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John Overend,
Springwood, QLD
Music Box
Satin sycamore, Queensland walnut, Tasmanian
oak
403mm l x 250mm w x 138mm h
Materials
The timber used in this music box is satin
sycamore, Queensland walnut and Tasmanian
oak with the base being hardwood ply.
The ply works well as a sounding board
for a music box. Satin sycamore is found
only in North Queensland rainforests,
particularly on the Atherton Tableland.
It is closely related to coachwood which,
with Queensland maple, were used as rifle
butts of the old 303 rifle. It has also
been used as a supplement for coachwood
in furnishing the new Parliament House
in Canberra. Queensland maple is a North
Queensland timber as well. Both are now
preserved in heritage listed rainforests.
We were housesitting in Cairns for friends
and he had a shed with a lot of timber
stored in it and allowed me to use some
for this box.
Method
of Construction
The body was made from 75 x 50mm satin
sycamore using a spindle machine to form
the top curve and an electric planer and
then a hand plane to shape the rounded
bottom section and then finished on a
belt sander. The rest of the body was
built up in layers to form the mounded
section.
The corner joints were mitred, dowelled
and glued. Before being assembled the
corners were carved and after assembly
the corners were oil gilded. I am a novice
at gilding but I am told it is a reasonable
result.
The lid is book leaf matched and curved.
This was done by cutting the lid into
20mm strips and hand planed to a bevel
and fitted to each other on a jig (coopered).
The glass lid is to stop dust from settling
on the movement. The feet are brass.
Glue
Glue used for the body was Triton Premium
Woodworking Adhesive. Glue used for the
lid was Titebond Liquid Hide Wood Glue.
Finish
The finish is Arboroil Premium Wood Finish
with U-Beaut Traditional Wax over.
The timber was sanded to 800 grit.
Concept
I have six grandchildren and I wanted
to make each one a nice music box. This
box is one of these. The movement to go
in the box is a 72 note Sankyo movement
which is Japanese made and which I have
to purchase from America.
Photos: John Overend
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