Well here it is, the finished article.
I began by giving it a sanding coat of shellac (sanding sealer), then after an hour so I rubbed it down with 320 grit sandpaper and gave it another coat. Another hour, and then I rubbed it down with 0000 steel wool before giving it a final coat.
After a few hours, I applied some beeswax and turpentine with 0000 steel wool, left that for a few hours and applied another coat of wax. Finally I buffed the whole thing with a shoeshine brush. Done.
On the whole, I am pleased with the box. The dovetails are fairly tight and the finish is silky smooth. I’m not sure how long that will last in the workshop, but we’ll see. Shellac isn’t the most durable of finishes.
Here are the tools that I intend keeping in the box. A small ruler, my dovetail template, and awl, compasses, a pencil, my marking knife, an engineers square, two sets of dividers and, for now at least, inside and outside calipers.
And here they are in the box.
With the box now complete and in its final resting place on the bench, I’m ready to move on to my next project. We’ll find out what that will be tomorrow.
goatboys woodshop 