Michael Ryan, Mooloolaba, QLD

Presentation case for carving chisels
Tasmanian blackwood, Huon pine
310 l x 260 w x 70mm h

Materials
Tasmanian blackwood and Huon pine

Concept
This box came about as a result of a gift from my father-in-law of his collection of chisels and carving tools. They range in age from the 1950s to antiques that belonged to his grandfather, complete with custom decoration on the boxwood handles. He had used them in England and in his adopted Australia and lovingly maintained them. No longer able to use the tools he generously passed them to me.
I was at the time taking lessons in Brisbane with Robert Howard and looking for an idea for my next project. So a case of some sort to protect and display my father-in law’s gift seemed an obvious choice.

Method of Construction
I chose blackwood and Huon pine for the contrast of colours and textures. Both were sourced from Lazarides Timber Agencies in Brisbane.
Some 160 x 32 Huon stock was resawn, machined and glued up to get the required width for the lid and bottom. A drum sander was used to achieve a finished thickness of 10mm.
The four sides of 70 x 10mm blackwood are joined with hand-cut dovetails. A 6 x 5mm groove routed just above the bottom edges of the sides holds a lip rebated round the edges of the base. A little play in the fit allows for movement. After a dry run to test the fit, the sides and base were assembled using epoxy to allow time to check and adjust for square.
The lid is enclosed by the sides, hinged on pointed brass pins lightly tapped into the lid through brass sleeves set in the sides. The lid rests on the liner of 5mm huon.
These mitred side linings and the huon support rails for the tools are not fixed or glued. The rails interlock with the liners and each other with mitred ends and channels and small tenons checked into the liners. With much care and sweat spent getting the sizes just right, they all stay in place with the aid of friction and a little luck.
The lid is secured by a blackwood tongue which slides in a recess hollowed into the lid and connects with a small sliding knob on top. The tongue engages in a recess in the inside front of the case. When latched shut friction keeps it in place.
The tools, all of differing sizes, rest in hollows and recesses cut on a scrollsaw.

Finish
All components were sanded through the grades to 400 paper. The interior was waxed only so that when opened one is greeted by the huon aroma. The exterior received three coats of white polish, cut back with 400 grit paper between coats, followed by two coats of Danish oil cut in with 0000 steel wool and buffed.

Photos: Michael Ryan