Question for you wood workers....

[Richard]

Number of years ago, I made a box for my wife's niece. She wanted it to be purple, so I used Purple Heartwood.

Think of similar dimensions but slightly bigger AND distinctly deeper for an upcoming box.

Details:

1. Box would be used to house/display a family bible that is easily 100 years old
2. Bible is big. Let's call it 12w x 14 tall x 10" deep. This isn't a book you hold on your lap.... maybe better suited to be displayed on a stand.
3. Bible will be inherited by my sister when the time comes
4. I'd like to make a protective box/case for it


Part of me says to maybe use walnut. Part of me says it would be nice to make it out of Olive Wood (presuming I can find sufficient size boards.... I'd like to think I could)

The questions I'm pondering have to do with how to assemble box so that book can EASILY be pulled out or put back in. Meaning, if the book is let's say 12x14 and the box is 13x15 you have little room to squeeze your wiggling fingers in there (since they'd have to go down about 10" to get to the bottom) so you could pull book out.

Gets me thinking, what about having a base.....with four HINGED panels and a top to hold them together? Seems flimsy to me if you wanted to carry said box/book to your car for example

What about a flat base.... the walls would be attached (think shoe box with no top NOR any bottom) Probably dovetailed corners. Now, you can pull the top off much like a cake plate and have unencumbered access to said bible.

Similar to above but now, sides ARE attached to the top which would be exactly like a cake plate. But now, how do I fasten said wood to base so it would hold together or do I just leave it as two distinct sections where the top could be knocked around, relative to the base?

Yeah, I over analyze things.


I like the idea of Walnut.....I think that could look beautiful. I also like the idea of the Olive wood, think that also could look nice BUT also has a bit of linkage to Israel as I know Olive Trees (wood) is common over there..... I got a carved olive wood chess set when I was in Bethlehem)

So looking for some ideas that might clarify some of my floundering. I'll be giving this to my sister when she inherits the bible. Dad is 94 years old.

Here is the first box I made for my wife's niece. She also wanted to attach a bird to it so we set the bird into a hole. The bird is removable so it can't be smashed if you are moving the box.

What I didn't account for was her love of unicorn stickers. Gave her the box.....she got it home and she's plastered it with stickers, much like you might see a car with 45 bumper stickers plastered all over the back side showing where it's been. Oh well.... they can be sanded off if need be!

 

[Richard]

Side comment, I know the lid/hinge format of this box won't work with the Bible box.

 

[bigtiller]

Instead of a box & hinge, how about making a drawer for the bible to sit in?

Just like a kitchen drawer. The drawer will slide into a box you make. Maybe it will have some type of clasp so the entire unit could be carried by the drawer pull.

 

[big bubba]

might also consider heartwood red cedar as well. nice work on the dovetails

 

[Richard]

Instead of a box & hinge, how about making a drawer for the bible to sit in?

Just like a kitchen drawer. The drawer will slide into a box you make. Maybe it will have some type of clasp so the entire unit could be carried by the drawer pull.

im thinking same issues with the four sides verses wood sides not giving good room to grab it.

bible has supposedly been rebound by father but it shows its age and frailty. im mortified that the act of putting or taking out will possibly damage something.

im not a wood worker which is why im looking for ideas/opinions

 

[bigtiller]

im thinking same issues with the four sides verses wood sides not giving good room to grab it.

bible has supposedly been rebound by father but it shows its age and frailty. im mortified that the act of putting or taking out will possibly damage something.

im not a wood worker which is why im looking for ideas/opinions

Just thinking out loud here..

Maybe the drawer has really short sides and only extend half-way from front to back?

 

[LS Tractor Owner]

Make the 4 sides solid, attached to the top. Make the top with a glass insert, maybe just an inch of wood around the perimeter.
Then, make the bottom to fit in or on the bottom base. Use some fancy brass "pins" on each side to secure the sides to the bottom.
You will be able to see the bible through the top, but easily remove a couple pins, then the whole top and sides lifts off, giving full access.

 

[Richard]

Make the top with a glass insert,

Not to be pun-ish..... but there's thinking outside the box!!!

I really like that idea.

 

[yanmars]

If you cannot find olive wood in the sizes you need you could glue smaller pieces to size.

 

[dstig1]

Lots of ways to skin this cat. The lid doesn't need to be flat. You could make the lid also include the 2 sides so when you lift the lid, it lifts the 2 sides so you have free access to the sides of the bible. Or the sides and front all together.

You could make the box larger on the sides so you have enough room to reach in.

You could make the sides flip down separately.

The lid could be the box that just lifts off and then the base is just flat. Like a cake carrier. Kinda like flipping the box over.

 

[Richard]

You could make the lid also include the 2 sides so when you lift the lid, it lifts the 2 sides so you have free access to the sides of the bible

This one also crossed my mind (presuming we're on same page).... what stumped me was how would I attach essentially the front and back "walls" that would be free standing AND keep them strong. Don't think I'd trust just a dado (or is it a rabbit) with the wall glued in. I see a free standing piece in front and in the back that if pushed sideways could damage the joint.

Trying to figure out what you mean when you say the lid doesn't have to be flat. If you knew how uncreative I am you'd know that my only vision is of a flat top.

 

[cbg8670]

I like the " make it like an upside down box " thought. Attach sides to "lid" instead of the bottom

 

[3Ts]

Similar to above but now, sides ARE attached to the top which would be exactly like a cake plate. But now, how do I fasten said wood to base so it would hold together or do I just leave it as two distinct sections where the top could be knocked around, relative to the base?

use a trunk clasp to hold the top to the base. That way the entire top can be removed just like a cake plate.

