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I turned this walnut box and lid to answer a challenge from the Utah Woodturners Club. We were to turn a lidded box and bring it to the club meeting.

The box is about 5 1/2″ diameter by 3″ tall finished with lacquer. The wood is seconds from a gun stock supplier. Very pretty walnut. The finial is hazelnut.

This project has two challenges. First, a black streak runs through the 3″ thick walnut. I wanted to take advantage of this color. However, the black streak is also a hairline crack that has weakened the wood. I treated this crack several times with CA glue.

The second challenge is mounting the wood as turning progresses.

1. Mounting the raw block with tail stock pressure while cutting a tenon on the top.
2. Mounting using this top tenon while cutting an expansion mortise on the top.
3. Mounting using the bottom mortise while parting the lid from the base.
4. Mounting using the bottom mortise while hollowing the base.
5. Mounting using the inside of the box while cleaning up excess CA glue from the bottom.
6. Mounting using the bottom mortise while cleaning up excess CA glue from the inside.
7. Mounting using the top tenon while turning the underside of the lid and turning a mortise on the underside.
8. Mounting using the top tenon while expanding the last mortise to fit the chuck.
9. Mounting using the underside lid mortise while turning the top.

Whew! a lot of mounts.

Good turning.