My son, Caleb (age 6) was asking for a treasure box during recent trips to several antique stores. I told him we could make one together. This is made completely from the scrap bin. The box and slats are various pieces of pine ("premium" overpriced BORG clear stuff plus some construction grade stuff) and the arcs on either side of the lid are poplar. The slats were glued to some cotton duck before being placed over the arc to make them as tight as possible. We finished it with General Finishes Golden Oak and two coats of Enduro Var applied via HVLP. Since the photos were taken we've buffed it out with some Dark Brown Bri Wax, which evened out the finish, helped blend away a few mistakes and added a little more character. This was the first box I've ever built and the first dovetails I've ever cut. Caleb did all the crosscuts, with a little assistance, on the miter saw and I did the balance of rips, band sawing, routing and sanding. Caleb applied the stain as well. We're waiting for some stay hinges and a full mortise lock to be delivered so Caleb can start enjoying his treasure box!