 

[Richard]

You guys have been fantastic. I might still have some cobwebs in my head but this is a general thought of what's in my mind.

I'm leaning on the "cake plate" idea. Base is the bottom. a 3/4" lip around the center section. The center is where the bible will reside. The lower lip will be for the lid to have a solid frame to buttress it. How to pick it up? route out some indentions into both sides and the ends so you can get your fingers under it when it's sitting flat on a table or something.

Top, dovetailed box.... I like the idea, no, I REALLY like the idea of a pane of glass in there however, I'm a bit nervous on how to build it in and what happens in 20 years when someone breaks the glass.....how to replace it easily....

There's another one for the brain trust.... if the four walls are dovetailed, with a slot in there to hold the glass, how to replace? Thinking out loud, I guess I could maybe route a recess to hold the glass on top then maybe fasten a bezel that's removable around it.... (I'm up for ideas here too, so far, I've always made a box with zero metal in it so no screws. (I've made two more out of Zebrawood for two of my nieces who own horses....Zebrawood looked "earthy" to me)

Anyway, if I have the hand hold on the sides, I'd need to move the clasp so maybe two of them on the long sides

This is my first rendering, thought I'd share to see what ideas may come forth. So far, this is "easily" doable. I always have challenges when I do something like this but this would be my fourth box so hopefully I'm getting less bad!!!

Open to ideas about bezel/glass or alternate locations for handles. How would you cut/route out a nice curved handhold area on the bottom?

Would you use a plywood (a nice one) for the base or as I've done so far, just use the same wood so it's 100% (I'm leaning towards) Walnut.

Also... this might not actually happen until inheritance time or next summer when I can do things outdoors.....but, know that if/when it happens, I'll update the thread so you can maybe see in progress shots then finished project. We might consider it a group effort!!

 

[dstig1]

To retain the glass, route a rabbet from the bottom to set the glass in and then you can either use strips of wood that you tack in place with brads behind the glass, or there are rubber moldings sold at places like Rockler for this and you route a small slot for it to press into above where the glass sits.

And maybe use tempered glass too, though it may be spendy. Ask the glass places what they would recommend. I think there is "double-thick" glass which is stronger than regular but not as pricey as tempered.

 

[ironman1952]

4 sides all dovetailed on ends
before assembly 45 angle of tops of all 4 pieces and 45 angle all 4 sides of top
rabbet the bottom into the sides

Once assembled use a tray on your table saw. raise the blade so it just goes through the sides.
Now you have a box with no way to put anything inside.
Next you have to cut the top off.
the 2 long sides cut on an angle. Lets say, mark the back side about 1" or so
from the top edge, then mark the front side the same 1" but from the bottom.
THis way the 2 sides have an angle cut, angling down.
Next cut the front and back accordingly.

Nail a 1X2 to the tablesaw slide on an angle. You can use the same type of butterfly hinge on the back, out of sight, or a but hinge mortised into the back.

Hopefully this all makes sense. this way when you open the top, the Bible will be mostly exposed.
BTW what version and date of the Bible is it?
Regards, Joe

 

[civilian]

I like the idea of the cake carrier with the lift off lid. Lid would have all 4 sides attached to it. Use your walnut for the base, and then a lighter colored wood for the top. I would also dado the edges of the base to capture the top. Base will need to be thicker to support the assembly, the lid could be thinner. Good strong joints are key. I would think about the box base wide enough to allow the bible to stay on the base for viewing.

This thread reminding me of seeing a family bible when I was a young child. Problem is, I don't know whose family bible it was. Our family, or an in-laws family bible. Jon

 

[Richard]

Someone asked which version? I do not know. I doubt I've opened the cover on this book but maybe 2-4 times ever. It was on a desk at my grandparents house for decades so over 50/60 years, I've always been fearful of "playing" with it (opening it to see what's inside.... I know for example there are death notices in there from older generations)

Size wise, it really is (going from memory) about 10" thick when closed. Maybe 12" x 10" otherwise.

It is a large book. I don't think I'd be able to make a base that would hold it for reading AND hold it as I'm thinking. That said, that might be worth reconsidering. Open the book up, measure and make the base big enough to cover that so it can be left open.

Might be worth asking sister what she thinks. She currently has NO idea of what I'm thinking on doing and I think she'd love the idea.

Making it hold the open book will make the whole thing twice as large and it will be heavy. I think it would then be better suited in a permanant location where the lid could be removed for viewing/reading.

 

[bigtiller]

If there is interest and a spot for permanent display, maybe some type lectern that is wide enough for the book to be opened and read without moving....and of course some type of see-through cover.

Can Lexan be molded or cut & glued?

 

[scott_vt]

Make the 4 sides solid, attached to the top. Make the top with a glass insert, maybe just an inch of wood around the perimeter.
Then, make the bottom to fit in or on the bottom base. Use some fancy brass "pins" on each side to secure the sides to the bottom.
You will be able to see the bible through the top, but easily remove a couple pins, then the whole top and sides lifts off, giving full access.

Good Afternoon Richard,
I really like LS's Idea, especially the glass on top for viewing the Bible ! People looking at a box, even if its beautifully done, do not know whats inside. The glass on top reveals the beautiful Bible !

BTW, if you can build a box as pictured, you are most certainly a wood worker !