I think it was one of our Shop Teachers in High School, who told us about how challenging
Shop was in the "Old Days"... We were told for instance, that for their Final, each Student was allowed any one Board
out of the Wood Room, to make anything they could imagine... They were then marked on originality, skill shown, even effective wood use!
This idea has always intrigued me, to the point that I have done it, many many times...

After most of my Shop was moved up from the Cellar it did, of course, leave some open area in the Basement...
This I've been cleaning, straightening out and sorting stuff...
I came across a "One-Point" Fence for Bandsaws that I made after seeing them on LJ's many Years ago...

I applaud you guys who have Bandsaws that cut straight!
Mine does not, with this Fence or any...
Anyway, the Fence was taken apart, merely to save the screws...
When the Fence was disassembled, these were found, being used as spacers...

We have 6 almost-same size "cards", 3 - Yellowheart, and 3 Ipe, and Two scraps of Red Oak drawer side scraps...
What can be made???
(Whatever is made, some usage simply must be made out of those two wonderful light and dark woods!)

I see Boxes everywhere, and here is no different, the last few days have been spent sorting out some special sides for one...
Three "Packets" were made (actually four, because one was halved) by taping a light and dark piece together...

 
After marking the ends evenly, templates were made and used to draw "Waves"...
These were then ripped with the Scroll Saw...
As the 'Slices' come off the Saw, light and dark are separated, and then juxtaposed
in their positioning...

The Original Wish for these box-sides, was that the Waves would circle the Box...
I've never done this particular exercise before and was unfamiliar with all off the mirror imaging of the whole thing...
But it will work! As long as a little bit, a 'thin' 1/4" is taken off the width of each part...
That can't be done, until these are glued up!
For that, a clamping board was quickly made...

Two Parallel Straightedges, screwed to a larger board...
The Clamping Board was made wider than necessary (it may get used again!)
and spacers are added...
Opposed Wedges, cut in various thicknesses from old shingles, provide the clamping...

No time like the Present...  A glue station was set up and....

The Glue-up was done twice... Collectively, the three (four) Packets that were started with, produced 4 - long sides and 4 - short sides...

This Morning started with the six best sides being selected and labeled...
The pieces were trimmed for width, like discussed earlier, on the Table Saw...
Then the Miters were cut... To do that, a sacrificial board was clamped to the Miter Saw first..
After cutting that board, the Blade's cut path was very clear! One Miter Cut was quickly made on each piece,
and then the second side was cut, once a stop block was added (twice- long and short) after determining the least common denominator...
Which brings us here...

In 'Real-Time', I'll hopefully have it glued before the day's through...
I had hoped those Red Oak pieces would be a good fit for the top and bottom of this Hexabox
but the end result is slightly bigger than anticipated...
If you took the Time, Thanks for following along!
I needed a little break from the Upstairs Bathroom and was glad to find an alternative! 

8 November 2026