Jeff suggested that Sebastian might enjoy a puzzle box, and I’ve been learning what it takes to make one. I’m not there yet. Working from a plan I found online, I’m coming the conclusion that plans just scratch the surface. The plan suggested gluing up pieces cut from 1/4″ plywood. That sounded tedious, but easy enough. The plan also gave dimensions as multiples of the stock thickness (T), so it could be scaled for other stock sizes. My first attempt resulted in a two inch on a side cube — or what would have been a cube had I not destroyed it trying to assemble it. For my second attempt (below) I doubled the size of the cube but continued with 1/4″ plywood. I ignored the overall dimensions, using only dimensions from the edge that defined the guide rails and interlocking tabs. The result was a glue-up that was easy enough to work with, but that required a lot of corrections. And, after the corrections, the box would only assemble and disassemble with much fiddling — way too much fiddling for a six year old (or for a sixty-one year old, for that matter). My next attempt will be the same overall size from 3/4″ stock, and I’ll route the lips onto the edges rather than gluing up the sides. I’ll also route some slots to accept the central box base and sides to assure that it is properly located when attaching the front and back plates. With a little luck, I’ll be successful. If not, I’ll choose another project. In the meantime, I AM having fun.
We had a great time in Amish country yesterday with Jean and Bob, with stops at Keim lumber (where old men go to get wood), Wendell August Forge, Der Dutchman, Guggisberg Cheese–and the Pottery Niche! The tiny little shop is deep in Amish farmland and, unexpectedly, features a large selection of Polish pottery! I love the colors and patterns, and since we needed to replace our crappy teapot, this little beauty joins our only other piece (a covered butter dish). I think I need one more piece: one of their interestingly-shaped bowls. Maybe on a future trip…
