THE CRAFTS 
Under the management of Miss Emily Peacock, 232 East 27 <th Street, New York. All inquiries in regard to the various 
Crafts are to be sent to the above address, but will be answered in the magazine under this head. 
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-.-/:. ---; ■YTrnrnoM them fitting into each other (Fig. 2). If you saw a little 
outside of your lines, a common flat file will be useful to 
give them a snug fit. Assemble the sides on a piece of the 
wood and when the corners are at right angles draw a line 
about the lower edges to mark the dimensions of the bot- 
tom . Saw this out and bevel each edge ; similarly the lower 
edge of each of the sides. This will allow of the bottom 
being let into them. (Fig. 3) The cover is made in prac- 
tically the same manner as the body, except that the sides 
will require but one section removed from the ends (Fig. 4). 
At this time saw out the places for the lock and hinges. (Figs. 
5 and 6). 
When all joints fit per- 
fectly, glue them in position 
and securely tie or clamp 
together. Leave till next 
day when the glue will be 
thoroughly set. 
When it is ready for 
further work, go over it 
with emery paper and files 
and see that it has a good 
even surface. Round each 
edge slightly and the metal 
will have no sharp edges 
when the finished box is 
handled. 
A hexagonal box, as Mr. 
Cooper's, here illustrated, 
would require slightly differ- 
ent treatment. The sides 
are cut of the same size and 
their edges bevelled with a 
small shooting plane. The 
top of the cover is made of 
one piece and the plane used 
Metal Box with wood lining. Courtesy of International Studio 
THE MAKING OF A METAL BOX 
Edmund B. Rolfe. 
r I ^HE first box to be described, is, in fact, a wooden one, 
-i- covered with thin metal inside and out. The wooden 
frame gives the necessary strength and allows the use of 
hinges and a lock that can be procured at most hardware 
stores. It allows, too, a different treatment of the metal 
than can be obtained from the handling of heavier metals, 
and this treatment should be taken advantage of when the 
design is first thought out. The rectangular box illustrated 
shows one way of using this method. 
Having procured a piece of good, tough, well seasoned 
wood, preferably mahogany, of 1-4 or 5-16 of an inch in thick- 
ness, depending on the thickness of your lock and widthTof 
your hinges, draw an outline of what is to be the front piece 
of the body of the box, repeating same dimensions for the 
rear piece. The two end pieces should be laid out the full 
width of the body as the corners will fit into each other and 
will require no allowance made for the thickness of the front 
and rear pieces. 
Mark on each end of each piece, a line, the thickness of 
the wood, removed from the edge. Divide it in five equal 
parts and extend lines from these points to the edge. 
Metal workers probably will not have the tools used by 
cabinet makers but some of the metal working tools can be 
used making the wood lining and they will be mentioned in 
their proper places. For the work just given the metal 
piercing saw (Fig. i) can be used. 
Remove alternate sections from the ends to allow of 
-Mj.8 
to give it the proper shape. The rim of the cover is cut and 
glued on, the sides and bottom bevelled and all glued to- 
gether. 
To cover the rectangular box with metal select a piece 
of No. 30 gauge soft copper that has a pleasing texture. 
It can often be procured with a fibrous surface, caused by 
impurities in the metal when rolled. The purer grades 
come with a smooth surface which is very uninteresting. 
Thejr can be improved by hammering the metal on a piece 
of smooth flagstone, with a round headed hammer, first 
covering the metal with a piece of sheet lead about J inch 
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