Like many of my projects, this box featured straightforward and honest joinery.

I let the piece of wood for this project dictate the overall dimensions. Designing this way isn't the easiest way to do things, but I like to treat wood kindly. I treat woodworking like a conversation between the lumber and I. I'm not the kind of woodworker who draws out a design and then forces wood to conform. Typically I will have a general idea of what I want to make instead of a detailed plan. Then I will go find my "feature" piece of lumber.

In this case, the sides of the box were the feature pieces. I cut the piece for the short ends first, because there was a nice curve in the grain I wanted to emphasize. The piece for the long sides were cut proportionally to the short ends and then the stock was resawn and arranged so the grain pattern would flow around the box.

I book-matched a nice piece of Oak for the bottom. The panel for the lid was another chance to play a bit. It was actually a piece of weathered barn wood that I salvaged. The grain in the wood was a nice compliment to the Oak. It also made for a lighter lid, which was important for a lift lid box.

This box was donated to The KAMI Group for their first every "Buddy Walk" in Watertown, SD. Check them out at www.thekamigroup.com!

Thanks,

David J. Ulschmid