Kevin Dwyer, Moss Vale, NSW

Japanese Style Box with Drawers
Sydney blue gum, Podocarpus pine
19mm h x 200mm d x 240mm w

Materials:
The frame is made from Sydney blue gum, sourced from a house in Picton NSW. The tree had grown far too large for a domestic situation, and was dropping leaves in the swimming pool. I feel I was very fortunate to have been given four quite large logs, 1.8m long and about 50-70cm in diameter.
The drawers, box and frame for the lid and hinges were sourced from a friend who is a boat builder. He generously gave me a scrap of Podocarpus pine (I think that was what he called it). I found it really good to work with and it glued very well.
Method of Construction:
I first drew a sketch of the idea, and then looked at the proportions. After a few sketches, the idea started to take shape in my head.
The first thing was to select a 10mm router bit, then run the blue gum through the trusted thicknesser to match the 10mm checkout I had made in a scrap of timber, then rip the 10mm into 12mm wide, ready to make four pieces for drawer runners and four pieces 10mm wide, and four pieces 28mm wide. Checkouts 5mm deep on a jig that I usually use for box joints. After having dry assembled them, and I might add, the joins were quite tight, I pulled them apart and glued the two frames ready for black stain, as shown. From here on it got more interesting and again proportions played a big part in my decisions.
Rebate for the floor of the drawers and box were cut on the tablesaw, then the side of the drawers were turned over and the slide groove was cut to match the four runners already in the frame, at this stage I realised the drawers should be 1.5mm narrower than the box so as to allow clearance to slide more freely.
After assembling the drawers and the box it was time to put it all together. Carefully gluing the frames to the sides of the box, making sure the drawers fit below comfortably. A couple of clamps to hold it together, I realised I needed a piece of 10 x 10mm to hold the bottom of the frame together below the bottom drawer. With this in place it was just a matter of waiting for the glue to dry, now fitting the drawers and making the lid seemed pretty easy. The drawer pulls and the handle for the lid were made with the same 10mm checkout and stained black.
The first time this box was shown, a lady bought it to take to Japan. She said she lived in Japan, and was a collector of Japanese artefacts. I was very flattered and went home to make some more before I lost the urge.
Concept:
It occurred to me that the space on the modern dressing table was unable to hold as much 'stuff' as is available to the ladies of today, and that a couple of drawers seemed like a way for me to get enough space for my wallet at night!
Glue:
Selleys PVA and woodworking glue.
Finish:
Feast Watson Mastertouch, carnauba wax, natural.

Photos: Kevin Dwyer