Peter Davis, Tumut, NSW

Gearbox
Tasmanian myrtle, rosewood
370 x 180 x 160

Materials:
Main Body: Tasmanian myrtle, gears machined from same timber, this timber is easy to machine and has good wearing properties.
Lid inserts are rosewood.
All brass work was turned on my metal lathe from stock billets.
Fingerjoints were cut using a home made jig.
Method of Construction:
Box and gears were designed and drawn using CorelDraw.
Gears were cut with overhead router using 1/8” spiral up cutter, from full-size vector drawings.
Lids are locked to a brass shaft with 3mm grub screws.
Extreme accuracy is required to enable precise interlocking of lids, and the whole gear train has nil backlash.
All bearings are turned brass, as is the thrust bearing for gearlever.
Box has been opened and closed many times, even by grandchildren, and has required no subsequent adjustment.
Glue: Weldbond
Finish:
Timber was sealed using nitrocellulose lacquer, hand rubbed with U-Beaut Ultra Shine, then several again hand rubbed coats of Gilly Stephensons polish. I tried for a high polish on lids and matt elsewhere for contrast.
Concept:
Whilst having the gearbox on my car repaired I thought it would make a great name for a wooden box. So, starting with a name I designed a box to suit. Gears, of course, gear lever, and an end result. I built a prototype and improved on it with the final effort. Whilst appearing a little esoteric the box is quite practical, and very robust. I have enjoyed the challenge of this project, as I had no real initial idea of the final item, just a name.

Photos: Peter Davis