Making progress. Clamping the inside tray.

that's cool. I couldn't do that if you gave me 10 years to make one. I can barely use a hammer

Number 1 is done except for poly and felt on the trays(wifes job). What I believed to be walnut is (I think) purplewood. Ive started number2. It will be purplewood with an oak strip in the lid.

That is really nice work there.

I really like it. What dimensions did you use?

My targeted dimensions without the lid were 10 X 6 X 4. I cut heavy to allow for the planer and jointer. The actual dimensions ended up thusly:
Finished without the lid:
OD L9 15/16 X 6 X H3 7/16
ID L8 3/16 X W4 7/16 x D2 3/4

The next one will measure differently. It's not somehting I plan. It's working with the wood I have available. I don't have quite enough of the purplewood to do a complete lid, so I'll incorporate a small center strip of oak. So far the dimensions for this second one are:
without the lid
OD9 1/4 X 7 3/8 X 3 5/8h this height dimension will go up when I add the feet)
ID 8 3/8 x 4 7/16 x 3 5/8D (this depth dimension will go down when I add the inside base.

Whew: That's a lot of number typing.
Thanks for the kind words from all. Started the poly on number one and wife picked up black felt. Hopefully finished with one tomorrow. Hoping to also have the sides cut for three and four tomorrow and maybe the lid for two jointed and in glue up.

One is done.

Whoever is getting that, it's going to one best gifts they'll ever get.


Excellent work, Mr Malibu!

Thank you sir. Only three more to go.

Going to be a copy cat next week. Thank you and my stepdaughter will thank you when she gets it for Christmas.

Look great. What kind of finish did you use on it?

How is the second one going? Following so I can steal some ideals.

You will need some sort of lid support system. I made this one out of stainless wire leader and s couple of small eye screws.

Really nice work. More creative than I could ever attempt.

One of my clients makes these: www.boscobox.com if you're looking for a little additional inspiration.

His wife got tired of the ugly metal gun box sitting on the nightstand so he went to his wood shop and prettied it up and now does these as a side business as he was pretty $$$ off to start.