A Tilt-Top Mitered Box You Can Make Today For Pennies in Scrap Wood. Beginners: hone your skills!
Questions? Please ask in the comments and I'm always happy to answer!
A project on a small-scale really forces you to up the game on your precision. Any mistakes, which may have gone unnoticed on a large piece of furniture, may stand out like a sore thumb on a piece this size.
Here's a box you can make in a day or two, is scaleable to different sizes, wrapped up in a sleek design. Ash and walnut provide beautiful contrast while a tilt-top lid keeps everything neat, polished, and minimal.
A quick project for all skill levels, beginner included.
Thank you to everyone for watching. Your support is very much appreciated.
If you haven't already, please like, share, and subscribe to help get the word out.
Follow along on Instagram - / quillwoodworks
Amazon Affiliate link for many of the items used in this video and in my shop:
www.amazon.com/shop/quillwood...
Thanks again!
Kevin Almeyda of Quill Woodworks.
Awesome box. I love it, and it is hard to believe your guitar talent is natural!
The sound of that lid when you open is so lovely
You have a little over a dozen videos and you are already one of my favorite youtube channels. Your sarcasm and sense of humor is spot on. Talented as well. Don't stop what you're doing! Beautiful little box and I have never thought about using my spacer blocks at the table saw like you'd have and also that is a great little trick to keep the cover up!! Outstanding as always!
Thank you buddy! I appreciate the continued support, Anthony.
Please do not mimic the move of reaching your left hand over an engaged table saw blade. Other than that, great video.
Love the design and attention to detail.
Thank you!
You bet!
Excellent video/demonstration. Thank you.
I like patterns on wood.... makes for impressive designs when vanished
Great tips and a cool project to refine your skills. Thanks
Love your video, very well done. Thanks.
Lovely little box and good tips at the end. I agree, making small things is tough and requires more attention to detail, speaking of which. I like that lid stand back detail, I'll file that away in the noggin for future use!
Thanks for the kind words, Keaton! Hopefully you’re better than me. I file away tips in my head for later, then forget about them until it’s too late. 😁
thank you for sharing.
Have to call you Ferris now! Awesome as slways. Thank you.
Some great points . thank you -
Thanks for tuning in, Frank. Much appreciated.
Wow - too small and delicate for my likely, but the final reveal of your inner rock star won me over. Thanks for the beautiful lesson.
Beautiful. I love it. Nice work.
Mark, thank you. Appreciate the kind words.
Thank you. I really enjoyed this video. I'll be digging through my scrap box starting tomorrow.
Glad you enjoyed it, Andrew!
How cute is this box? Very cute!
Thanks Michael!
Beautiful mate good job
Thank you kindly, Philip.
Wonderful project, delivery and filming !🛠🎉
Bob, thanks a million!
Beautiful box. Nice work. But its funny how you are put off by cathedral grain and like straight grain. In this case I agree; the straight grain works perfectly on this box. But in general, especially in larger projects I find straight linear grain quite boring.
For sure, I agree with you. A tabletop or the field in a frame and panel door…straight grain would look quite dull. I should have been clearer in the video but I meant in this case: small, narrow parts, I prefer straight grain. I appreciate you watching. Thanks.
great looking box and LP! I think I now need to build a box
Thanks, Simon. I’ll be doing a setup on the Les Paul today. After years in a case, it needs some TLC!
You got a Like and Subscribe from the "Uff da" and "You Betcha" designations. Your 45 degree shooting plane setup is fantastic. Thank you for reminding us that not everything needs to be done with power tools. Great tips throughout the video. It's not how many lessons you've had, it's how much you practice.
My wife is a Minnesota girl! I appreciate you watching, Matt. Thank you.
Beautiful work, and thank you for sharing your knowledge - I learned a lot from this video :-)
Thank you for the kind words, Aremu!
Liked the Ferris Beuller quote at the end! Great video. Small in scale is tough but fun!
Uff da is now in my lexicon.
A nod to my wife’s Minnesotan upbringing. Though I’ll never (ever!) refer to soda as “pop”.
I really look forward to your videos. Great points at the end. Looks like I've been putting off building a shooting board for too long.
