The hinges were glued to this latest box while held closed by the Vise,
and weight was added as a sort of "clamp" to hold them on
while the glue dried overnight...

Yesterday Morning,
the weight was removed, revealing the new hinges...

The next step, is to insert 1/8" dowels into these 7/64" pilot holes...
The idea here, is to drill through the hinge and into the box-side,
without piercing through, and into the box....

Numerous means have been used over the years to set the depth!
Measuring, was the most commonly employed method,
but is difficult at best, on this small Drill Press...
Having to hold the tape and the box, while making adjustments,
created considerable consternation...
Yesterday I had a "New" thought...
Why not make a one-use, miniature "story board"???
And so I did...
A scrap was quickly marked and cut to the correct length...

A 3/4" 'auxiliary plate' added to the base plate got the whole business very close to the right height,
and with the Quill held in the dead down position,
the drill bit was simply allowed to slide down in the Chuck, kerplunk,
onto the scrap...

After tightening the Chuck, this worked perfectly for the fourteen Dowel "Pegs" used
and after trimming the excess dowel with a coping saw,
and filing the nubs nice and flush,
the hinges were on...

There was a little stiffness in these hinges when the Lid was opened,
so this Box definitely wants a Handle...
Handles, like Hinges, can be made in any configuration desired...
I have made many in a sort of "Trigger" style...

This time, because more "traditional" Hinges were made,
the same approach was applied to the Lid Lift or Handle...
Started by clamping two pieces of Cherry together
and boring Two holes between them...

Only one of these will be needed...
The wood between the the two holes is quickly chiseled away...

Pilot holes were again drilled into this piece
and the Scroll Saw was again used for two-directional cutting...

Further shaping was hand achieved with files and sanding...
Even my Pocket Knife made a rare appearance, rough-rounding the outside!
When it was symmetrical and satisfactory, the Handle too
was glued to the Box...

Two Dowels were inserted into this Handle in the same fashion as the Hinges,
indeed, using the same "Story Board"...
The Box is done, and has moved on to the "Finishing Department"

Even though Clear Satin Poly is being applied,
these Old Woods took on some wonderfully dark tones...
Thanks for your interest if you read along!
Have a Great Labor Day! :)

31 August 2025