How to Turn a Pill Box

Mike demonstrates how to turn a pill box from a small scrap of wood. woodturning a pillbox is an easy project because the hollowing is done by drilling the lid and the bottom. See a newer, crisper video on this topic here • Turn a Pocket Pill Box
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More resources on my website at mikepeacewoodturning.com/ including a handout on this project.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

See my newer, shorter, crisper video on turning a pill box here kzbin.info/www/bejne/a2aon5yfg8lni6c

[@kenwestlake7461]

Thanks Mike for showing us all the steps to building these pill boxes.I am a new turner and I am really enjoying your channel thanks again

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad you like them! I did a hands on workshop at my club today on pill boxes, a fun project.

[@arasul]

It was a pleasure to watch you turn that beautiful pill box. I purchased a mini bench top lathe only weeks ago and now am inspired to undertake a similar project. The video itself is short, crisp, no-nonsence, no fluff and to the point and that is what viewers desire. Thank you very much indeed.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the feedback. Have fun!

[@paintilludrop]

Newbie 3/24 trying in class today..

[@MrVillafum]

Hi Mike, I've been watching your videos for years and having this one saved as a favorite, I decided to rewatch it. With that said, if you're ever looking for one to re-edit, this would be a great one. The last few minutes of this video were just a side view of you filmed too far away to see any of the important final cuts and details. Either way, it's still one of my favs... Thanks, V

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the specific feedback. I was thinking about redoing this one so will put it on my list. I went back and looked at it and realize that I did a redo two years ago and the link is in a pinned comment and in the show notes.

[@WYOMINGWOODTURNER]

Mike, thought I would do a little research on what is out there for pill boxes. This one came up in a search. I might just do my next video on a pill box type container and at the same time take some photos showing the process. I need some to send to Josh F. I need to go back and see what I have for this topic...... Sam

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I sent you a picture of a different style.

[@milesnoell2137]

I have noticed the way people always seem to put a hand on the Jacobs chuck when drilling and never knew why. I thought it was to steady the bit or something, but that explanation never made much sense. Now I finally know that it's to ensure that the bit and chuck don't work loose! (and just in time since my first Jacobs chuck is being shipped and should come any time now.)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Knowing why keeps you safe. Thanks for sharing.

[@randyrockwell6136]

Great piece Mike! I lost my wife in February and I have her rings that I will be giving to our daughter. I think I’m going to have a go at my first box and hopefully be able to make something worthy of the contents 😞🥰. Thank you for the inspiration Mike 🇨🇱🤠

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sosorry about your wife. 😢

[@shellyrappaport3864]

Thumbs up. First time viewer. My grandson is a beginner and he'll learn a bunch from you. Thank you.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Shelly Rappaport Thanks, Shelly. I hope so.

[@forrestlee59]

Hah, every time I go to research a project, there you are. Thanks for lighting the way. Also, I've noticed in several of your videos that when the camera speeds up you start speaking in unknown tongues. That's a gift :)

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks. I understand it is only a gift if someone can translate.

[@arturoverde3807]

Nice little project video,but one thing you should note- most of us guys over here in Spain work to the metric system-so when a diagram is displayed give us a little thought lol. Keep those videos coming. Many thanks Mike.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Will do. Thanks for that feedback.

[@michaelkoreen1591]

mike you are a great teacher thanks

[@IanMaude]

great simple project Mike with lots of possibilities :) Many thanks from a novice woodturner. I will have a go at this!

[@stanmerrell5390]

another great and informative project and training session..thanks Mike

[@tommyschutz9008]

Hey Mike, Tommy here. I had written you earlier about a toothpick holder, and realized it was a pill box you had talked about

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Try doing a Google search on the following to see a video. I am using a borrowed Mac and can't find the URL to paste here: FEWS Toothpick Holder Also, I mention changing the dimensions for making a tooth pick holder version of the pill box. Personally I don't care for the kind that lifts up the tooth picks. I have simply turned small boxes with a lid where the toothpicks stick up past the tenon with a deep lid.

[@hawkwind23]

Nice project Mike ! And another great tutorial for us new comers to wood turning. Thanks for sharing .all the best Bram

[@jessetutterrow4320]

thanks for the sketch it helps less experienced turners. I wish more woodturning videos included them.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that feedback. I am with you on that.

