I’ve been spending the last few days contemplating some small and relatively simple projects for the holidays. One thing I knew I wanted to make this year was some kind of keepsake box. No hardware, no metal, but I want the box to still “lock” in some way. So here’s what I came up with after a day in the shop. This is still a working prototype and I will probably create a couple different versions.
As you can see, there’s a secret peg lock. Once you find it and lift it out, the lid slides off on a sliding dovetail revealing the contents. Believe it or not, I made this in just a few hours in the shop. So this is a very quick project that would be perfect for the holidays. Think I should do a full episode on it?
Very clever and unique Marc. I’ve never seen anything like it. Would love to see the build process.
I love little short projects that I can do some production work and have for gifts. I think I still have 5-6 contemporary clocks around. Oops. Sometimes I get carried away.
That is a neat little box and it would be a good subject for an episode. It is simple yet has a real use like the pencil boxes you did a year or two ago.
That is very cool!
I’d be curious about making the male part of the dovetail in a contrasting wood. It would need to be glued in place but then the top and bottom part of the box could be made from the same piece of wood sliced in 1/2 with the the grain flowing uninterrupted top to bottom.
And making the wood a contrasting color would make the method of opening the box more apparent, but ultimately wouldn’t assist identifying how to unlock it.
Marc, that is sweet… I’d love to see an episode on how you did this…
Neat!
Yes, it would be nice to see how you did this, especially in as short a time as you mentioned.
Very cool. I am already thinking of a recipient for one of these.
I for one would definitely like to see how this was made. Maybe some different shapes for differnet people and still enough time before the holidays to actually make.
this is a cool little project marc. i would like to see all of the different versions you come up with. i like peter’s comments about using a contrasting dovetail and my thought was almost doing a bowtie that would fit into both sides. one side however would be glued while the other one slides.
I like it because it is unique. I have seen so many small boxes but this has a very different look. Run with it on a episode! Good box to put other gifts in too like jewelry or a simple gift card.
Marc,
Great idea! Another episode about a quick project that is useful, thoughtful, and intriguing. That is a kind of gift to give someone and not tell them how to open it just to see how long it takes them to figure it out. Just don’t give it to a soon-to-be fiance with a ring in it, they might not figure out how to open it and never see the ring…or maybe give it to her/him and when they figure it out they will FIGURE it out! Just keep tabs on the box so you don’t lose the ring. See how fun this box can be!! Make the videooooooooooooo!
Very cool. Absolutely do a show on this.
I actually built something very similar but as a band saw box. The top slides off a dovetail shaped groove and it has a corner key. All done on the band saw. I will send photos later today. It was based on this design:
http://www.gtcreations.com/appleseed/
I would love to see how you made this, especially the key.
two thumbs up!!
make the video
I would like to see a something, maybe a spline that you had to turn out to unlock the peg. That is, make the peg keyed where so the spline locked it.
I love secret comparments.
I say go for it. I like the idea of having no hardware or medal. I also think that cutting the top and bottom from the same piece and having the continuous grain would be nice. Especially after reading “Go with the Flow – Continuous Grain”. Cant wait to see the video!
Yeah, continuous grain would be nice. But in order to do that, I’m gonna need some 12/4 stock, which I don’t have. As it is now, it requires a piece of 8/4 for the bottom and 4/4 for the top. I cut mine all from the same piece of 8/4, which helped, but by no means gives the same results as true grain continuity. I guess one way around it would be to use a different wood for the lid…..
Yes to the show. This is great and has that wow factor for the holidays. My wife’s birthday and our anniversary and Christmas are in the same week. I think you sort of saved my behind with this….that is if I can make it.
Thanks Mark…keep up the good work.
That is pretty cool. I’d like to see it as a short project video.
Wow, very beautiful little piece! I’d love to see an episode on it. Little wooden puzzles like this are really fun to look at, and probably make.
Here’s another vote for a complete episode.
You uncorked a good one with this little project, Marc. You’re really putting the “Designer” in “Designer-Craftsman”.
You tapping into my thoughts Marc? I just bought a planer and thought… It would be nice to make my first project a keepsake box for my daughter’s baby stuff (hospital bracelets, first little hat, baby teeth, etc) and then you pop up with this.
Yes – a full on episode would be pretty awesome, or even a small article walk-through.
Correct me if i am wrong but i don’t believe that we have seen a project completed in your current shop. Besides a great quickee project we would all love to see you work like with a small space like the rest of us.
I did a few projects for the Guild, but not on the regular site. Working in the new smaller space is a lot like working in the old space……only smaller, lol.
I do plan on a full new shop tour episode when I have a chance. But I think these project videos will come out first.
From the responses, it looks like this is going to be a good subject for a full video. I’ll get on it! Thanks everyone!
Great little box! Might be worth a trip out to find some 12/4. A turning blank might work. And, yes, we always like the videos.
PS.
If you don’t do a video, would you at least give us some dimensions?
Yes! By all means I would love a little box like that…um…I mean I would love to see an episode on a little box like that. I love it! TWWMom
Me 3….
Definitely do a show on it! maybe a “Holidy Gift Ideas” type of video/thread is in order??
Great thinking once again, Marc!!
A rectangular version with a larger storage cavity might be nice also. Lots of places to go with it.
Clever idea. I would not mind seeing a full episode on it!
Absolutely! A very cool and original little project that might get people headed off in all kinds of different directions. I’d love to see how it is done.
Hell Yeah!!!!
