Working on Boxes - Critique Me

[Kent Reisdorph]

I'm continuing my box-making journey. I've been working on different styles.

1. Walnut - I messed up the joint on this one. You can see it's pretty rough. This one is an edge-grain turning due to the way the scrap blank was cut.
2. Maple body and lid, with a walnut finial. Whole log side-grain, pith and all.
3. Maple body, walnut lid, dogwood finial. End grain body.

The form on the two maple pieces are very simple as I was more or less practicing. I haven't done finials before now. I didn't have anything in mind, just winged it. Aside from the simple forms, I'll take any advice on lids, finials, etc.

 

[Richard Coers]

The walnut one could do without the little knob since you have a lid that is easy to grip. The finials are a little chunky and maybe even a little phallic. On a short finial, simple is better.

 

[Darryn Achall]

Different colored finial makes the finial the focus instead of the box. I would try switching the finials on the two on the right. Light on light and dark on dark. That would make the wood grain and spalting catch the eye more. If you prefer the focus on the finials, then leave them.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

The walnut one could do without the little knob since you have a lid that is easy to grip. The finials are a little chunky and maybe even a little phallic. On a short finial, simple is better.

Yeah, the walnut finial was just for the experience. I didn't think phallic, but now that you mention it... I thought of it as a bit East Indian style.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

Different colored finial makes the finial the focus instead of the box. I would try switching the finials on the two on the right. Light on light and dark on dark. That would make the wood grain and spalting catch the eye more. If you prefer the focus on the finials, then leave them.

Got it. Thanks for the feedback.

 

[David Wyke]

I don’t turn a lot of boxes but did in the past. I think the walnut one has a nice shape with or without the knob. The other two have a nice shape but I think a lid similar to the walnut would look great.

However you did say “Critique Me” so here goes. You seem like a nice guy and someone who would be a great friend. However I would turn the cigar a little to the side and accent the top with a Indiana Jones style hat

 

[Richard Coers]

Yeah, the walnut finial was just for the experience. I didn't think phallic, but now that you mention it... I thought of it as a bit East Indian style.

It's been said that everything beginner woodturners make either are phallic or breast shaped.

 

[Kent Reisdorph]

I don’t turn a lot of boxes but did in the past. I think the walnut one has a nice shape with or without the knob. The other two have a nice shape but I think a lid similar to the walnut would look great.

However you did say “Critique Me” so here goes. You seem like a nice guy and someone who would be a great friend. However I would turn the cigar a little to the side and accent the top with a Indiana Jones style hat

I literally laughed out loud.