The Spice Box Challenge

Honduras Mahogany

This week we set out to buy wood for some spice boxes. I have it in my mind to make at least one, but my wife thinks I should make at least 3.

Before starting this project I tried to research plans that we could use. I located four different plans. Fine Woodworking had two sets but we wanted more options. One set of plans was advertised on many different sites, but only the exterior of the box was shown and that is like buying a house without seeing the inside. I am too cheap to buy plans online without knowing what I am getting.

Popular Woodworking had plans in one of their past issues and that is the set I decided on. (It  actually seems to be the same plans for the one I liked most found here.)

We really liked the spice box in Tiber Maple so we visited Karl's Rare Woods and picked out some boards. (Rare Woods was a good find for me. It is a small business near Georgia Tech and is hardly noticeable. The guys there are helpful. They have to be, because lumber is everywhere and one could spend weeks rummaging through their supply.)

I went into the store looking specifically for Tiger Maple.  Then they showed me some Honduras Mahogany, and a bunch of veneers that I had to have. Now it would seem one of the spice boxes will have an exterior of Honduras Mahogany.

Tiger Maple is new territory for me. The photos don't show off the pattern but it is there. 

Tiger Maple being cut to rough length.