Small Boxes 101 (part 1)

Let's get started making some small boxes!

These will be boxes suitable for toothpicks, matches, or whatever of similar size.  I'll be using blanks 1 1/2" x 2 1/2" because I happened to have a lot of blanks that size on hand.

I start by drilling as many tops and bottoms as I need.  I like 7/8" for the bottoms and 1" for the tops.  That allows me to cut the bottoms with a tenon or shoulder to fit snugly into the 1" top while leaving the wall 1/16" thick.











Next I mount one of my 7/8" jamb chuck fixtures and a drilled bottom blank using the tailstock for safety.  (See more about the fixtures in my earlier post at  http://www.rickurbanwoodturner.blogspot.com/2012/01/tools-for-small-boxes.html ).


Then I shape the bottom, cut to mark where the waste block will be parted (cut) from the top, and cut a tenon so the bottom can be held in the chuck jaws.  I repeat this for the rest of the bottom blanks.






Next time we'll do the tops and almost finish the boxes.