customer should be able to remove the lid with one hand. Small round or tube shaped boxes I make with a fit that requires two hands to open. Boxes with a lid that fits into the top (rather than the same size as the box) I like a one hand lift lid.
small boxes like needle cases and toothpick holders have a snap fit lid. John
Re: Perfect fit lidded boxes...
Eduardo Sarmiento Hall-Lima Peru
>well I do put the lid on the box real tigth and let it sit for a while and if it moves Ill return the fitting in the box not the lid until it fits tigth again
Another thought
Barry Irby
>I talked to a guy who sells a lot of boxes at shows. He purposefully makes them a little loose. Says that if you have the classic Raffan suction fit, the customer picks the box up by the lid or finial and about half way up, the bottom falls off. The customer is embarrassed even if no damage is done and leaves without buying anything. Never a good idea to embarrass the customers.
