| 
Ben Kurlzok,
Eaglehawk, TAS
Hexagonal Kaleido
Boxes
110 w x 75mm h
Materials
The timbers used in these boxes would
usually be thrown out.
I operate the Tasmanian Kaleidoscope Company
and we often have small pieces of beautiful
Tasmanian timbers like sassafras, Huon
pine, blackwood, myrtle and cheesewood.
These boxes are a great way to show even
the smallest offcuts can still be used!
Method
of construction
I started by creating the lid design.
This was done by arranging a bundle, approx
50 x 80 x 300mm long, of various timber
and veneer offcuts, then gluing them up
in a vacuum press to ensure good glue
joints.
This block is then cut into two 60 degree
triangle sections and each is divided
into six equal lengths, matched up and
glued together.
The result is a patterned hexagon to slice
for lids, the original block produced
lids for 10 boxes.
The hexagonal box is made by cutting a
30 degree angle on all six sides and running
a rebate for the solid base to fit inside,
these are then laid out on tape and glue
is applied to the joints. I then folded
it up around the base until the mitres
met and wrapped it up tight in a strip
of inner tube.
The top is then glued in place and the
lid is cut off and rebated on the inside,
a matching rebate is cut on the box. It
is now ready to finish.
Glues
Gluing up the block for the lids I used
epoxy because it has a long working time
and enables the timbers to still align
themselves in the veneer press, another
reason for epoxy is that when wood glue
is used the small pieces absorb a lot
of moisture and take time to stabilise
again. On the other hand wood glue was
fine for the mitred joints on the box.
Finish
I sanded down to 320 and took a fine bevel
on the edges. I then sprayed two coats
of laquer. Once fully dry I polished it
with 0000 steel wool and rubbed a wax
furniture polish into it.
Concept
The concept for these boxes came while
I was trying to find a use for some nice
offcuts I had in the workshop. I wanted
to stick to a kaleidoscope theme, so I
came up with the process for making the
lids, which gives a hexagonal kaleidoscopic
pattern.
Photos: Ben Kurlzok
|
