Curiosity Boxes

[metalspinner]

My oldest son has a very curious mind and loves to collect things that most people would find disgusting ranging all the way to horrifying. :D

Last year his B-day and Christmas lists included special items from an entomology websight. Very cool stuff if you ask me. ;)

These insects come packaged and dried in "unmounted" poses.  The customer needs to hydrate then pose the insect for display.  That was this past weekend's project.   His mother was not home during the work. :D

During the week, I made a few boxes for him to display his craft and handywork...




  



  






These boxes are made with spalted beech off-cuts with the largest being about  5" x 6".  A sliding lid reveals his curiosity protected under an 1/8" plexiglass panel.  I see many, many more boxes in my future. :D

I can't wait to work with the dinner plate sized spider he has! 8)

[Clam77]

 :D   Just wait till his mother opens that dinner-plate sized spider box one day when he hands it to her and tells her it's a present...    :D

AWSOME looking boxes though.    8)

[SwampDonkey]

Nice handy work on those boxes.  ;D I think he's trying to impress the girls with the cool bugs. ;)

[pigman]

I am impressed with the boxes. My daughter with her entomology degree would be impressed with the insects.

[CHARLIE]

Nice boxes! AND beautiful spalted beech! Your son has a treasure to keep his bugs in.  Both Tom and I were majoring in Entomology before we got into computer business.  It'll all drive you buggy.

[metalspinner]

He is quite the bug guy.  His first merit badge in Boy Scouting was the Insect Merit badge. A few of the older kids couldn't believe he would attempt such a difficult one to start. :D  He could have written the book! :D :D

He had to interview someone who worked with insects.  His uncle is an exterminator. That didn't go over well. :D  So we interviewed a fella that works at the Audubon Insectarium in NOLA.  That was a great time. One thing he mentioned was that most entomologists specialize in just one bug.

Thanks for the kind words on the boxes.  It was nice to get in the shop and make something for the fun of it and without a deadline.  I forgot how much fun it can be.

[WDH]

The next time I see a spalted beech box with a sliding lid, I will open it carefully  :D.

[metalspinner]

Next time, it might not be a spalted beech box with a sliding lid. ;) :D

[WDH]

Oh no!!!!!

[TreeWinder]

Very nice looking work on those boxes.

[D Hagens]

 
Really nice boxes, and a very cool idea

[Lud]

Nice looking boxes.  What finish?

[thecfarm]

Better than seeing front of a TV,computer all day. You didn't do to bad either.

[Busy Beaver Lumber]

Very nice looking boxes. Now the fun can begin. Place one on the kitchen table with a note that says "Do Not Open Box". Most people can not resist the temptation and will open it anyway just out of curiosity. You will be able to tell when they do from the ear piercing scream.

[DanG]

Next time, it might not be a spalted beech box with a sliding lid. ;) :D

It also might not be dead. ;D

Great job, M-spinner! 8)

[metalspinner]

 :D :D

To finish off the joke the right way, a hidden video camera should be employed, right? ;D

Lud,
I used Deft spray lacquer.  We were a little impatient and wanted to mount them right away.  Three coats of lacquer were sprayed and dried in one day.  The lacquer also keeps the colors true (non yellowing).

[SwampDonkey]

I've been experimenting with non yellowing shellac this winter as well. 

[CHARLIE]

I'm a real believer in both lacquer and shellac as a finish. It dries fast and doesn't yellow or darken the project. I rarely use a varnish finish anymore.

[SwampDonkey]

I meant to say Shellac. On my stuff there is an expiry date to watch.