Thanks for tuning in, Jason. My favorite part about shooting boards is that they take away that frustration from when you try to take just a hair off at the table saw…then you totally overshoot it!
Beautiful work on the box. Wow my guitar playing sounds like yours lol. I love small boxes just because. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for watching Ken. Much appreciated!
What an outstanding video. Subscribed!
Thank you, Chris!
Beautiful pick box! Version 2 will have a partition for capos. Version 3, your tuner. Version 4…
It’s like you’re reading my mind, Doug!
Really enjoyed this video. Nice woodworking. Nice story telling. Thanks! 👏👏👏🖖
Thanks for watching, Jay. Much appreciated!
GREAT Craftsmanship! Man, I do envy you that table saw and sander.....
Much appreciated, Vernon! That table saw was a game-changer for me. And that Ridgid sander is one of the best values in woodworking. I use it all the time.
This was the first video of yours to come up in my feed and I'm really glad I watched it and am now subscribed. I also enjoy building small boxes for all the reasons you gave but didn't know the rabbet trick to create a lid stand. Super cool! Thanks for showing us this neat little build. Good stuff!
Great to hear, Melanie. I appreciate you watching and for subscribing!
Thanks. I've watched a lot of videos on making small pick boxes, I then picked yours to watch and if I had to pick which box I like the best I would probably pick your pick box as the best before I pick any of the rest.
Thanks and I appreciate that because you seem very picky.
"Never had one lesson" ... I see what you did there. ;)
On his first 2 cuts, he reaches over the blade with his left hand which is a no-no... He would be put on table saw restriction in my cabinet shop. I've seen people lose fingers doing that exact same move.
Nice to see that you have the quintessential white guy shoe collection. Vans for life!!
A few more years and I’ll be ready to trade them in for New Balance!
4:07 careful man
Yep. Point taken. 👍🏻
,a cool video keep up the great content.. Thank you…… Greetings Jörg
Thanks for watching, Jörg.
@@quillwoodworks Thank you very mutch... have a nice Start of the week.... see you…. Greetings Jörg
i came across this video and liked very much. You explain things clearly. I subscribed. Looking forward to more videos. Thanks.
Thanks for the kind words and for subscribing.
Stumbled on your channel looking for miter shooting plane. Really nice content and well done.
Very cool, Kelly. I appreciate the nice words.
I subscribed for the music.
I’ll be performing “Little Bown Jug” in my next video.
"Never even had one lesson!" Earned a sub! Nice job BTW!
Thank you kindly!
I am surprised at how many commenters claim they like the “cathedral” grain. I really don’t think they like them on projects as much as they imagine.
I like the vibe and skills you show, but man those dados with the tiny piece of wood and your fingers pressing hard on top of the router 😬 Highly recommend you use a thick sacrificial piece between your work and your fingers if you're gunna put direct pressure like that!
Yeah. In hindsight I should have known better. Thanks for the input, Kyle.
Blowed away by you gee'tar talents, but bothered immensely by the loose lid. I don't need a 'pick' box as I'm a finger style player of doubtful ability, but will brass hinge pin the lid so it stays with the box. They will make great jewelry gift boxes. Thanks for the instructive vid.
As a Norwegian the "Uff da" caught me completely off guard. Nice work on the box!
Ha! Paying a little homage to my wife’s heritage. Thanks for watching!
10:53 that is indeed a smart ‘hinge’
Thanks for your video, loved it, I am trying to be an inspired woodworker, starting late in life, and really loved your workshop and tools. Guessing you have had your tools for a long time, your vice I really loved did you make fit yourself and your edge planner too, is that an old one ? Good luck with the guitar lessons, I play but never enough. Thanks Paul
Hi Paul. I’ve collected the tools over the past 15 years, many before we had kids and disposable income was more of a thing! The vise is from BenchCrafted and the edge plane is from Lie-Nielsen and it’s based on an old Stanley design. Best of luck with the dive into woodworking!
I think the clarinet works as a better prop with that gag! Perhaps a reed box is in our future? Really pretty little box... Well done sir. (subscribed)
I appreciate the sub. Thanks!
Haha, loved the ending :-) Full of great tips along the way. Liked and subbed.
