A batch of pen boxes and wraps

[amk]

I've been beavering away in my workshop, and just transformed a few tea and coffee boxes I've acquired at sales into nice pen boxes.

Most of these boxes are deep enough for two levels of pens, though one of them will only take slim pens (Lamy Studios and Logos will fit, Edison Collier won't) in the top tray.



How could I resist the appeal of 'Lucky Cup' coffee?



Here's the box fitted out with its pen supports and tray.

Most of these boxes came with wooden or particleboard divisions that held the coffee bags. Some of these come out very easily. Others are glued quite tightly and sometimes they are also nailed in; I can usually get them out with a few blows at the bottom of the partition (to break the glue) from a big, cheap chisel, or even just use a palette knife to loosen the glue. If they're nailed, sometimes I can get the nail loose from outside, but sometimes I've had to hacksaw through the nail on the inside.

The first step in fitting the box out is to make the tray. I've generally used thin strips of pine for the sides with a plywood bottom, and just glued the corners, as the pine is too thin to make a rabbet joint. (I've used mitre joints on some boxes and I won't do it again: there's always one corner that just won't fit properly.) I measure, cut, then fit the pieces to the box to try to get a good but not too tight fit, and then glue up and clamp overnight. Most of the time I then leave the wood as it is (after sanding down) and just oil it; for the coffee box I painted it white to go with the box.

I then line the bottom of the tray and the bottom of the box with leather or felt. Then I take pine strip and cut two lengths to fit across the box. I use a surform to carve hollows in it to hold the pens. I sand down to 400 or 600 grit, and then oil or paint the strip. Finally I glue the strips into the box.



Finding the right colour felt to go with this box was something of a challenge. I'm still not quite sure I got it right.



You can see the support for the tray on the right hand side. Cutting these usually demands a bit of trial and error. I do know how to use a ruler but I've found it's useful to have some cheap Chinese pens in the workshop to test clearances!




I really liked the nineteenth century appeal of this French tea box. The moulding around the glass is a particularly nice detail.




I hope this gives a few FP Geeks ideas of their own! I'm now working on a super-luxury three tier pen and ink box, in a red and gold lacquer chest I found in the rubbish bins after a car boot sale. It's nearly done, so I will put the pictures up when I've got it finished.

[datainadequate]

Lovely work amk. I'd like to make something like this, but I never seem to see suitable boxes. What sort of sales do you attend to find such things?

[amk]

French and English car boots - people so often get a nice tea box as a Christmas gift and then put it up cheaply as a jewellery box. Someone told me the other day that we're close to the Dammann tea factory - so I must see if they have any end-of-line boxes or seconds available!

[Lady Onogaro]

That's so beautiful, though I would really like to find a tea box like that for my tea!

[WmEdwards]

"boot" as in "car trunk" as we would say in the states???

[amk]

Corect, WmEdwards - there are variations; some of the French sales are basically once a year town festivals with funfair, agricultural show, vintage car show, and a sale featuring everyone from parents selling off outgrown baby clothes to professional antiques dealers, many of the UK ones are regular weekly or monthly events.

It's worth checking local restaurants which offer flavoured teas - often they get through a box like this every few weeks, and usually go in the bin. You may be able to take one away free if you're lucky.