Hardwood casing options: Input desired

Mar 19, 2006 at 8:33 PM Thread Starter Post #1 of 42
Clutz

Clutz

Tells us when we're offset.
Joined
Jun 7, 2002
Posts
2,483
Likes
13
I'm trying to build a hardwood case for one of my headphone amplifiers (PPA). If it goes well, I'm going to build one for my Millett Hybrid and one for my USB DAC. Please note, that this has not been sanded, stained or in anyway assembled yet. I've just started cutting the wood. I know the cuts are not terribly clean - I have a small apartment, and the only saw I have is a rather small (and wimpy) 3A jigsaw. Hence, I've made the cuts too big so that I can sand them down. It's not an ideal situation, but it's something I can make work.

Right now I have two different ways of making the case, one which I call a "clean top", and one which I call "clean sides".


Clean top: Looking from the top down, you only see a single continuous piece of wood, but looking at the case from the left or right sides, you can see three pieces of wood.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13803810@N00/114813733/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13803810@N00/114814116/


Clean sides: Looking from the top down, you can see three pieces of wood, but looking at the case from the sides only see a single piece.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13803810@N00/114813987/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13803810@N00/114813817/

My preference is for the clean sides look. I just think the box looks better proportioned.

What do you think? What do you think looks better?
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:38 PM Post #2 of 42
I think they both have to opportunity to look nice once you get them sanded and stained.

Have you ever thought about just using a cigar box? They're stupid cheap and real easy to sand off the markings. I think the cedar smells nice too.

B
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:46 PM Post #3 of 42
Quote:

I think they both have to opportunity to look nice once you get them sanded and stained.


You can sand it until your finger tips bleed but being solid Oak it will never be dead flat smooth.For that you need to go to one of the closed grain hardwoods such as cherry or mahogany or even my all time fav black walnut.

Now if you have a planing table handy............
very_evil_smiley.gif


Quote:

Have you ever thought about just using a cigar box? They're stupid cheap and real easy to sand off the markings. I think the cedar smells nice too.



Not a stupid idea at all and in fact many are mahogany.I seriously doubt any are cedar since the oils inherent in the wood (and what makes it superb for bug free bedding storage as a chest liner) would seep into any cigar making it unsmokeable,maybe even poisonous.

I could be wrong on that but I know from my former life as a reptile breeder the oils in cedar are deadly poison to some species
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:52 PM Post #4 of 42
Go for the clean sides, it looks better.

Also, your cuts don't look so bad. If you want a faster way than sanding to clean up the sides, get a plane. You'd probably want a #4 or #5, and you can find a used one for $20 or so. Old Stanleys are plentiful and of good quality. They're relatively easy to tune up and use, too.
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:52 PM Post #5 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by ilikemonkeys
I think they both have to opportunity to look nice once you get them sanded and stained.

Have you ever thought about just using a cigar box? They're stupid cheap and real easy to sand off the markings. I think the cedar smells nice too.

B


That's a good idea- where would I get them?

I sort of thought this would just be a fun sunday afternoon project.
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:56 PM Post #6 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42
You can sand it until your finger tips bleed but being solid Oak it will never be dead flat smooth.For that you need to go to one of the closed grain hardwoods such as cherry or mahogany or even my all time fav black walnut.

Now if you have a planing table handy............
very_evil_smiley.gif



I am trying to find a block of cherry, mahogany, walnut or teak - but I don't know where to go looking for them in my town (Vancouver). I've bought everything so far at Home Depot. My goal is to have somethig that looks pretty good - something that'll let me get my feet wet and get some confidence with this.
smily_headphones1.gif
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 8:58 PM Post #7 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by Clutz
That's a good idea- where would I get them?

I sort of thought this would just be a fun sunday afternoon project.


..evening, night and probably a Monday project
biggrin.gif



As for where to find.. Ebay.. or any Cigar place. Humidors...mmmmm
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 9:08 PM Post #8 of 42
Quote:

I am trying to find a block of cherry, mahogany, walnut or teak - but I don't know where to go looking for them in my town (Vancouver).


likely would be in the phone book under "specialty woods" or something similiar.There is also the online option but i should tell you up front you need the proper tools to make clean cuts and hardwoos is very aptly named
very_evil_smiley.gif


the ideal of course goes beyond hobbyist hand tools and into serious woodshop but one item that I personally find indispensable is a biscuit joiner for making a box with real strength.Does not matter if the joint is a miter joint,lap joint,whatever they ALL benefit from a biscuit at the joints for strength.
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 9:45 PM Post #13 of 42
Every cigar shop has a huge collection of empty boxes, and they usually sell them for under 5 bucks. They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes too.

About the cedar? All my cigar boxes are cedar, and my favorite cigars come cedar wrapped.....if the oils aren't going to kill me, the tar sure will.
 
Mar 19, 2006 at 9:47 PM Post #14 of 42
Quote:

Originally Posted by rickcr42
BTW-mine is this puppy
icon10.gif



Certainly helps to keep joints together that's for sure, although with some of the thicknesses that I've been working with there simply isn't room for a biscuit. If I could get a weekend off from work I'd finish up the walnut case I've been working on for six months!

Clutz,

I'd avoid showing endgrain wherever possible, I just don't care for the way it looks on cases. For whatever reason it looks lazy to me, like you couldn't figure out how to do a decent joint so you just lapped the two pieces of wood and gave up.

My 2¢,

Nate
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top