Flat Top Boxes

[Angelo]

Masur Birch with dyed and stabilized lids

 

[Ed Davidson]

Really, really nice Angelo...

 

[Angelo]

Thanks very much

 

[Graham Dolby]

Masur Birch with dyed and stabilized lids

They look really nice!!!
I've been making some boxes with threaded lids. I'm starting to make the lids from a contrasting wood as it's devilishly difficult to get a grain match, even when I use threaded inserts.
Incidentally, I have an 8"x8" half of a log of masur birch. I bought it many years ago but can't make up my mind what to make with it as it has spectacular markings. I think your boxes have encouraged me to go ahead and put it on the band saw

 

[Roy Martin]

I love making small boxes and these look great. I especially like the lid with the quarter on top. nice change from normal

 

[Randy Anderson]

Very nice. I have some stable and dry mesquite (my favorite wood of all) that's not big enough for bowls or hollow forms but probably a good size for box tops like yours. I have some birds eye maple blanks that are dry and right size as well for bottoms. I think I see my next project...thx.

 

[Angelo]

Thanks for the kind words.
Would like to see what all y’all come up with for your special pieces

 

[Rusty Nesmith]

Very nice Angelo. Those are some beautiful looking woods you used.

 

[Angelo]

Thanks Rusty, I keep a lookout for pieces like these. Sometime the price is very dear

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

Please define "stabilized wood" as it applies to the lids on your boxes.

 

[Angelo]

The stabilized wood is dyed and put into a pressure pot with a penetrating “plastic” a popular one I know of is Cactus Juice. I buy the wood already treated and so not know the precise process.

 

[Don Wattenhofer]

The stabilized wood is dyed and put into a pressure pot with a penetrating “plastic” a popular one I know of is Cactus Juice. I buy the wood already treated and so not know the precise process.

That is what I thought it was and that is truly stabilized so it should hold it's shape through changes in humidity.
The other use of the word "stabilized" is to describe wood that has been dried to a particular percentage moisture content, which is a very misleading term for wood that is just dried since it will continue to expand and contract as the humidity fluctuates.
Is the stain part of the pressure treating process or will the treated (stabilized) wood still accept stain?

 

[Angelo]

I believe you can stain the wood beforehand and color the penetrant.
My guess the a stain would only muddy the color. I have not tried to change the original color. Usually happily accept what I get

 

[Charlie Knighton]

Bump

 

[Angelo]

What is “bump”?

 

[Charlie Knighton]

just bump thread to top of threads.....i really liked ur boxes....
also liked Daryell's platter in gallery this morning with flat style

 

[Tom Albrecht]

I believe you can stain the wood beforehand and color the penetrant.
My guess the a stain would only muddy the color. I have not tried to change the original color. Usually happily accept what I get

Great boxes!
So, do I understand that you buy the stabilized & colored blanks for the tops? And then you apply the same finish as on the bottoms?