[@robinmarwick1982]

Thanks Mike good video picked up a lot of useful tips

[@ronh9384]

Mike at 5:36 your are talking about the possibility of getting a hot ember and it causing a possible fire..... I’m sure several of you have drilled a pen blank before and had it started smoking then maybe Crack on you. It is Very frustrating!!!! Thanks in advance for your videos and tips you or others may provide! Ron

[@tomcanada3422]

Nice video Mike good use for scrap pieces

[@muziqjazz]

Hi M. Mike. Very nice project with a lot of possibility. I just found what to do with my buckets full of small pieces. Thanks a lot.

[@coltaylor5878]

Thank you Mike, lovely little fill in project great for the club's mornings workshop.Kind RegardsCol Taylor

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Col Taylor I am now facilitating Hands On Woodturning day for my club, the Chattahoochee Woodturners, so will probably add this project to our list as well.

[@chickenguru4]

Great project. I learned about holding the Jacobs chuck when pulling out the hard way. Luckily I wasn't hurt but sure came real close

[@andymilligan7525]

Nice project, love the music.

[@colinjenkins3654]

Great job made to look easy. Going to give those a shot.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

They are as easy as they look. Turn safe.

[@bradturbo44]

Very nice job all the best john.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks. Appreciate the feedback.

[@charlieodom191]

Nice project. Thanks for the video!!!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Quick and easy! Glad you liked it.

[@VinceBecker]

Très bon travail merci

[@Mauroiltornitore]

Great, Mike!!!

[@benjabens2058]

love the musik on 22.00

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks. Something available free from KZbin.

[@TravelerPro]

Thank you, Mike for such a simple and elegant solution to a recently acquired problem; plastic pill boxes are just depressingly unattractive. Problem solved. Blessings to you and yours, Chris

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You are so welcome! And I am sure you have friends with a similar need!

[@AnthonysBBQ]

The Tooth Brush is a great idea, thanks!

[@Crig-qm4mx]

Anthony Dowies Getting finger nails I thought I heard some night may be up there in the rye thought they were in the yard down or in the drain but I thought they would’ve got worse the way the other day where

[@diydarkmatter]

nice job brother . gives alot of room for imagination .

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

These are fun and relatively fast and easy.

[@diydarkmatter]

well mike i make alot of ferro rod handles for the bushcrafter friends i have most are hand carved with hand carving tools . but when i get a decent real lathe this would be a great way to make a handle they could put some fire tinder in and i bet they would love it . so thanks for the inspiration and guidance in what i hope to be a future project . if it turns out brother ill be sure to give you credit brother .

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Not being a Bushcrafter, I am guessing that is a fire starter?

[@diydarkmatter]

yeah it throws sparks it is basically a big piece of flint kinda .

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yeah, that is what I thought.

[@terry2346]

Nice project Mike. Sure am glad I made the 3 point tool. You seem to use it a lot! I am happy with how mine turned out. Almost got all three sides equal and sharp. Looking forward to using it! I was thinking about the little gouge that you made but wondered how you got the flute in it? Angle grinder?? Thanks

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Terry Ellis Corner of the grinding wheel.

[@adamwhiteson6866]

Very cool! Thanks. Could I use these to make up a set of taper mounted drills for my tailstock?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I am assuming you are talking about the wooden taper and not a pill box! Yes. The challenge is getting them absolutely dead center.

[@tommyschutz9008]

Mike very good demonstration. However I'm having some difficulty, and I was wondering if you could assist me in correcting this problem I have. I'm able to round the blank fine, I put a tenon on the end to put it in my pen jaws. Then, following your instructions, I drilled the lid, sanded, parted it off etc. Then I went to drill my second hole in base, but the problem was, the jaws, I guess didn't actually hold the blank secure enough, because the hole was actually somewhat untrue. The problem with that was, the actual flange, that I created for the lid, was very thin in some places, and I wanted it uniformly round. Will my oneway pen jaws not hold it secure enough? I know for a bowl, in using my regular size 2" chuck, once I have established my tenon correctly, it will not wobble or move. Is this not the case in using pen jaws. I like the idea you have with parting the lid off after drilling, sanding, decorating, etc., because I don't need to be concerned with a tenon on the the top of the lid, which I would usually have, as if I was turning a lidded box. I really like the project, I just want to do it the way you presented it, and rather not put a tenon on each end, then drill a hole in the top, drill a hole in the bottom and add the flange to fit the top, then get rid of the tenon. Using your method, I only need to get rid of the one tenon, at the base.Thanks,Tommy Schutz

