Square Box w/ Finial
This for intermediate skill level
First and foremost, all P.P.E. (Personal Protection Equipment), is checked to be in perfect working order. The centres are located by drawing diagonal lines.
The square blanks are to be held on a screw chuck.
A piece of tape on the drill bit as a depth gauge helps ensure the correct depth.
The dividers are used to mark the foot, in
this case with the piece rotating. Only the left side of the callipers touches the wood.
The tailstock is brought into place and gives added security to the holding of the work. Wearing full PPE, gradually increase the speed is to a safe, suitable working speed.
Taking very light passes across the wood the shape is gradually worked and the shape of the tenon established.
The bowl gouge is used cutting in both directions ensuring the cleanest cuts.
The curve under the rim is refined using a 25mm round-nose scraper.
The tailstock is removed and the security of the piece is checked on the screw chuck before continuing.
With the box stationary, a piece of round dowel with sandpaper wrapped around it – slightly smaller than the curve of the rim
With the outside sanded the centre of the box is removed with a bowl gouge.
The interior is sanded with a 50mm sanding arbour, which has a secondary flexible soft pad fitted.
The second piece which was to be the proposed lid, is turned and fitted to the chuck A tenon is created to accept the base of the box and the foot is trued up with a spindle gouge. The area of the foot is now sanded through the grits to the desired finish.
The distance is measured from the top of the box to the bottom of the lid, and a guideline is marked for reference of the shape.
The lid is secured on the screw chuck as the body of the box was, with the tailstock in place for security, Safety is first and foremost.
The tenon is marked and formed to fit the chuck.
The shaping of the underside of the lid can now be completed
Shaping of the outer area is completed as much as possible before the piece is turned around to finish the top. A 10mm spindle gouge allows the tip of the tool
to get into the transition area between the bead and flat area of the lid.
Using a jam chuck made from a scrap piece of wood, the lid is held with friction supported by the tailstock. The shape is then refined and sanded. A small hole is drilled to accept the finial.
To create the finial a piece of 50mm stock was secured in the chuck and turned with a spindle gouge.