How To Make a Simple Box w/ Handtools for the Beginner

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Mailing Address:
Darbin Orvar
PO BOX 1101
Goochland, VA 23063

How to find Linn @ Darbin Orvar

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[Toqueville]

The idea of no power tools is appealing. Many of the demos on Youtube use a abundance of power tools. I live in an apartment so using only hand tools is perfect. I enjoy your narrative. Thank you!

[paulhasser]

Beautiful box. I can see using the same method for building small drawers.
I love the shot of you working at night with the candle in the background.

[andrewpinson]

I like the naming of tools in the videos. One suggestion is to get a hand router plane - a small one and large one is best. Lie Nielsen (expensive) or Lee Valley (lots of blade selections) offer good new ones. Would make cutting dados or rabbets by hand much easier. more accurate and rather fun.

[EamonWalshDIY]

Simple yet beautiful and a great way to use up scarp and leftover pieces. Also its a great project for beginners!!

[chaplainand]

Thank you for posting. I appreciate you calm spirit and encouragement to just do the best you can and not be overly concerned about the final result, knowing that adjustments can be made. I appreciate you willingness to demonstrate the personal quality of risk-taking. Having our risk result in a satisfactory product is very confidence building. This is a project where a young person could be introduced to hand-tool use in a very non-threatening way. And, getting a sliver or a small cut or nick is not the end of the world. Whoever mentored you, please thank them too, even if it was a video. Blessings to you and yours.

[garypopa]

If the box is small, no problem. But for larger boxes I suggest using a shiplap panels for bottom and top to allow for seasonal wood movement for solid woods (no concern with wood movement if using plywood). Another possibility is to float the top/bottom in a dado/groove as often seen in drawers. What you want to avoid is a long glued cross grain situation which will cause stress in the top/bottom panels. Love the simplicity and corner joinery of the box. Appreciate naming the tools in the video. Not everyone has a shoulder plane but these do the job like no other hand tool.

[billffromnh]

A very nice utilitarian box. The video gave me some things to think about when I make a box for some of my great-grandfather's chisels that I have to restore. I'll vary the dimensions & build it less deep than yours, but you got me thinking. Thanks.

[davidclark]

Very good and informative video. Using hand tools means lots of practice so making boxes like this is a great way to learn and, as she noted, great use for leftover pieces of wood. The boxes make great gifts as well.

[UnicornGuru]

This is exactly what I was looking for. Very helpful, informative, and, surprisingly, relaxing. 😊 Thank you for sharing!

[MCsCreations]

Beautiful work, Linn! Really well made! 😃
I'm going to try it myself!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[rumamazumder]

Mam your video was very useful and the box was looking like a makeup box

[NicosProjects]

Very nice work - doing it with simple tools is like meditation ☺️ Best regards Nico from Nico’s Projects

[MastaMan]

The first video I saw of yours was when you were doing 2000sq ft of flooring and I was like.... wut *cringe..., but I watched quite a few more and I'm like you're really good at woodworking :) I've learned quite a bit.

[loteknomad]

I had the chance to work on a project with joints like this, sawed and then chiseled as you've done. There's something remarkably satisfying about the moment the joints come together. :) Cool project. Wood planks seem like one of the best materials to recycle, as they take on character and charm with use and age. I find mismatched planks, far from seeming out of place, carry an additional appeal all their own.

[asterixgaul]

Beautiful! Thanks for showing how to cut open the box using a saw. I don’t have a table saw and I am going to try it now that you have shown how to do this! Thanks much!

[jeremys.]

I love this "simple box" serie 😊

[pascaldpr]

Bonjour de 🇫🇷, le résultat est bluffant avec pour cette boîte réalisée avec des outils à main !!👍 très agréable à regarder et 🎼super cool 😉.
Bravo et merci pour ce partage ! À bientôt Pascal.

[BeginnerCyclistNetwork]

Great video. I am a complete beginner and I am lacking in tools. I really enjoyed your video and it is very inspiring. My son and I will be trying this at some point. Thank you.

[edbilek]

Nice skill builder box. One thing about Japanese Hand Saws is that they are designed to cut on the pull stroke, not as much on the push. It is sometimes hard to remember (but that's what Skill projects are for).

[Wildevis]

I love those closed boxes yo make and also not that difficult with hand tools!!