Small Boxes from Hardwood Scraps

 As I now have more trays than I need, yet also more scraps to use up, it is time to move on to making boxes from the thicker scraps.  My trays.

Clamping the boards down to CNC the box varies depending on the block and what shape of box I want to make from it.  Some were held in my low profile vise.  Some were wedged in place, and some were held with clamps on the left and right when the board was longer than the box being cut from it. 

Assorted Boxes

To get a good fit for the lids I used the same inside vector that I used to pocket out the box to make a rabbet on the lid perimeter.  A 3 degree tapered end mill was used, but I told the software it was a 1/8" end mill.  That let the lids slip on easily but snap/wedge tight.  I cut the lid shape 1/16" too large, then trimmed them flush to the box shape with a flush trim bit on my router table. 

Lids On.

Several nice scraps of hardwoods were used, including Ash, Birch, Bubinga, Cherry, Koa, Maple, and both red and white Oak. 

Making small boxes was an easy way to use up several scraps.   A long scrap I would cut in half and glue the halves together to make a shorter thicker scrap more useful to make a box from. Thin scraps got used up to make the lids.  Sometimes the same wood as the box, and sometimes a different wood. The little red Bubinga box has a lid made from a Koa scrap.

Comments welcomed.

4D