Cigar box top carving

[cb1959]

I picked up the cigar box top carving off the form last week and decided to give it a try.
I purchased 3 boxes for $4 each at the cigar shop and started getting the logo off the top. One box (pictured) had a 2 color logo, was made of maghoney, held $18.00 cigars, the box was stained and had several coats of laquor, then silk screened logo in 2 colors, then a couple of layers of laquer on top.
I first used Goo Gone, the sticker removeal Orange oil trick. That worked great for those stickers. Then I tried Acetone on the silk screened label. No luck, next step was wet or dry 800 grit sand paper with water. This worked real well, just take your time, use a back up block to keep a flat plane. Clean often with water and start again. Took about 15 minutes to get it off. I then cleaned it off good and allowed to dry good in the sun. I sprayed 2 coats of Deft, allowed to dry over night.
Next I used one of Lora Irish line dwgs from her Tattoo book, sprayed the back if a copy with removable/repositioning adhesive. Applied to box, used a Flexcut V gouge and carved through the paper into the box. Removed the paper and walla a relief type picture.
Thanks to who ever made the first post, could not find it to give proper credit.
Comments welcome.
Charlie

[Terry Murphy]

Very nice looking Cigar Box.
I would like to see more.

[mpounders]

Looks good Charles! I can't remember who posted it either, but I also thought it was a great idea. I like the one you posted about using the wooden spoons also.

[JoeVM]

That turned out really nice Charlie. The recent post on boxes was by Pappajohn (see similar threads at bottom of page).

[cb1959]

Thanks Pappa John for the lead.
I dropped by and picked up 4 more boxes. Hope to use them for boxes to put Christmass Presents into next year. Long range planning
Charlie

[Dan Wegiel]

Hi Charlie,
Very nice scene!

Dan

[chpster90bu]

Charlie. NICE WORK on that cigar box! I loved it. Bonnie

[cb1959]

Here are a couple more pictures of some boxes cleaned up.
The last ones I purchased had gold foil & paper lables on them instead of the silk screened ones. I used the Orange Blast from Lowes to get the gum adhesive off of these but I learned a little along the way.
First do not heat them to soften the adhesive on the label, it causes the adhesive to crystalize and makes it even harder to get offf. Also the finish will crack if you heat it up to much. This was a real learning cycle.
After you peal the foil off the Orange Blast works well, however do not leave it on to long it will lift finish and stain/paint. Also the Orange Blast seems to work better than Goo Gone.
Decals that are painted over can only be sanded off. I tried everything I could think of to remove them.
The picture showing the gold logo is actually stamped into the wood. I decided on this one I would leave the logo and relief both sides. Also it is painted with no wood grain showing. The best ones are the ones with some grain showing.
Will post pictures when finished.
Some boxes are painted, others have a stained wood finished, these work best. That is how the first one was finished.
I also left the logos and decoration on the insides and some on outsides intact. After all they are cigar boxes.
This should give you some ideas.
Charlie

[Sharon of the Dell]

I really like what you did! really nice.

[Ron T]

Hi Charlie, that's a great job on the cigar box. It never occurred to me to do anything with the boxes. I bought several boxes from the cigar shop but ended up giving them to my sister last year. I might have given this a try if I had seen your post sooner.