Do the episode for sure. I hate hardware and insist upon using as little of it as possible. I’ve investigated box ideas that work without any kind of a metal hinge, and this idea is super perfect.
Also, can this idea be applied with any joints for the sliding aspect? Maybe a small set of box joints or something instead of the dovetail?
–paul
Thanks Marc for the inspiration. Very nice keepsake box.
You called your keepsake box a “prototype”. Now that you’ve built the prototype are you satisfied with it? You said you would probably create a couple of different versions. I hope, if you do, that you will share photos of those variations as well. And, I agree with the others, it would be nice if you do a video on how you made this first box.
Dean
Marc – Very cool. I like the whole idea. It seems as though you would need to slide the entire lid the entire length of the box to take it off. It you flipped the dovetail and the groove so that the groove was on the bottom and the dovetail on the lid, then you would be able to take the lid off without sliding it the entire length… I think :-) Just a thought. Either way, I’d like to see how you made it.
Jonathan
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I think you might have it mixed up. Whether the dovetail is on the top or bottom, they are locked together until the entire thing is slid out. There is only one way out of a sliding dovetail. Well two ways, but I am assuming you don’t want to break it, lol. :)
Yes but if you did that, the dovetail would prodrude into the storage space and potentially knock/squash the contents.
If the tail was continuous you would still have to slide it the whole way. If the was in two parts then you would only have to slide part way before you could release it (which is what I think you are describing).
Yeah, I guess I forgot to mention the dovetail being two pieces instead of continuous. Thanks.
Looks great! Love to learn how to build it for my grand-daughter’s “little things”. An episode would be great.
Very good idea. Yes – worthy of a show. . . and I will be watching
Thanks Marc
wmthome
I thought it was a simple and smart design, would like to see a tutorial on it and learn myself how to make one, being disabled I appreciate projects that don’t take alot of time to build as I can only work for so long. I just recently started watching and have learned more in this short time than I did in woodshop in school. Keep up the good work….
Jay
Of course!!! I’d be interested in alternate designs as well.
very nice! clever, I’d love to see a quick how-to!
I know that 39 other people have written in to say make the
video, so let me be number forty.I would love to see a video
so I could make one of these for Holiday gifts.
Mike
Id love to see it made!
Nice work again marc.
How much time did you need to make the second one. Was it a record time?
Please make a video on this one.
Yeah mate im feeling it!
Nice design.. Definitely do a show..
If possible, maybe include how you came up with the idea. I would also be interested in how you went about prototyping different designs till you finalized on this simple and elegant dove tail slide and hidden lock pin design.
Joe
Can’t waite to see the how to. I can see making a few of these in my future. Way cool.
Ken.
Yes PLEASE! (:
A video tutorial would be great and just in time for the holidays. I also like all of the alternate ideas I’ve seen in the comments.
Could I suggest Marc use a less “busy” background for future photos? It distracts from the piece being shown.
You should do video on it. Of course I think you should always do video.
Make it 41 who would like to see the video made. As a matter of fact when you asked for ideas for small jobs to be made for Christmas gifts etc. I was going to suggest a variety of small boxes. It is what I am planning for this Christmas, to make several different ones as gifts and to practice different joinery techniques.
Would love another video. An episode dedicated to holiday gift ideas would be great too.
Hell yeah! though I will have to wait until next christmas at least before I can do it!
A small refinement would be to enlarge the bottom of the key pin and vary the diameter of the holes so the pin would be captive in the lid rather than coming completely out. That would eliminate the possibility of a lost pin. In fact you could then add a weak coil spring to keep the key in place even if you turned the box upside down.
DD
Hey Marc!
I love the idea of a “puzzle box”, the shape/design is nice… but!… you have to make it more complicated than that, ive followed you for a long time, and one pin/slide, is far to easy. Challenge us.
lol. I definitely didn’t intend on making a super challenging project here. This is meant to be a simple weekend project for the holidays. Maybe in the future I will make a magic box by the “Great Woodini”. But for now, I would like children to be able to figure this one out, :).
aww *pout* :))
Yes. Do a full episode on it. That is a COOL box. I would love to produce a bunch of those as Christmas gifts.
Yes, please do. It looks like a fun project that many people would enjoy receiving as a gift. Great idea.
Put me down for an Amen !
yes, please do an episode on this!
cool box, and I to would like to see it made. I bet its heavy.
Four shore!
Wow, That’s a great idea. I agree with the other posts….please do a video.
Yes, it would be great seeing the steps that you did to make it. It would make it easier for me to make one.
Yes, this would make for a great episode, and more importantly, great gifts for the in-laws!
Love you love your show…this is a very cool box. I dare you to do an episode on it…I double dare you…In the words of Nike “Just do it.”
Peace (of wood),
House
Great idea! I’d really like to see an episode on it! I’m already thinking about how to make one myself!
Please do!
Thanks!
loving this one Marc, I think a full blown episode would be great.
Definite yes to a video episode. These keepsake boxes look like a neat project that would make a wonderful gift. I think the consensus is that you should definitely do a show on these boxes!
JimC
I’ll jump on the bandwagon…I’d like to see a video episode on building the box as well!
I noticed you called this a working prototype. Shades of Norm Abram! Norm has always boggled my mind with a prototype of what he’s going to build when he’s already built it! Now you’ve boggled my mind!
I would always think, after seeing an episode of New Yankee Workshop, Norm, now that you’ve made the final product, can I have you’re fully functioning, looks like the finshed product prototype?
So, Marc, now that you’ve made the final product, can I have the fully functioning, looks like the finished product prototype? Huh, huh?