This unique wooden book is a keepsake box

Starring

Steve Ramsey

Hey there, in this YouTube video, I'm going to show you how to make an awesome scrap wood project - a book-shaped box. The cool thing is, you don't need to buy any new lumber for this; just use some hardwood you have lying around. I recommend using hardwood over softwood; for this project, I'm using a nice piece of cherry. First off, I start by working on the spine. I use my crosscut sled to remove the middle part of the spine. Setting the blade to 3/8 inch height, I make the cut, setting up a stop block for accuracy. A crosscut sled is awesome for this, making the small piece safer to handle. Now, I want the outer part of the spine to have a curve, so I mark where I want that curve to end up and use a random orbit sander to shape it. Just a bit of material to remove, and it's done. Moving on, I need to cut notches in the book covers to fit into the spine. With my crosscut sled again, I make those cuts, ensuring I have proper support. To thin down the covers, I'm going to re-saw a board. A bandsaw is ideal for this, but I use my table saw with careful setup to do the job. Safety is a priority; I use a variety of tools like push sticks, a feather board, and a special fence for stability. Now, the exciting part: gluing the spine and covers together. I make sure to align everything perfectly. The hinge is a bit tricky, and I use dowel pins for a smooth open-close action. Finishing touches include chamfering edges, rounding corners, and applying lacquer. I line the interior with felt and fine-tune the hinge. And voila, there you have it - a beautiful book-shaped box, all made from scrap wood! So, that's the rundown of how I created this awesome project. Remember, it's all about using what you have and getting creative with the tools you've got. Stay safe and enjoy your woodworking journey!