Thanks for watching and subscribing, Stephen. And glad you enjoyed it!
First video of yours that has come up on my YT list. Liked it and very happy to subscribe. I’ve been woodworking for over 45 years and still love to watch people showing skills in wood. Hopefully, that will never go. My go to for interior pieces is Natura Onecoat. I gave up using Osmo some time ago as it’s long cure time and need for multiple coats just was…out of date? For large pieces, I want to free up my bench and not have a piece curing for days. Also, quick cure reduces the likelihood of airborne dust ruining the finish. Why Natura Onecoat? I watched a video from the Wood Whisperer late last year when he was reviewing 2 pack hard wax pils. Natura Onecoat was the winner. I had never heard and it turns out, it wasn’t available then here on the UK. But the makers kindly sent me a sample and it’s great. Really very good. From the design of the cans to prevent dents and spills form pouring to the buttery nature of the mix, it’s a pleasure to use. And it’s really, genuinely, One Coat. Just to be awkward, I applied a couple of coats on a piece and it was actually no better than the one coat - and I ended up wiping off much of the second coat because wood had soaked up as much as it could from the first coat. It’s not cheap to buy as a can (although cheaper than Rubio) but it goes such a long way. I calculate my coverage needs when mixing at abput 200ml per 10 square metres. Of course, for your box, you’d need only a few mills tires and actually have more on your application rag and left in the mixing cup than on the piece. I’d suggest trying Natura. They have two products which are designed to retain the most natural tint that is possible. That is, minimal yellowing. The first is Natural White and the next Natural Mist. I’ve only tried Natural White on European oak and it does leave the least-amber tone that I have come across -Osmo or Rubio or Fiddes or whatever.
I appreciate all the info, Theo. I’ll look into it. Thanks for the sub and for watching.
Great project to use up those small scraps. And thank you for lots of great tips! What kind of glue do you use to attach the leather?
Thanks Tom! That just regular PVA wood glue. Titebond 3, I believe. Very strong bond. The material will tear before it will pull up. I’ve used contact cement in the past but the fumes and smell stays in the shop for hours.
I like how you didn't use hardware
Especially since good hardware is so pricey. Makes this box good for giving as a gift. Thanks for tuning in.
I was wondering how you were going to handle the thickness of the leather. Instead of compensating for it, you just let the bottom stand proud of the sides. I think that worked out very nice (better than a flush bottom, in my view), but I didn't notice you mentioning it. Was that design feature intentional or just serendipitous? By the way, your "playing" at the end won me over. ❤
Thanks for the question, Ted. That was intentional. I like the way it “lifts” the box off the table and gives a nice shadowline across the bottom. I appreciate you watching!
unless you film it, … . thanks for doing that.
I can't do woodworking with a damn but I really want 1 of those boxes for my guitar picks.
Where did you purchase your edge plane? I have never seen one like it. Great like project.
Hi Richard. That is the Lie-Nielsen No. 95 Bronze Edge Plane. Love having it around the shop.
Nice project…one question: how does the lid keep from falling off, if you turn it upside down, for example? Otherwise, I like the notch at the back of the lid to keep it propped open! Nice touch. Thanks!
Hi RH. The notch is just for keeping it propped open. If you turn it over, it’ll fall out. Hope that clears it up. Thanks for watching!
Sweet little box! Nice work. You should build yourself a guitar!!! Thanks for video!
I’ve thought about it, Billy. One day!
Very impressive box! Thanks for the great video. PS why isn't your beautiful walnut lid attached to the box somehow? It's great that the lid stays vertical when you lift it open, but you might be a tad sad if the lid falls off one day and it would be a shame to damage it.
Thanks for the nice words. It’s a trade-off for the simplicity of the design and I also like that the user can hold the lid in their hand and, hopefully, admire this little slab of figured walnut up close. Thanks again for watching!
Thank you for this video! Where did you get your "leather?"
Thanks for watching Bassface! Here’s a link to the material. It’s available in many colors. White Litchi Texture PU Fabric... www.amazon.com/dp/B09NMD82Y7?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I think it would be fun if you made this same or similar with hand tools only
Thanks for watching, JV. I'll definitely put that on the short list of future videos.
do you have the directions for the tilt top written anywhere?, was a nifty idea!
