Couple of boxes for Christmas

[PatteM]

Here are boxes that I made for my kids for Christmas. The "wave" is one I really had to struggle with to come up with a pattern and figure what of it to cut out. My son is a lifelong surfer and wanted something "ocean-y" so I put the wave on the two long sides and the palm tree on the short sides - made of black walnut. The other one is supposed to be a luminary, but my daughter is using it as a box to hold cotton balls which shows off the Ipe very nicely.

[frieke]

Very nicely done Patte! They sure will treasure them!

[Wood Dog]

Sweeeeet boxes Patte, you've been busy. You've mastered the wave, and I like those little feet. How was that Ipe to cut all those frets? I thought Ipe was also called Iron wood and very hard????????

[handibunny]

[smitty0312]

Those gifts will be cherished for a very long time, and hope they will be handed to the generations to come. Great job.

[KTravis]

Very beautiful work! I'm sure they we be a family treasure!

[PatteM]

THANKS for your comments!!! I really do like working with the Ipe -- I'm using left-over flooring that was given to me and which was resawn down to about 1/4 inch. Despite what I expected, it is actually easy to cut the Ipe -- first, it doesn't have very much difference in hardness like, say, oak and pine do, with the fast-slow bumps - it's really smooth. And while I can't even begin to push a blade into the 1/2 inch flooring piece, An FD #5 blade goes very smoothly, if a trifle slowly, through the 1/4 inch stuff. But it is SO worth it - the color is just amazing once I oil it - comes out a beautiful burgundy color. However, it tastes REALLY BAD while you're cutting it, if you don't wear a mask!!

[Ron Standley]

Very nice boxes Patte.

Know what you mean about sawdust. Sometimes I taste wood for a hours after sanding.

[wsmith0896]

Very very pretty.