Travel box

I’m going to be travelling east in a week to take a carving class from Peter Follansbee!  It was pretty much a spur of the moment thing, and my family is coming with to visit some of the sites and hit New York for a day on the way back.  I needed to take some of my tools with me so I thought I’d whip together a box.  And of course I can’t NOT carve it… especially if I’m going to a carving class.  Gotta show off ya know.

Box-Carved-CTTrip3

Carved Travel Box

The box is made from Poplar because that’s what I had in the shop at the time.  I wish I’d gotten some Alder or Walnut but I didn’t have the money handy or the time.  Luckily this was some harder Poplar that usual, and was consistent for the most part.   It was also a nice wide board, so I was able to carve the top which I don’t typically do.

Top design for the Travel.

Top design for the Travel Box.

Carved box sides for the Travel Box.

Carved box sides for the Travel Box.

For the front and back panels, I used S-Scrolls which I consider to be the swiss army knife of designs, and the sides were variations on the interlaced circles motif.  Typically a box of the period would only have the front, and maybe the sides carved but I like to practice layout and carving so I did all surfaces.

The Travel Box - Packed.

The Travel Box – Packed.

The tools!

The tools!

I designed the size of the box to fit in my big suitcase, and to fit my tool rolls full of chisels.

I was able to cram the following in the box:

  • 18 carving chisels
  • 1/4″, 1/2″, 3/4″, 1″, 1 1/2″ bench chisels
  • 5/16″ Mortise Chisel
  • 2 carving mallets
  • 3 compass
  • Awl
  • Marking knife
  • 2 marking gauges
  • metal hammer
  • decorative punches (in the mint tin)
  • 2 squares
  • Folding rules
  • Pens/Pencils
  • Stropping block
  • Block Plane
  • Carving Brush

I’m going to have borrow some tools when I get there, but I should be ok.  The whole kit weighs 27 lbs.

I’m pleased with it, especially the top design because that’s a new layout for me.  The central design is based on a Thomas Dennis chest panel, and the outside edges I lifted from another panel of the period.  My only complaint is the wood, with that awful coloring. I can’t use my normal Shellac top coat without adjusting the color or bleaching the wood.  Which will have to wait till I get back.

Badger

One Comment

  1. Paul Cuenin November 13, 2014

    Nice work. I love the top. What are you plans for finishing?

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