The weather at the start of the year has been pretty spectacular. Five inches of snow fell in the second week of January creating stunning views but the freezing temperatures meant our track remained blocked for a week. We don’t mind being cut off occasionally and this has been the perfect time to use a pile of offcuts on a project that has been waiting for the right moment.
Traditional Japanese carpenters’ toolboxes were made from construction offcuts using tenon joints and a few iron nails, their ingenuity lies in the wedge which secures the lid. Simple as they look, the length of lid, width and position of the wedge are critical for successful operation.
At the opposite end of the manufacturing spectrum, box joints are regularly used for mass-produced, machine-made items, bottle boxes are a prime example. The large mating surface makes them extremely strong and they have a simple attraction.
These boxes marry the two processes using a variety of small pieces of sapele, cherry, iroko, oak, walnut and pine. Small dowels provide mechanical fastenings for the lids, the handles are laminated and have a passing reference to Japanese design.
They have been a pleasant diversion from the lengthy finishing process for the 15 whisky cases. As a bonus, they will house a variety of small items and tidy the workshop.
