Introduction to box making

Description

My weekend box making courses are for a maximum of four people and are run in my well appointed barn conversion workshops. They offer a friendly and informal environment for learning some of the techniques that I regularly use to produce my boxes – and for meeting other like-minded enthusiasts. Although primarily a project-based course, this weekend also serves as a more general introduction to the many fundamental processes I’ve developed over the years, many of which are transferrable to other woodwork projects. WHAT YOU MAKE: each participant makes a simple, elegant, rectangular box, approx 10” x 7” x 3” with solid sides, a veneered, book-matched lid with my own designed decorative line inlaid around it. It is fitted with my own brand hinges, smartHinges, and the interior is lined with pig-suede. To save time the initial conversion will have already been done, but participants have choices as follows: • Wood for the main carcass – walnut, maple or cherry. • Veneer for the lid – walnut, a variety of figured maples or cherry to match, or contrast with, the solid. • Inlay around lid – usually a choice of two of my own produced lines designed specially for box making. • Lining material - a choice of plenty of colours of beautiful pig-suede. All the important processes are completed during the weekend, however the limited time means that there will still be a few processes that need to be completed by participants. Final sanding, oiling, attaching the hinges (with mortices already machined) and finishing the lining are all very straightforward and can be achieved on a kitchen table with a minimum of equipment. The final result could be a jewellery box, a stationery/writing box, or just a box - the choice is yours. WHAT YOU LEARN: during 40 years of box making, and 25 years running courses, I’ve made every mistake in the book (and plenty that aren’t, so I make sure you don’t! During the weekend you will learn how to: • Achieve a perfect book-match and veneer the panels to create the lid and base – simply, cleanly, reliably. • Glue up a box so that it’s absolutely square WITHOUT having to measure diagonals. • Cut off the lid quickly, easily and neatly - the boxes are glued up ‘closed’. • Accurately and safely cut the grooves for the inlays inverted on a router table. • Trim the outer corners of router-cut inlay grooves perfectly square. • Make PERFECT mitres where your inlays meet at the corners. • Sharpen and use the mighty scraper – the most versatile and best value tool you will EVER own. • Use abrasives to prepare for finishing properly. • Apply an oil finish. • Line your box to a professional finish with pig-suede. • …and many other tricks and tips along the way! EXPERIENCE: no experience is necessary – although most who attend will inevitably have had some experience in working with wood. Beginners are certainly welcome. Most of the processes I use, and teach, are what can be described as ‘de-skilled’. That is, success depends on approaching a process in a certain way, setting up the right jigs (all very simple), doing things in the right order, breaking things down to easily manageable elements, rather than needing to have excellent hand skills. Many who attend my courses remark that what they’ve made is the best thing they’ve every created! WHAT NEXT? The ground that can be covered by any project-based course is necessarily mostly limited to the project in hand. Some who attend are inspired to proceed to the full 6 day version of this course which results in a completed box, including making a tray, fitting a lock and escutcheon, with finishing and lining all completed. Some go on to one of the other more advanced courses I offer, and others are inspired to come and spend some one-to-one time with me so that certain aspects touched on during the weekend can be investigated in more detail. This can be making inlay lines, using burr veneers, curved-form boxes, learning french polishing, fitting complex interiors – or to make a special project from scratch... I look forward to meeting you! Andrew Crawford (smartBoxmaker).

What's included in the price?

All materials and tools are provided, although participants are welcome to bring their own veneers and/or hand tools if they like. Excellent coffee, tea and biscuits are available throughout your time here. Lunch is in the local pub on day one, each pays own, then on day two either in the pub again, or sandwiches in the workshop as preferred.

Cancellation policy

Medium - Cancellation and a full refund can be obtained up to 4 weeks before the course starts

Maker

smartBoxmaker

with Craft Courses since 2025

Message the tutor

Andrew Crawford is an internationally renowned and respected craftsman specialising in the creation of distinctive one-of-a-kind high-end boxes and cases. He has worked for an impressive list of private and corporate clients worldwide for more than 30 years. Originally trained as a musician specialising in C18th flutes, until recently Andrew was performing and recording regularly with many of the top UK period instrument ensembles. A love of wood led Andrew to study guitar and C18th flute making at the London College of Furniture. But he has avoided the obvious marriage of music and wood - musical instrument making - preferring to make use of some of the skills and approaches he picked up to develop a style of box making he has made his own, featuring as it does multiple curves, fine veneering, distinctive inlaid motifs and complex interiors. Since moving from a cramped shared London workshop to extensive barn conversion workshops on the Acton Scott Estate in beautiful South Shropshire, his activities have largely shifted from making towards teaching and writing. He has written three popular books on box making, and many hundreds of box makers, both amateur and professional and from all over the globe, have benefitted from his courses. These range from weekends to 2 weeks, both project and technique-based, both group and one-to-one, and cover a wide range of subjects including veneering, inlaying, box design, use of materials, french polishing and many other related techniques. Andrew, often known professionally as ‘smartBoxmaker’, has also been an invited instructor in Australia and the US. Being a perfectionist and dissatisfied with the box hardware generally available he has designed his own premium hardware. His ‘smartWare’ box hardware is now regularly used by 100s of discerning professional and amateur box makers all over the globe, being regularly referred to as the ‘Rolex’ or ‘Rolls Royce’ of box hardware.