Bandsaw box topped with carving

[Coogara]

My wife asked for a carving of a frog, to represent a quote wrongly attributed to Mark Twain: "Eat that frog". It is intended to suggest that, if you do the job most objectionable to you first, and get it out of the way, everything else will seem less burdensome.

I decided to go further than just carve a frog and combine it with a bandsaw box, something I'd not made before. Starting with a block of 6"x6"x3.5" Elm, the block was prepared and sanded, and edges rounded. Rather than just cut in from the side, as is done with most bandsaw boxes, I cut a slot 1/4" deep in the bottom, to act as the entry point for the bandsaw. Later this was filled with a piece of Redgum, to provide a feature.

The box was ready to carve, but without any available hold down points, I carved a slightly oversized pocket into an old spoilboard

and wedged the box in firmly to carve a sentiment on the bottom

I then reversed the process and wedged the box in for carving the top

To prevent chipout, when the bit was carving air (I was carving right to the edges of the box), I attached a skirt around the box

Continued in next post

[Coogara]

The skirt worked well

I rounded over the top edges and finished sanding

I created a Redgum handle, attached it with some CA, and the box was ready to finish with wipe-on poly:

[Bob Jr]

Coogara,
I liked the story of the frog!
I really like the design and quality of your project.
Now I must go make a frog box.
Bob
One more thing...Who did say "Eat that frog"?

[mtylerfl]

Great project and enjoyable read! Beautiful work. Thank you for sharing the photos and process with us!

[Coogara]

Hi Bob,

There's a book by Brian Tracy: "Eat That Frog!: 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time". I understand he credits Mark Twain; all authoritative references say it wasn't Twain, but without crediting anyone in particular. So, really, source unknown. Still, good advice!

Graeme

[TReischl]

Nicely done!

[scottp55]

THAT came out NICE Graeme!!
Like Michael and Bob, I like the backstory and the pics and description of the process! Thanks!

Elms took a SERIOUS hit when I was growing up from Dutch Elm Disease, and I watched first hand how much time and money people used to try to save the centuries old Elms along Rt1 and at the oldest houses in our town in NH. First time I've really seen how NICE the wood is.
A BIG thing was made of cutting down the oldest Elm in a town just North of me about 8 yrs ago;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbie_(tree)

Afraid I won't be making a "Frog Box", as it might lose me my standing among the World's Best Procrastinators
GLAD Jan likes it!! (mission accomplished!)
scott
Oh...Nice to see you posting again:)

[Coogara]

Ah, so you're the master procrastinator, of whom Prince Charles once said: "Who?"

The Elm slab I have has beautiful grain. The box is a nice example of the wood. It can be a pain to turn on the lathe, but CNC work comes up really well.

One thing I didn't mention was that, after roughing the top of the frog, I pretty much lost my 'top of wood' for zeroing the finishing bit (almost all wood gone), which I knew was going to happen. So I had to predetermine the height from the top of the wood to the zero plate sitting on the spoilboard so I could establish a starting point for the finishing bit. Worked out fine. Lowered it a further 500ths, just to be sure.

I hope some woodies made good use of the oldest Elm (Herbie) being cut down. Nice tribute to Frank Knight to make is coffin from it.

[PSutter]

Nice work. I always like bandsaw boxes and you've made a great one there, inspiring. Thanks for the process too!