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Two possible suggestions if the pen jaws don't seem to be holding the blank firmly enough. I wonder if putting the square in the jaws without rounding would give a stronger hold. The other suggestion is if you want to put in a round blank, is don't round it to final thickness before putting it into the chuck. Finish rounding after it is chucked up. This will insure you will drill on center. The other tip is to use a bit longer blank to have a little more wood in the pen jaws so you will have plenty of wood to clamp on. Let me know how it works out.

[@johnwallace4408]

Great turning! The details make the box. I have an older lathe that is belt drive . Been toying around with adding a potentiometer so that it would be variable speed. Your thoughts, please?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

By potentiometer you mean a variable frequency drive, an inverter tha converts the currency. Just adding a potentiometer won't work an an ac motor. It will cause several hundred dollars and may require a new motor. Lots of folks add these to older lathes.

[@tohall18]

Sorry for the stupid questions, but what kind of live center and what kind of drive center did you use? I like those!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+Todd Halleman The drive center is an cheap steb center sold by Woodcraft, Craft Supply and Penn State. I covered a review in Dec of the Nova live center in a video you can find on my channel. If I was buying another steb center, I would consider paying more for a Sorby steb center of better quality.

[@mikekelly7456]

Nice project, I would like to try it but I don't have a small chuck. Is there a way to make one with a glue block

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes, turn the cylinder round. Drill a matching hole perhaps 3/8" deep in the glue block.

[@terryvance9390]

Looks like a nice project. would've been better zoomed in tighter on the project, the angle was too wide, couldn't see the project very well.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that valuable feedback, Terry. I will review the field of vision more closely on the next one.

[@c.h.670]

No wonder it starts to Smoke when you drill at 1000 rpm..

[@kennelson7591]

Nice project,but would have liked to see better close ups of when you were turning the design bits camera too far away.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@davidmanor5057]

Hi Mike - it's great that you're prepared to give up your time doing videos for fellow turners - I am always interested to see what other turners are doing. However, I hope that you don't mind my critical comment on this Pill Box video - you just sped up the video on those sections where it should have been normal speed, like when adding bits of detail. We don't have to see how to turn a piece from square to round, or how to drill a hole or cut a flange, or how to part off a piece. Rather get your camera close up to show the little bits of detail work, like on the lid, and then, on the cylinder of the piece. One missed all that technique, and its very frustrating!!

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for the feedback! I went back and reviewed and totally agree. I should have had a better camera view and spent a few more seconds showing the detail. You might want to watch the longer 1 1/2 hour video of a demo I did on the Gwinnett Woodworkers channel on texturing. Your detailed thoughts are much appreciated. I have been turning longer than I have been making videos so clearly have room for improvement (in both areas).

[@jerrybutcher5073]

Wish your camera could have been closer throughout your demo.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for commenting. Me too!

[@mikedonato856]

Make toothpick holder

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes, that is nice project option.

[@hamandeggs1940]

Mike Good Project But Speedups Don't Help Us Beginners

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for that feedback. I will keep that in mind. I try to use it on things like sanding but sometimes I feel a video is just too long to keep most folks attention and have to omit some discussion on turning technique. I will be mindful of the trade offs.

[@bobcosenza7754]

Close up of the work would be better than that Hollywood view

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I agree. Thanks for the feedback.

[@watcherdude1330]

Nice project but poor camera positioning. Hard to learn when your showing you working from ten feet away. This was of course 3 years ago. You have gotten SO MUCH better with that now. But this one ....not so good and it’s one I really wanted to see up close.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate your feedback. This project may be candidate for a redo

[@jcuwood]

For us beginners, the last few minutes of the video lacked enough detail.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I agree. That movie was made 7 years ago when I just started my channel. Perhaps you missed the pinned comment with a link to a newer, crisper video on turning a pill box.