Wayne Petrie, Orange, NSW

Cocobolo Box
Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa), rock maple (Acer saccharum)
250 x 160 x 45mm

Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) is a timber that is not easily obtained. At the time of procurement it could only be obtained in small sections 50 x 50 x 400. The timber used in this box was left over from another project and given its value deserved to be used in a valued piece and in a way that demonstrated its beauty, physical characteristics of strength, hardness and rich colour, (in this case a box for my daughter).
The strength and hardness qualities allowed the design to utilise thin sections of timber and optimise the quantity available. Despite the sectional economies that could be achieved there was insufficient cocobolo to complete a cutting list with solid material. The box lid was therefore designed to be laminated with a centre layer of rock maple (Acer saccharum) the same material selected as the internal side lining. The lid had a total finished thickness of 6mm the same as the other element of the construction.
The side lining elements are mitre jointed and capture the padded leather (kangaroo hide) base which floats within the frame formed by the box sides. The sides are joined using 3mm wide finger joints bonded with Epiglue.
The lid is hinged by two sterling silver pins.
The box was sanded down to 400 grit and burnished with 0000 steel wool before being finished with Feast Watson fine buffing oil and Liberon paste wax.

Materials
Cocobolo obtained from Carba-tec Brisbane
Rock maple obtained from Moxon Timbers Brisbane.
Kangaroo hide

Glue
Epiglue for joints. PVA for laminations

Finishing
Feast Watson fine buffing oil. Liberon Black Bison paste wax.

Photos: David Sandison