What is a box, anyway?
I used to equate boxes with squares and rectangles with lids, that is, until I got involved with wood turning. Now I include cylinders with lids.
I was in the shop and had a hankering to turn something. I had a piece of Maple that was kindly gifted from a friend, and it seemed to inspire a small box. This was my second project with a bowl gouge, and I had adjusted the grind (the shape of the cutting edge of the tool), so I was looking forward to testing it out.
The box measures about 3.75" in diameter, so there's not much room for candy inside. This is better suited for something you have very little of, like hope for the 2024 presidential election.
While it was taking shape on the lathe, I realized I quite liked the proportions of the box, but it needed something additional to complete it. A finial on the lid was a possible solution, though I had never attempted a finial before. I found a piece of Mahogany, which was not only an aesthetic choice, but since Mahogany has a very consistent and straight grain, it made for a more reliable finial attempt.
In the end, I got lucky with some beautiful grain and colorful accents in the wood, and I'm pleased with the end result.
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