I was asked by a close friend to make a box to hold an ashes urn supplied by the funeral home. It was a totally uninspiring plastic grey container that really did not suit the purpose. The brief was to make a box with japanese joints and no metal. My protests that japanese joints are beyond my skill level were politely but firmly swept away hence, the search started.
After a reasonable amount of research I settled on a scaled down Japanese toolbox; the joints were uncomplicated and there is no metal.
Made from recyced Red Ironbark and Grey Box, it measures 290 x 165 x 195mm. The ends of the box have lugs that fit and glued into corresponding slots on the sides. Arched grey box handles are glued at the top of each end. The lid is held in place by a cross piece at each end of the lid and the ends are place under the two pieces of grey box glued to each end of the box. The lid is secured by a tapered and angled length of grey box on the right hand end. Simple but effective.
The box is finished with several applications of tung oil thinned with citrus terpene followed by at least four applications of a carnauba wax polish.
The box supplied by the funeral home will fit inside and held in place with foam packing.
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Nice job, Ken. Always good to push yourself out of the comfort zone now and again.
Many thanks, Owen. One outcome of making this box is a new interest in developing skills in Japanese joinery and using Japanese tools. I don’t think I will use western saws very much at all from now on.