Hi Lon, glad you liked it. Unfortunately, I do not have plans written.
"...unless you film it, then it takes 6 months." LOL Great project and great video! Subbed.
Thanks, Don! Very much appreciated.
How long did it take for all of those picks to teleport to the inside of the guitar, and then from there to the far reaches of the galaxy when you tried to shake them out?
I bought 2 gross of guitar picks a week ago. Today…they’re all gone!
Did you build your shooting boards?
I have two. My main shooting board is from Lee Valley (got it used at a great price and it replaced a hand built one) and the one in this video, to shoot miters, was built by myself.
"never had one lesson" made me spit out my drink hahhahahahaha
Did I see you glue the door panel in to the frame?
The bottom? Yes. If you mean the lid, then no. The lid just rests on the top
I swear those clamps were way too small for that box😂😂😂 Seriously a very beautiful box, very well explained I subbed 👍🏻
Ha! Thanks for the sub, Moose!
Question: That "Edge plane" you use.... where can I get one? Or something similar?
found it! No. 95 Bronze Edge Plane
Great, Kevin (I’m a Kevin too, woo hoo!). I just looked it up as well and holy moly, they jacked up the price since I bought it five or so years ago.
Come trim some houses on lake tenkiller with me might learn something
Wait a sec. Are you THE Jacob Parson? The trim carpenter from Lake Tenkiller? Dude, your work is legendary! Anyway, you seem delightful. Thanks for watching.
That Lie Nielsen No. 95 bronze plane is a really neat tool! I wish I had one after watching you plane those tiny little pieces. (yikes, $225.00) 😅
Woah! Quite a bit more than when I bought it years ago. 😳
Geez…you don’t need an edge plane for that procedure. As it was planed in the video, it’s not important that a 90 degree edge is made. When you take the parts out of the vice they will match. Please watch some handtool woodworkers that really know their craft. This same box can be made without all the expensive power equipment. Like many KZhead woodworkers, this guy has many $ tied up in un necessary fancy lad equipment. Makes me angry when guys with more money than skill think they can teach.
@@TopQGuy Show us your skills - you have no videos on your channel. Let us see how skilled you are. Teach us.
@@skippylippy547 no need to make videos…there are many excellent woodworkers already on line. E.g. Check out Paul Sellers.
😜🤣Not even one lesson! LOL!
Great video. Subscribed. You mentioned taking a box-making class. Can you elaborate on that? Cheers
Thanks so much, JCR. I took a class by Matt Kenney several years ago at Connecticut Valley School of Woodworking on box making techniques. There’s a lot of great content on KZhead but there’s something special about an in-person class. Thanks again for subscribing!
You said Uffda. Lol
My wife’s from Minnesota so I hear it a lot!
nike video
Guitars are also made out of wood. 🤔
And I’ve been told my playing is very wooden. It’s all making sense now! 😁
I'm getting old, because I'm sure I knew the answer. The outside of the pieces will be the inside of the box? Why?
Hi Vincent. Since the inside of the pieces are closest to each other, as opposed to being separated from each other other by half an inch like the outside faces are, their grain lines will line up that much better. In the finished box the inside grain lines don’t match up quite as well but not as visual as the outside so we make the trade-off. Hope I explained that okay. Thanks for watching.
@@quillwoodworks Got it. Thanks! I like the solution to the grain issue for the ash. Ash is a cost effective choice in my area so your approach provides me some options. I don't mind the cathedrals when you see plenty of them on a wide board but seeing only a fraction of one on a narrow piece is certainly unappealing.
You you can put your weed in there😂
I think you might need a bigger box! 😁
Maybe diamonds!
Someone who say “I hate the look of…” is shallow.
😐
Your out of your mind,or don't have enough experience to understand that the Cathedral Grain is way prettier than straight grain, Like your build,nice video,but for the love of God don't tell the new woodworkers straight grain is better.
I’m actually fine with cathedral grain but it would have looked absolutely terrible in a box side that’s not even 2” wide. I see some of my earliest work and the biggest flaw in some of the pieces was the poor choice in grain selection. Thanks for watching, Paolo!
