For those who are curious about how my plane practice session went last night.  I think that sometimes  the board wins.  I spent a while working on it, and as Shannon pointed out, a board of that length would ideally require a jointer plane, which I don’t have.  I tried to make due with my Jack plane, but the twisted, cupped and warped board kicked my butt.

It seemed prudent to get back to the tiny box building, as I am very close to finishing them.  Making the lids fit tightly has been educational.  The first few were loose, but when I stopped trying to use the router table to cut to the line, and instead left about 3 mm of cushion, it became much easier.  Now I simply employ Manfred the 3/4″ chisel to remove the cushion.  I have also found that the paring of the edges which run with the grain, is slightly more challenging than the chopping across the grain.

I am not sure if there is a technical term for what I am trying to describe, but what has happened is that if I chop down on the edges which run parallel to the grain, the wood will split and sometimes run beyond the mark.  It seems that it is better to use the chisel to shave off the excess, than to try to chop with the grain.  I do the ‘with the grain’ side first, then check the fit. Then I chop the ‘across the grain’ sides and sneak up on the line until it has a nice snug fit.

The lids for the two hard maple  and wenge boxes were finished, along with the padauk lid for the oak and padauk box.  I put the lids on the boxes and then went to get a bite to eat.  When I came back, they were huddled together, the little box with the padauk lid was crying.  The other two were trying to console her.

“It is just awful.  I look terrible.  I can’t go out in public looking like this.”  She said sobbed.

“It is ok, you look fine.  Look, both of us have gaps too.”  One of the wenge boxes said.

Then they noticed me.  The two angry glares were painful, but the sad look from the padauk box was heart breaking.

“What is wrong?”  I asked.

“Just look at me…”  The padauk box started to say, but then sighed and turned away.

“You screwed up buddy!”  Said the other wenge box, continuing his icy stare, “The splines look like crap.  So we look like crap!”

The other wenge box added, “Yeah, it doesn’t matter much for us, as we are guys, but Ginger is crushed.”

“Ginger?”  I said confused.

He nodded towards the little red headed box.  “I say she looks like ‘Ginger Rogers’, and is beautiful no matter what.”

The sobbing stopped long enough to whisper “Thank-you, you are very kind.”

I sensed that moral was at a terrible low, and I felt bad for all three of the boxes.

“First of all, I agree with you, she is a lovely little box and is easily as beautiful and ‘Ginger Rogers’.  You all are good looking boxes.  In fact, I think I will call you ‘Fred’” I said, looking at the box who picked ‘Ginger’ as a name, and then I pointed at the other, as of yet unnamed box, “And you shall be Edward.”

“As in Edward Everett Horton?”  he asked.

“Yes, exactly.  And you get two points for knowing that.”

Fred and Edward were in much better spirits and seemed quite pleased with their names.  Ginger was still sad.

“Listen gang, lets not give up hope.  I have an idea how we might be able to fix those tiny little flaws.”

Ginger looked up hopeful and asked, “How?  It is too tiny a gap to fit another piece into it?  Isn’t it?”

“This is what I am proposing. Lets get some padauk dust and add a little bit of glue, put them both in the gap and then sand it flat, after it dries.”

All three of the boxes agreed that it just might work.  So I patched up each of the boxes.  Fred and Edward stayed close by Ginger, to reassure her that it was going to be fine.  After a couple of hours, we took a photo and then came the moment of truth.  Ginger was eager to know how our cosmetic surgery had gone.  I set up the ‘upside down belt sander jig’, and gently ran her across the 120 grit paper.

She couldn’t stand to look.  “How is it guys?”

“It worked!” Exclaimed Edward, and Fred added, “You look marvelous.”

Ginger then inspected the spline and seemed quite pleased.

I was pleased too.