My first posting

[Bob K.]

I think they look super! I wouldn't be afraid to show them. Some lucky people are going to get really nice gifts!

[idigjars]

Beautiful work. Paul

[pallin]

Outstanding work - keep posting!
Procedural question: did you chip carve the basswood disks before setting them into the top of the mahogany boxes or after?

[SOUTHERN1]

Yes Phil, I chip carved the disks before I glued them in. I didn't want to take a chance on scuffing the finish on the lids. These are two more I'm working on now. Just need a couple more coats of poly. and some hinges! One on left is curly maple, and right is cherry.

[Terry Murphy]

Nice music boxes!
How do you get the carvings to look soo smooth?

[SOUTHERN1]

Terry, The one on the left I first "painted" with shellac based sealer, then airbrushed 5-6 light coats of amber shellac, lightly sanding between and top coat of gloss polyurethane-- the one on right sealed also, and used 2-3 VERY light coat of gloss polyurethane(spray can) sanding between, and then for the final coat laid it on a little thicker....I was able to sand more on these because there wasn't any " delicate" detail in the carving.

[Pathpounder]

I love boxes and the carving is definitely the icing.