03 How to Make a Keepsake box from Wenge and Birdseye Maple

Get plans for this project here:
kingsfinewoodw...
I made this keepsake box for my oldest daughter for Christmas.
I bought the lumber from one of my local hardwood dealers, The Frank Paxton Lumber Company, and I bought the SOSS hidden hinges at Rockler.
I used Wenge (pronounced WHEN-ghay), and Birds-eye Maple for the project.
The box is created with through dovetail joinery. (I used a Porter Cable Dovetail Jig for this). And I think it is built strong enough to last more than a lifetime and become an heirloom woodworking piece.
I used my chop saw, jointer, planer, table saw, bandsaw, dovetail jig, and router table as the primary tools for this job.
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[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Share pictures of your work & get help if needed. Join our King’s Fine Woodworking Community Page. Woodworkers helping other woodworkers. Share advice, get project ideas. Free tips. Insider information. Get the best deals on lumber & tools. m.facebook.com/groups/134828903893994

[@donnalmich8398]

What a BEAUTIFUL treasure chest, for your daughter!!! YOU ARE ONE “GREAT” DAD!!! SHE WILL HAVE THIS FOREVER!!! How considerate & thoughtful of you!! 💕♥️💕👍👏🏻

[@pcubiotti]

Your work is impeccable. Just starting out and after attempting my first box, it became evident how much craftsmanship is involved in your box.

[@thebobloblawshow8832]

Beautiful job.

[@mahajanm3368]

Excellent sir really looks beautiful but very fine work finishing .👍👏👏👏👏

[@Malba1776]

Thanx for another great video n project ideas

[@derekdodson5623]

Another beautiful piece, James. Thanks

[@lonewolffarms8313]

Your skills inspire me...i am now on a quest to create boxes built like you and your family makes. They are truly built with care and love. And it shows in the end product. THANK YOU

[@jayalford9727]

Absolutely gorgeous!

[@leedsutd3413]

You certainly are a wood wizard. beautiful craftsmanship.

[@richardshaw3094]

I am a new subscriber and really enjoy your videos. I would have loved to see a video of your daughters reactions to such a beautiful gift

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Richard, thank you for subscribing! This past Christmas I gave each of my 5 daughters a gift that I built. One was this, another was a Pirate's Chest, also on KZbin. And another was Thor's Hammer as a Woodworking mallet. That too is here. The other two I filmed building but I didn't edit the video yet. As for their reactions, they were all very happy, and so I was overjoyed. But I never thought to film me giving them their gifts.

[@dennisfahlstrom1257]

Beautiful project James. I have to say I made one a bit like it 2 years ago out of maple and walnut. I also used my bandsaw (a 21” Grizzly) to cut off the top and had the misfortune of some blade drift. It wasn’t too serious but still took an hour or so to fix. My next box I used the table saw with a 60 tooth blade without any issues. I enjoy your work and your attention to fine detail.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Dennis. Thank you!

[@richarddortch6122]

Second Video, Second Success! You've earned another subscriber. Keep Em' Coming!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you! That is very kind.

[@illmsg77]

very impressive

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

illmsg77, thank you very much.

[@jamescampbell7780]

Beautiful!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi James. Thank you very much. ~James

[@Jakemniss]

Great work!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

[@rhihodag9873]

I make a good number of jewelry boxes and have picked up some very good tips from your vids. Thank you! I really like the SOSS hinges which you used in this project. Gonna give them a try. You should list these on your Amazon affiliate page. I didn't see them.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thanks! And I will go put them. Thank you!

[@djalilesfahani6825]

Thank you JAMES

[@fred4513]

love the big sanding pad! and you don't have to keep changing the paper on the drum, just flip it over!!!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Haha, yes. It really helped to get the box top and body perfectly flat. And now I use that big block all the time.

[@fred4513]

gonna make me one!

[@Lumens1]

It looks like it's time for me to make that big sanding pad.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

I think you'll like it! I actually use it fairly often.

[@bbentley1964]

Very instructive video. One question, what king of chain mechanism did you use to support the lid when opened?

[@mmgoods1]

Are you climb cutting the rabbet on the bottom?

[@danielzemel5896]

I very much enjoy your videos. i have some general questions about wood movement. 1: when you glue the stiles and rails for the top of this box, doesn't the glue end up gluing the panel in place, also. this question has nothing to do with you in particular. everybody does it this way. i finally decided to ask someone. 2. assuming you hadn't used dove tail joints and that the sides of this box weren't so thick, how would you have attached the bottom. thank you, again.

[@coastalcreekwoodworks8795]

Beautiful work..thank you for posting this video. What kind of connectors did you use from the box to the lid with the chain?

