Box Making 101

Description

My name is Erik Curtis and I will be walking you through this Austin School of Furniture course on Box Making. I believe that making boxes is one of the best places to start in woodworking. It may be beginner friendly but box making can also be an advanced skillset with complicated, and ornate boxes. I find it extremely rewarding to design and build my own boxes and I believe you will too.

This particular class is made for beginners and will introduce you to foundational woodworking skills along with box making tips and tricks. I will show you everything you need to know to make your first small, simple box and set yourself up for success for your next one.

You don’t need a lot of tools or materials for this course so it’s great for those with small home shops or driveway setups.

You will need:

• Two species of wood
• Table saw with a crosscut sled or miter gauge
• Cordless drill and drill bit
• Brass rod or wooden dowel
• File and hacksaw (If you use a brass rod for the pull)

What’s included:

• 7 Video Lessons
• Measured drawings of 3 boxes
• Written instructions

• Section 1 – Understanding Wood
  • Lesson 1.1 – Understanding Wood Grain
  • Lesson 1.2 – Hardwood VS Softwood
  • Lesson 1.3 – Wood and Glue
• Section 2 – Box Joinery
  • Lesson 2.1 – Butt Joint
  • Lesson 2.2 – Rabbet Joint
  • Lesson 2.3 – Miter Joint
  • Lesson 2.4 – Dovetail Joint
• Section 3 – Box Design
  • Lesson 3.1 – The Elements and Principles of Design
  • Lesson 3.2 – Grain Choice
• Section 4 – The Mitered Box
  • Lesson 4.1 – Table Saw Parts
  • Lesson 4.2 – Making Safe Cuts
  • Lesson 4.3 – Ripping the Sides
  • Lesson 4.4 – The Rabbet and Dado
  • Lesson 4.5 – Cutting The Miter
  • Lesson 4.6 – Cutting The Bottom
• Section 5 – Assembly
  • Lesson 5.1 – Surface Preparation
  • Lesson 5.2 – Glue Up
  • Lesson 5.3 – Fitting the Lid
  • Lesson 5.4 – Making the Pull
• Section 6 – Finishing
  • Lesson 6.1 – Final Sanding
  • Lesson 6.2 – Spray On VS Wipe On Finish
  • Lesson 6.3 – My Favorite Box Finish
  • Lesson 6.4 – Disposing of the Oily Rags
• Section 7 – Next Steps