Piano Music Box

[MarieC]

This is for my daughter's graduation.  My apologies for the long read....It certainly took me multiple tries and a long time to create this.  I used maple and walnut for the keys with black wood veneer turned sideways (the keys are 5/8 thick).  The mahogany and walnut stripes are also 5/8 and were stack-cut on the Hawk G4 so the pieces could fit together when I separated them. I also used the veneer turned sideways to take up the kurf.... I made the ornament on top and the ones inside the box on my EX 21.  I also cut a thin piece of walnut for the under side of the top since I didn't want the piano keys to show when you open it..  I polished it to a high gloss. The bottom was all walnut and I purple floxed the inside. The music box was a challenge since it came out of an antique powder box.

 

 

[dgman]

Beautiful work Marie! Did you do the inlay?

[ChelCass]

That is so beautiful.  Your daughter will surely love it.  Thanks for sharing.

 

[rjweb]

Marie, that is beautiful, a true craftspersonship, excellent, RJ

[Scrappile]

WOW! Marie.  That is a beautiful box.  The "craftswomanship" is outstanding!  

[MarieC]

2 hours ago, dgman said:

Beautiful work Marie! Did you do the inlay?

Thank you!  None of it is inlay.  The music notes on the front of the box is gold leaf burnished on the wood directly and then finished over that.  A bit risky so next time I will figure out a way to scroll saw it and fill it with gold epoxy. 

Edited June 6, 2024 by MarieC

[MarieC]

22 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

WOW! Marie.  That is a beautiful box.  The "craftswomanship" is outstanding!  

Thank you!  I used about every machine in my shop to make it.  

[Peter N White]

First class work for sure your daughter will surely love it.

[Denny Knappen]

That is a work of art.  Lots of time into that one.

[jerry walters]

WOW Marie!!!!!  That is beautiful.  My wife used to collect music boxes, I know she would have loved this one.  About a year ago I bought a book of music box patterns but haven't quite figured out how to do everthing.  Maybe some day.  Any way, beautiful work Marie, simply beautiful.

Jerry

[Hudson River Rick]

Marie, your project only neds one word,

OUTSTANDING

Your daughter will treasure that forever.

Rick

[Hudson River Rick]

And I NEED a spelling lesson.

Rick

[Scrappile]

the second "E" is silent anyway!  I am so bad at grammar and spelling that I downloaded the free "Grammarly".  I Would like to get the premium version.

[barb.j.enders]

Marie,  That is a stunning piece of artwork.  I am sure it will become a treasured piece immediately.  And then loved for a long time. 

Can you describe how you burnished the gold leaf?  It sounds like an intriguing process.

[daveww1]

That is beautiful, fantastic job

[MarieC]

18 hours ago, Peter N White said:

First class work for sure your daughter will surely love it.

Thank you.  I will be giving it to her this Saturday.   My husband bought a necklace to go in it.  I do hope she likes it.

[MarieC]

18 hours ago, Denny Knappen said:

That is a work of art.  Lots of time into that one.

Thank you!  Yes, it seemed to take forever.   I made a prototype first with a lot of boo-boos but made quite a few corrections for this one.  Thanks again.

[MarieC]

18 hours ago, jerry walters said:

WOW Marie!!!!!  That is beautiful.  My wife used to collect music boxes, I know she would have loved this one.  About a year ago I bought a book of music box patterns but haven't quite figured out how to do everthing.  Maybe some day.  Any way, beautiful work Marie, simply beautiful.

Jerry

Jerry, thank you!  My daughter also loves music boxes...ever since she was a little kid. I would love to know the name of the book.  I hope to make more of them. Thanks again! 

[jerry walters]

3 hours ago, MarieC said:

Jerry, thank you!  My daughter also loves music boxes...ever since she was a little kid. I would love to know the name of the book.  I hope to make more of them. Thanks again! 

Got it from Fox Chapel Publishing.

Custom Wooden Music Boxes for the Scroll Saw – Fox Chapel Publishing Co.

[Mike Crosa]

Beautiful! I know your daughter will love it.

 

 

[MarieC]

9 hours ago, barb.j.enders said:

Marie,  That is a stunning piece of artwork.  I am sure it will become a treasured piece immediately.  And then loved for a long time. 

Can you describe how you burnished the gold leaf?  It sounds like an intriguing process.

So this I believe was meant to go on glass.  I have done glass gilding with real gold leaf.  I think this was the imitation stuff.   Anyway, not meant for wood. It didn't really want to stay....would recommend sanding the wood to probably 800 grit before applying it.   I bought the stuff awhile back...can't remember where I purchased it.  This was pre-cut for this design...You use a small wooden tool to burnish it on. Thanks again! 

[Charlie E]

Holy cow! That is fantastic, Marie! I really like all the sideways veneer. Makes everything pop. Wonderful!

[MarieC]

3 hours ago, Charlie E said:

Holy cow! That is fantastic, Marie! I really like all the sideways veneer. Makes everything pop. Wonderful!

Charlie, thank you...  Coming from you that is quite the compliment!....Veneer is tricky because they seem to vary in thickness so some fit great and others not so much.... especially when you are trying to fill in for the size of the wood that was removed by the kerf of the saw blade.  It was a crazy idea anyway.  Thank you again.

[wombatie]

WOW, that will certainly become a family heirloom.  Magnificent work Marie, very well done.

Marg

[Norm Fengstad]

This is gorgeous your daughter will cherish this forever