Wood: Curly maple, walnut keys
Finish: Super-blonde shellac, wax. Three coats of shellac, sanded to take care of the grain-raising effects, three more coats, let dry for a week, wet sand with mineral oil and 600 grit wet/dry paper, repeat with 1000 grit paper, rub out with mineral oil and pumice, then with rottenstone. Wax lightly.
Oldtools used: saws and planes, mainly. Miter trimmer for the joints.
Lessons learned: This is a joint project with tile artist Jackie Avery - the box has been sent up to her studio for her to figure out what would work with it. This time, we decided to do the box first and the tile later. It's a lot easier that way.
Remarks: Synthetic (acrylic) felt stains too easily. I suspect wool would not be so susceptible during the finishing process, but the lining is attached to the bottom and so must be done before the box is assembled. An alternative would be to finish the inside of the box completely before assembly. There is now another piece of felt overlaying this one so the stains no longer are visible.
