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Short Summary
Main recommendation: Build a sliding-lid box by cutting the box apart like a band saw box, then routing a dovetail-shaped groove into the sides so a matching dovetail lid slides in. The speaker's finished example became a crochet hook holder, and he notes that the band saw, router, or handsaw could replace the scroll saw for the center cut.
Key Points
- The construction method is borrowed from a band saw box: cut off one side to become the lid, cut out the center, and glue the back back on.
- The "key technique" is the dovetail on the sides, which creates the slide-in channel for the lid.
- The speaker avoided the band saw for the center cut to prevent extra glue joints that could leave the box out of square, though he says he's not sure it's that important, but still leans toward avoiding extra glue joints.
- Tool flexibility: the speaker says the band saw, a straight router bit, or even a handsaw could be used in place of the scroll saw, and he originally planned to use a straight router bit for the center cut but found his router bit wasn't deep enough for the box he wanted, though in retrospect he realized it could have worked.
- Mishap: a loose dovetail bit in the router chuck caused uneven cuts, so he re-cut the dovetails, which shortened the box and changed it into a crochet hook holder.
Details Worth Noting
- Concrete instructions:
- Cut the box apart like a band saw box: cut off a thin bottom piece to become the sliding lid, then cut out the center section.
- Sand the inside of the bottom piece before gluing it back on, since sandpaper is hard to use once attached.
- Set a dovetail bit in the router table so its depth is just below the lid's thickness, then route the top part of the box to create the dovetail channel.
- Make the reverse dovetail cut on the lid, leaving a small lip so it runs straight and does not fall back, then trim the lip off and sand the parts even so the lid fits.
- Round over all edges with a round-over bit, then finish with a few coats of lacquer.
- Check the wood's appearance before finishing by rubbing it with Napa oil or mineral spirits; water is an option but may raise the grain.
- The wood was mahogany-like, given by Larry Clinton, and the speaker described it as three or four times heavier than pine.
- Aging and sanding showed the wood's color; a sanded sample looked much more beautiful than the raw piece.
- The speaker's router bit was loose in the chuck, which he said caused cuts of varying depth; he was lucky the bit did not fly off and wore safety glasses.
Bottom Line
The sliding-lid box is a flexible project: the dovetail channel is the essential step, and the speaker shows that many tools can handle the other cuts, provided the router bit is securely fastened.
