I Made a Box

I made a box with four dovetailed corners from pallet wood in 21 minutes. I eyeballed the angles, no guides are sliding bevels, and the sizes, nothing measured, to take out any measuring and did the whole in front of an audience of two I had engaged in a discussion and demonstration on economy of movement in work. Glued up, the 21 minute box will last for a hundred years and maybe two. Oh, and the making included glue up and hand planing too.

Economy is a way of life. Of course no one would buy a softwood box like this, but it is an example if simplicity and minimalism. I own 25-30 of these boxes and use them for my things - to keep them safe. I like pine, spruce and the other softwoods too because softwood is so unpretentious. A pallet from softwoods holds up the worlds stored goods in transit and in stowage. It's a remarkable wood.

If I made a box like this from hardwood as I have throughout my worklife it would mean no more than this box. Probably less, even. Pine boxes are remarkable things. Remarkable. I hate to think that people might so strongly dislike, no, even despise a wood that serves us so remarkably well.

Anyway, I enjoyed my making time. It was done in total silence. This too was magical.