52 Boxes in 52 Weeks: Improve Your Design Skills One Box At A Time

by Matt Kenney

Overview

Unlock your creativity and elevate your woodworking skills with 52 Boxes in 52 Weeks, an inspiring book by accomplished woodworker and senior editor of Fine Woodworking magazine, Matt Kenney.

This unique challenge invites you to design and build one elegant box each week for an entire year, offering woodworkers of all skill levels an engaging way to enhance their craftsmanship and design abilities.

52 Boxes in 52 Weeks is not just a woodworking book; it’s a journey of creative exploration that will enhance your skills and inspire you to see the beauty in simple designs. Dive into this challenge and discover the joy of making graceful and elegant boxes, one week at a time.

Key Features:

• Learn fundamental techniques: Begin your journey by mastering essential box-making techniques that apply to nearly every project in the book, including:
  • How to match grain at corners for a seamless look
  • Techniques for cutting precise miters
  • Methods for crafting tops and bottoms that enhance box functionality
  • Finishing techniques using shellac and trending milk paint for a polished final product
• Design principles: Kenney shares universal design principles that will guide you in developing your own aesthetic, empowering you to create unique and personalized designs that reflect your style.
• 52 diverse projects: Transitioning into the heart of the book, you will find 52 thoughtfully designed boxes, each with clear instructions and stunning photography that inspire creativity and craftsmanship.
• Accessible for all skill levels: Whether you're a beginner or an experienced woodworker, this book provides valuable insights and step-by-step guidance that makes box-making approachable and enjoyable.
• Cultivate a design mindset: By the end of the year, you’ll not only have a collection of beautiful boxes but also a refined design sensibility that you can apply to future woodworking projects.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781631868924
Publisher:	Taunton Press, Incorporated
Publication date:	05/08/2018
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	8.40(w) x 10.70(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Matt Kenney has been making things from wood his entire life. About 15 years ago, when he was a poor and recently married graduate student with plans for a philosophy professorship, he began to make furniture. He was still bumbling along when a generous professional furniture maker in Camden, S.C., (Joe Mazurek) took him into his shop and taught him to cut dovetails, make doors, and hammer veneer. For the last six years, Kenney has been an editor at Fine Woodworking. He lives in Watertown, Connecticut.

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Basic box making techniques

Matching grain at the corners

Cutting miters

Gluing up miters

Tops that don't need hinges

Designing and making pulls

Making a stable bottom

Finishing

3. Box design

Good design begins with good proportions

Develop your aesthetic

Harmonize your design and construction

Design. Build. Repeat.

4. The boxes

Afterword

What I learned

My favorite boxes