Replies

1. 
   davamoore | Aug 08, 2002 04:58pm | #1

   Joe, here's a link to a web page that has an extensive, detailed and very informative description of oval Shaker boxes and how to build them:

   http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/ShakerBoxes/index.html

   Hmmm... the garden or the workshop today?
1. 
   davamoore | Sep 22, 2002 11:02am | #2

   As a follow-up to my reply to joe, but to anyone else who's interested, I took a one-day Oval Shaker Box-making workshop yesterday, taught by the John Wilson referred to in the site I mentioned in my previous post.  (OK, re-read that sentence twice without needing a drink of water!)

   Anyway, I thought I'd just pass on my thoughts about the workshop and John Wilson.  If you're interested at all in making Shaker boxes, you should definitely check him out and see if he is conducting a class in your area (apparently he travels all over, although he's based in Michigan).  In a very, very short time he was able to successfully -- and with humor -- pass on the basics of making these boxes to a group of people with varying degrees of experience in woodworking.  Everyone managed to take home a complete set of five small, nested boxes (in my group, at least). 

   Not only that, but he provides additional reams of detailed information that will help you when you go back home and try to make them on your own.  (As with anything, making a basic box is relatively simple once you know the "tricks," but the knowledge he imparts -- plus some practice -- can and will help you turn acceptable boxes into very nice pieces to be proud of.)  Finally, he runs a business that provides anything you'd need to make these boxes -- videos, kits, patterns, pre-cut bands, lid blanks, etc.  You can buy it all from him, or just those things you can't or don't want to make yourself (like copper tacks, for instance).

   Anyway, I know this sounds like a shameless plug (and I'm always suspicious of those Amazon.com book "reviews" from "a reader" that gush about some obscure book), but I honestly had never met or really even heard of John before.  My interests still lie in larger casework and chairmaking, but I thought these boxes might make a nice gift idea.  Since finding information about crafts and skills is sometimes tough, I thought I'd describe my experience, in case anyone out there is interested.

   John's website is http://www.shakerovalbox.com

   David

   Hmmm... the garden or the workshop today?

   Edited 9/22/2002 4:50:21 AM ET by davamoore

1. 
   Jimma | Sep 22, 2002 05:19pm | #3

   Last spring my wife and I both took one of John's courses (at the Shaker village in Kentucky) and had a ball. Your remarks above are right on, especially if someone wants to shorten the learning curve.

1. 
   riverr1 | Sep 23, 2002 04:05am | #4

   I've never met or taken a class from him, but he is on Michigan public tv a couple of times a year. He is an entertaining guy on tv also.

   Don

2. 
   papaterry | Sep 23, 2002 04:22am | #5

   Joe:  Just got a book from Amazon, "Measured Dreawings of Shaker" by Ejner Handberg and he has a one page explanation for building boxes.  He also gives measured drawings of a number of popular pieces.  They don't show internal measurements or how to build but if you have built much furniture you should be able to figure them out quite easily.  Terry