Alder Chisel Tray
Welcome! / Forums / Project Series / Dovetail Boxes / Alder Chisel Tray
- This topic has 9 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 10 years, 8 months ago by David Gill.
-
AuthorPosts
-
6 August 2013 at 8:01 pm #16275
Hello All,
First attempt at a whole project with hand cut dovetails, I’ve done practice joints in the past, though none recently. The wood is Red Alder, which is local to me and is a real treat to work with hand tools, as well as being inexpensive. Finishing schedule was 1 coat of Boiled Linseed Oil mixed with Turpentine to warm things up a bit, 3 coats of 1 pound cut shellac which didn’t give me the finish I wanted so I topcoated with a coat of 2 pound cut, and then waxed and buffed. 3 of the joints came out well with only minimal gaps that were easily hidden by adding a bit of glue and then sanding over. In the interests of full disclosure I’ve also included a picture of the worst joint, shown with the incorrect knife line on the tail 🙂
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.6 August 2013 at 9:07 pm #16287nice joints Andy colour looks great we learn from our mistakes in sure you have now if thats as bad as it gets you will do great in the future well done
6 August 2013 at 9:40 pm #16288Very nice Andy. You must have quite a few practice dovetails in the bin because those came out great.
John6 August 2013 at 9:41 pm #16289Nice work, Andy!
I think it’s good to keep the joints you’re not completely happy with – you can see your progress over time. I gave my mother-in-law a dovetailed box last Christmas and (as is usual) pointed out a couple of joints I wasn’t entirely happy with. She said she liked that it wasn’t perfect because she’ll be able to see the progress next year when I make her another. I hadn’t even thought about it that way!
George.
7 August 2013 at 2:07 am #16291Nice job Andy! Looks really good. I like the color, is that the natural color of the wood? Or did your finish have any dies or stains in it?
7 August 2013 at 4:23 am #16299@crance (Steve):
No stains. It has a slight natural reddish hue to it, but the Boiled Linseed Oil is what gives it the warm tone. Alder is a bit pale without it, it’s called poor man’s cherry so that might give you some idea. I’m really taking a liking to Alder…it’s generally straight grained, and just slightly harder and heavier than pine. I plan to make my toolbox from it. The only draw back that I’ve found so far is that finding wide widths is difficult, as it’s a fairly slim tree compared to many furniture woods.
http://www.wood-database.com/lumber-identification/hardwoods/red-alder/
7 August 2013 at 4:05 pm #16310Andy that turned out really nice, I like the color as well. I wouldn’t be disappointed at all you did a fine job. I wish I had access to some different woods where I live. The Borg pine ( mystery wood ) or poplar is what I can get here locally where I live.
Steve
7 August 2013 at 5:17 pm #16319Nice job Andy.
LOve the colour a few more boxes and those tails will be spot on. 😉7 August 2013 at 7:10 pm #16325Andy
Nice Box
Nice Joints
Nice FinishWell Done, setting a high standard for you first go
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.