It's all a matter of preference. I for one much prefer quartersawn or rift sawn. Cathedrals not so much. Rarely use it in fact.
I love the cathedrals- Straight grain is BORING!
But on a 1.5” box side you won’t be able to make out any cathedral pattern. Just not wide enough. On a tabletop I’m right with you 100%.
Love it but first minute in hes playing with tools I don't have as a beginner
Hi Kelley. I’m currently working on a video that relies on less power tools. Hopefully that will be more useful and up your alley. Thank you for watching!
@@quillwoodworks i have the table saw but that was about it for me, however I will look forward to making boxes without all the power tools... There were things in your video I think I could do, but I have the rigid cast iron table saw and it has issues that I hope to fix this summer, such as the fence is never straight, I have to measure and remeasure it like five times before each cut... and the plate that came with it is sunken in from the top (Which I plan on making my own)
My first table saw was a Ridgid but thankfully the fence worked pretty well. I imagine having to remeasure before each cut is not only frustrating but slows you down a lot. Best of luck in trying to fix the issue.
Straight grain "beautiful?"
For small scale parts, like these box sides, or legs, rails, stiles…I love the way it looks. Table tops…not so much.
That's not a board it's a stave
Unless you film it, then it takes six months! Ha ha! Isn’t that the truth!
Knew you’d appreciate that!
2 weeks later.....
And that’s without stopping to go to the bathroom, sleep, and eat.
For pennies with 20k in tools lol
Another commenter said 100k. You’re both wrong but at least you were much, much closer.
@@quillwoodworks was a guess I not putting u down your a good wood worker just envies of your shop happy woodworking and God bless
@@quillwoodworks I'm up here at tenkiller today finishing up part of this building was built in 1684 in Germany and brought here and re erected
The opening line “…beginners hone your skills…” got me really interested. Then I saw that you expect your “beginner” audience to start their woodworking journey with a fully equipped £100,000 workshop. Which they can then use to make “a beautiful box for just a few pennies”. Hmmmm….
I appreciate that not everyone has a full shop. It took me over ten years (and closer to 10K than 100K) to get mine the way it is. But my first table saw for the first 7 or 8 years was a Ridgid jobsite saw. With that, and a couple of chisels, I could make a version of this box, and I think so could most beginners. Hope you found something useful in the video and I appreciate you tuning in.
Does your wife know how much money you have tied up in your hobby?
You mean my ex-wife? (But seriously, it’s also a side-hustle and I only spend money on the shop that the business earns…and I make my wife whatever she wants because I’m no dummy!)
What is wrong with cathedral look? Beauty is a perception. I find them more attractive as they give unique character of design.
For many larger pieces like tabletops, cabinet doors, etc. I think cathedrals look great. But with really narrow pieces, I think it could make it look cluttered. I think straight grain with legs make it look nice and sleek. Thanks for watching!
I’m sorry but it really cuts into your credibility when you use a paring chisel as a firmer. Self-taught?
Those are standard Lie-Nielsen bench chisels in the video. There are lots of resources online that can help you learn the difference among the various chisels out there, such as dedicated paring chisels, mortising chisels, etc. Good luck!
I hate when woodworkers such as yourself say the cathedrals as a statement of fact. I myself like the look of the cathedrals. Many other channels say the same thing about the cathedrals. Just my opinion.
I have no issue with cathedrals in larger fields, like a table-top or cabinet side but on a small, narrow piece, I don’t care for them. Also, I was playfully exaggerating my distaste. Thanks for watching.
RIGHT!!!! Cathedral is actually preferred in fine woodworking,straight grain is for structural, strength, not looks.
When your making a small box, it will look better if you use wood that has grain proportional to the project. A tight quarter sawn or rift sawn grain will look much more harmonious than a wide flat sawn grain. Every grain has it's place pointless to generalize so aggressively. And yeah cathedrals generally don't look as good as straight grain to me as well.
It was just his opinion too. We are allowed to have different opinions. Opinions are not right or wrong, they just differ.
4:06 phew, that got a little hairy back there.
Yeah. Not my brightest move. Should have used a push pad.