Making Heirloom Boxes [Paperback]

Peter Lloyd (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 28, 2002

Guided by an experienced woodworker and hundreds of photos, enjoy a full course that covers everything: sourcing and seasoning different woods; choosing and using tools and equipment, and mastering basic techniques (mapping out the design, making dovetails, assembling the internal pieces), and more. Projects include a strap-hinged box with a curved drawer; a chess box with board; and a skeleton box.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Boxes are some of the most popular woodworking projects around, and professional box maker Lloyd offers projects that are beautiful as well as useful; many use the wood's natural edges or unusual grain as a design feature. The boxes' interiors are very functional, with compartments for money, jewelry, or stationery. An especially appealing design feature is the use of solid wooden hinges, which are both functional and attractive. This title was originally published in Britain, which poses no problem, as measurement conversions are provided. However, the use of the term belt linisher for belt sander will sound somewhat wacky to most American readers. Filled with numerous attractive designs, this title should be part of any woodworking collection.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Guild of Master Craftsman (May 28, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1861081766
• ISBN-13: 978-1861081766
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,887 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book!, December 8, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Making Heirloom Boxes (Paperback)

This is a wonderful book with 14 "how-to" projects. The author takes you through step-by-step in some very nicely illustrated explanations. The full-page color photos of each finished project are gorgeous! Some of the techniques (ie cutting half-blind dovetails with a router) are probably more for intermediate and above woodworkers but certainly a beginner would be inspired and learn quite a bit. I've made two projects from this book and been quite pleased with the results. A nicely done book!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Practical Artwork, January 31, 2005

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Making Heirloom Boxes (Paperback)

Peter Lloyd is a noted British box maker who has a unique style all his own. Although, if questioned, I believe that Lloyd would claim that his style is the wood's own, since his work is an interesting combination of the use of natural wood in his work often with a deceptively rustic touch. He will often use shaping to highlight the interesting features of the wood, with attractive details like wood hinges.

In "Making Heirloom Boxes" Lloyd focuses in on several of his characteristic works and takes a deep dive in the making of each one. While I don't always 'like' what Lloyd does, his integrity of design and approach are admirable. As you dig into his processes you get glimpses of the mind behind than. In the end you get both a set of advanced lessons in box making, and a good study of what it means to be an artist and craftsman.

Despite Lloyd's comfortable writing style, I found myself in difficulties a few times due to subtle differences in language use. Occasionally you will find yourself staring at a sentence or the title of a photograph with no immediate clue of what is going on. It takes a bit of study and contemplation before all becomes clear. There is an accidental benefit to this, because the reader is forced to think out the work, which is something we do all to rarely.

This is also an excellent study of one man's workshop, one that came into being slowly and makes use of 'found' or made tools, rather than the more common habit of equipping a workshop with a lot of expensive gear. On several occasions Lloyd will be describing how he sets up to do one thing or another and you will find yourself amazed at the lengths Lloyd will actually go to not have a $1500 router table. I can't say that I blame him in the least - I'll be paying for my workshop all the way into my next life.

Taken in all this is an excellent look at the philosophy, style, and processes of one of box making's shining stars. Something of a practical autobiography. I didn't any brilliant design ideas from it simply because Lloyd's style is very individual. But I picked up a lot of little clues that will help me work out my own style.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than you expect....., December 7, 2004

By 

KRASSEL (SPANAWAY, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Making Heirloom Boxes (Paperback)

This book contained a lot more information than I first thought it would. Mr LLoyd is an accomplished box maker and doesn't hesitate to share his hard learned lesson's. Anyone who thinks making decorative, art or jewelry boxes is easy, is someone who hasn't done it yet. Mr LLoyd goes into a lot of detail on all aspects of making fine boxes. Tools, selecting and caring for your wood, design/layout, cutting/shaping, fitting and finish. It is all in here. He offers hand and power tool techniques, and stress's that you can get by with a bare minimum of tools. The sections on making wooden hinges,an art in itself, justified the cost of this book. I have had this book for a couple years now, and find myself returning to it for ideas alot. I, like Mr LLoyd , enjoy using wild grained woods and adding profiles to enhance the natural look of the finished product. The projects included in the book are beautifully done and photographed, with plenty of detail supplied to allow you to make beautiful boxes yourself.Highly recommend for boxmakers of all skill levels.