Hi, Arch,

I turn a lot of boxes, and over the years have settled on a tenon on the box
with the mortise in the lid. I watched videos from both Richard Raffin and
Ray Key, but I got a better fit after taking a class with Alan Lacer at the
local Woodcraft store. Here's what I do:

- Turn the inside of the lid, holding the outside with a chuck. I cut the
mortise recess back to a slight dovetail - the rim at the base of the lid is
the smallest diameter.
- Turn the outside of the box base holding the bottom with a chuck. I turn
the outside to shape, and hollow and finish the inside before I fit the lid.
(Someone told me that if you fit the lid first, and then hollow, removing
all that interior mass may allow the shape to shift due to stresses in the
wood.)
- With the base shaped and hollowed, I use a 3/8" beading and parting tool
to cut the tenon at the top. (Allow for this recess when you hollow!) I cut
the tenon at a slight taper towards the front, then test my fit with the
mortise on the lid. If the tenon is still too big, I cut it back parallel
to the ways of the lathe (this cylinder will still be too big to fit he
mortise), then taper again towards the front. With a little care, I get a
taper where the front fits into the mortise, but the base is still too
large. I carefully cut the bottom of the taper back so the lid friction fits
onto it. I turn the outside of the lid using only friction, so it has to be
pretty tight. Them with the lid complete, I carefully sand the tenon back
to get the fit I need.

All that said, remember:
- wood expands when its hot. If you sand a lot, what fits tightly on the
lathe, may be loose later in the house.
- Only other turners care if the fit pops. Many of my customers tell me
they want a lid they can lift with one hand, particularly for wider boxes.
I don't want the lid to rattle, but a slightly looser fit often sells first.

Have fun!

Ron Williams
Minn-Dak Woodturners
Moorhead, MN
"Arch" wrote in message
...
It is taking me as long to fit a box top on or in its base as to make
the rest of the box. Even taking my time and being patient (I don't have
much of either) some of my box tops fall out of the base when held
upside down and I have to pretend that's for easy one hand removal. I
guess I could morph the bases into small cups, but I hate to throw the
tops (or anything else) away.

There has to be a better way than cut & try, cut & try, cut & try, cut
& overshoot! We can put a man on the moon, etc.

I know and have used several ways for making an accurate "pop fit', but
all the methods that I know of end up with the sameole 'cutting &
trying' and a miserable success rate.

I don't want to go to the moon, I just want a quick & easy way to fit
box tops. What method do you accomplished Boxers find best to fit box
tops so they don't fall out?


Turn to Safety, Arch
Fortiter



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