[@kingblue71]

Can you please tell me the dimensions of the keepsake box? Im trying to make one for a dear friend of mine.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

I have plans that will be on the website in about a day. kingsfinewoodworking.com Thank you ~James

[@djalilesfahani6825]

Hi, you're very very professional and what you do is perfect . I wish one day I would be something like you .that's my gol . Please would you tell me where did you get those two wheels for router table face .it's really nice and do the jub professionally .Thanks

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hello, Those are called the Jessem Clear Cut Stock guides, and they work great. Here is a link to where I bought them: amzn.to/2qUrzzQ

[@SendItBilly]

How do you like that Jessel table?

[@varbergessamo6045]

Beautiful box! Where did you buy the hinges? Cant find anything like them..

[@StMoritzGuitars]

Just subscribed this evening. Love watching your techniques and you explain it very well. One thing I did notice and question. Wouldn't it be easier to first plane the entire length of the broad before you start cutting it ? Running short piece through the surface planner has a greater risk of getting snipe.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Lou! Thank you. And you are absolutely right. If you don't have the snipe dialed out of your planer, (which took me years to figure out), it is always best to plane full length boards and the cut what you need to avoid the snipe at the ends. And truth is, no matter how good your setup, you'll still get some once in a while.

[@barstad-9591]

These woods make a wonderful contrast. That’s one of the things I struggle with. What brand of sheet sandpaper do you use? Freud/Diablo, same as your discs? And the panel router bit, is that Porter Cable? Man, those Soss hinges are great, but very expensive!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Barbara, thank you! These are the sheet sandpapers that I use exclusively. 100 grit SandBlaster Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets amzn.to/2w1RPc9 150 grit SandBlaster Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets amzn.to/2xrAZmu 220 grit SandBlaster Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets amzn.to/2xrB5KS 320 grit SandBlaster Ultra Flexible Sanding Sheets amzn.to/2wlV8gW Style-Line Soft-Sander 4-1/2”, set of 6 profiles amzn.to/2g4USfK I talk a lot about them and their benefits in this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXayh36jnZ6XfLs This is the exact raised panel bit that I used, it is a freud. amzn.to/2yJSguw I also love the Soss hinges and you are right, they are expensive. Thank you for watching and commenting. ~James

[@nigelmtb]

Would it be possible to just add hinges to the lid without gluing (glueing?) on and cutting off? No band saw available 😣

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Yes. You sure can.

[@kaba306]

Отличная работа? Привет из России

[@fbtool]

Hi James, I have just spent 3 hours watching your videos. I have found them extremely helpful, even down to the proper pronunciation of Wenge. I have used it before, but have been saying it wrong! What glue are you using? I have noticed you seem to have a longer "open" time than the Titebond II that I use.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hello and thank you! I use Titebond III. The open time is good, but not great. One of the other reasons I use a bunch of glue, is that if it is thicker, it stays wet longer, and extends the open time a bit.

[@jmakes3745]

Amazing amazing job :) you've improved so much with the video and editing quality in such a short space of time! I've always wondered if you can do through dovetails with that type of jig, because i only ever see people doing blind, but you can- turned out really nice for you! Is there any chance you would do a video on the setup process of the jig and cutting through dovetails?

[@jmakes3745]

Also do you have a name or link for the things that apply pressure on the router?

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you for the great compliment. I am trying hard and spending a lot of time learning it, haha. Woodworking is easy, I've been woodworking for a little over 30 years, but this video business is not as easy. I would be happy to make a video of setting up the dovetail jig and do some closeup video & step by step of how to make a through dovetail. It is surprisingly easy to get a perfect through dovetail joint once you know your way around the jig.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Not quite sure what you are talking about that applies pressure to the router. Are you talking about the clamping system on the jig that holds the board in place?

[@jmakes3745]

Yeh i would find a step by step on the jig really helpful, i got a jig for Christmas but have been a bit skeptical/nervous about getting it set up and if you can do through dovetails. If you keep practicing and making videos you'll keep improving, as i said you seem to have already learnt a lot in just a couple of videos. I think i already mentioned this but the key is 'less is more' you only need a tiny proportion of the video you think you need, e.g. on this video you could of cut out sanding the end since you already had the side on tape.

[@jmakes3745]

I'm talking about the ones at 4:55 - they look like rubber bearings - not seen anybody use anything like them, normally just see feather boards

[@ernieirwin252]

Aside from the materials how does this video differ from the Pataki video

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

What is the pataki video? If you send me a link, I can look at it and let you know.

[@albertbranca4644]

I ruyh

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

ok

[@michaelbradford4444]

Limited skills, unimpressed.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Understood. With a heavy heart and a furrowed brow, I will now hang up my woodworking apron for good. Thank you for letting me down so easy. ❤️

[@michaelbradford4444]

If you could viewers would pay to comment , it's all about money on this channel . The content is good , it's the greed that triggers my disdain.

[@davidcorliss]

@@michaelbradford4444 who pissed in your wheaties this morning?

[@garywithers7547]

Could we see some of your work and see how impressive you are???

[@smayjr72]

I went to Michael's channel to check out his content, it's definitely limited and unimpressive. 🤷🏼