Replies

1. 
   ron61 | Jul 27, 2003 12:02am | #1

   You mean stuff like this?

   http://www.rockler.com/ecom7/searchrslts.cfm?filter=jewelry%20&DID=6
2. 
   ron61 | Jul 27, 2003 12:05am | #2

   Or maybe this?

   http://www.melannde.com/index.asp?page=gallery&design=0&gallerypage=0

   Check out this bad boy

   http://www.melannde.com/index.asp?page=gallery&design=4&source=home

   
   

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   Edited 7/26/2003 5:08:56 PM ET by Ron

3. 
   forestgirl | Jul 27, 2003 02:29am | #3

   Well, I've not made a jewelry box yet, but I wear jewelry and have a few opinions about storage.  I like my rings in individual compartments.  I like my necklaces hanging one, or at most two, at a time on a short peg, with enough room between pegs to get my fingers in there to pick out the needed necklace.  A major challenge with necklaces is having enough length available that they don't bunch up at the bottom.

   My earrings are for pierced ears, and assuming that's the same for your wife, there are a couple ways to suggest.  Small compartments, each holding one or two pairs, or for better display,  small slats with spaced notches cut across the upper edge.  The earrings slip into the notches.  This method works better for the wire-type earrings than for the post-type.  I'm not sure what method would work for the post-type other than small compartments.  You've gotta be sure those "keeper" dohickey's stay on/with the post.  [note:  If the "small slat" thing doesn't make sense, I can take a picture of the freestanding one I have]. 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

4. 
   IanC | Jul 27, 2003 05:01am | #4

   Geoff,  I've made several chests and usually dedicate one drawer to pierced earrings.  First I cover matt board with fabric and lay it in the bottom.  Then I drill a series of 1 3/8" holes with a forstner bit in a piece of 1/4" hardwood that fits in the drawer.  The holes are about 3/8th" apart and I soften the top edges with a 1/8th " round over bit in the router table.  Each hole holds one pair.

   No matter how complicated I make other parts of the box, this simple solution (not mine) always gets a comment. 

   Ian

   
   

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   Edited 7/27/2003 8:39:52 AM ET by IANCUMMINS

1. 
   macalex | Jul 27, 2003 06:56am | #5

   Like nearly every woodworker on the planet, I've also made jewellery boxes. I was going to put a photo of an example in sap/heart yew in the gallery this weekend but ran out of time.

   For a few years in the UK in the 80s, small boxes was a workshop staple - the boys and I made hundreds.

   Lift-out trays are always popular, and the suggestion above about drilling holes in a piece of solid wood is something I've spent some time playing with this last summer.

   I take a choice slab of antique mahogany or rosewood or burl elm or similar, use a Forstner bit to drill a close pattern of 25mm holes right through, smooth and relieve the inside surfaces and top, and glue on a slice of matching wood (or a thick piece of veneer) as the bottom. Sharpen a short length of 25mm ID steel or al pipe, and punch out leather or fabric washers to cover and cushion the bottoms of each hole.

   For rings, earrings, buttons, collar stiffeners ... whatever. I make the trays so they fit snugly front to back inside the box, and sit them up on a couple of spacers so there's room underneath for all the loose stuff that lives in treasure boxes. Sometimes I partition them off, so the space underneath is hidden and the stuff there doesn't mix with the rest of the box.

   For storing necklaces horizontally (in a flat form box), use long slots with a centre rise so that individual necklaces can be stored flat and untangled (and shown off). A simple version of French fitting. Can be individualised for each item.

   Drawers are good, but double or treble the time and cost. Lots of my customers liked quite small boxes, the usual size was 8 by 10 inches, and about 3-4 inches high.

   Edited 7/26/2003 11:57:54 PM ET by kiwimac

   Edited 7/26/2003 11:59:40 PM ET by kiwimac

1. 
   geoffmurray | Jul 28, 2003 01:00am | #6

   Thanks for the great suggestions. I like the holes for individual items/pairs. And the pegs for necklaces

   Has anyone tried a 'tuck and roll' style tray for rings? I imagine pieces of foam with eased edges, covered with fine fabric/velvet, placed side by side length wise. The rings (and perhaps stud earrings and keepers) would be held firm by the foam.

   I am planning a small wall hung cabinet inspired by Charles Rennie McIntosh's kimono cabinet. The top will have doors that open to form the 'arms' of the kimino, the bottom a series of drawers (which i agree are time consuming and fussy, but hey this is a masterpeice). What do you think about a mirror on the door? Or necklaces hanging from pegs on a tall thin pull out board?

1. 
   HONewbie | Jul 28, 2003 06:27pm | #7

   I built a cherry box for the ringbearer at our wedding to carry the rings in, and my wife uses it now beside her bathroom sink when she's washing her hands.  I did almost exactly what you describe.  I cut two pieces of green foam (just some stuff I picked up at the craft store) so that each of them was a little bigger than half the box.  Then instead of easing the corners, I just sprayed them good with spray-tack and wrapped the fabric tightly.  That gave them a nice rounded shape.  They were big enough that when pushed down into the box, they made a nice tight groove for the rings and required no adhesive to keep the foam from falling out.

   Bart

1. 
   macalex | Jul 30, 2003 10:59am | #8

   I've seen the tuck and roll approach used (I seem to recall there's a commercial manufacturer who does it) and it works well, as described above.

   I know there's been a lot of material published about boxes over the years, but I'd love to see someone do an "ideas" book. There are so many different ways to make and fit-out small boxes and chests, and it's such a popular subject!

2. 
   handtoolguy | Jul 30, 2003 07:40pm | #9

   Any chance you could post a picture???  Sounds like a great idea.

3. 
   HONewbie | Jul 31, 2003 11:47pm | #10

   No digital camera right now, but I'm thinking about buying one this weekend.  If I do, I'll post a pic.

   Bart