Small boxes make perfect holiday gifts. Here’s one that’s a cinch to build and costs virtually nothing. I call it a ring box, but it could hold anything: candy, dried herbs, small shells—whatever you fancy.
When I’ve given these boxes to friends, the first thing they say is that it’s amazingly light. (That’s because it’s hollow!)
You can make a ring box from just about any type of wood, but it’s best to use three contrasting colors. I made the base of my box from jarrah, a medium-toned wood. The lid’s bottom layer is wenge, a dark wood, and the top layer is spalted maple, a light-colored wood with interesting grain patterns.
If you only have common domestic woods on hand, I’d recommend using cherry for the base, walnut for the lid’s bottom layer and maple or birch for the top layer.
by Tom Caspar
Tom, A very nice gift box. I’m having problems getting a 2″ dia. hole in 2″ stock that I’ve been told to mill to 13/4″ x 23/8″. What am I missing?
It’s pretty simple. You’re missing the third dimension. Each blank is milled to 1-3/4″h x 2-3/8″w x 2-3/8″L. Drill the 2″ diameter hole in one of the 2-3/8″ x 2-3/8″ sides
Thank you George and Jacob! For some reason, I assumed the base was 2″ x 2″ square stock. Mea culpa.
I’m going to jump in on Tom’s behalf. The hole gets drilled in the 2-3/8″ x 2-3/8″ face, not the 1-3/4″ x 2-3/8″ end grain. That’s also why the two lid pieces are 2-3/8″ square and 2-1/2″ square.
Thanks for the idea. I made a bunch of these for gifts for teachers etc. In the end I decided I liked them a little ‘softer’ so I rounded the lids and bottoms and for some of them varied the tops.
Nice job. They look great. Thanks for posting your photo.
There is one dimension 2 3/8 ” inthe directions.But it is a neat box.
Want to learn
Hello Tom
On my first practice piece a got burning on the walls of the hole drilled with the forester bit. I’m drilling into cherry. I’ve read that I should keep withdrawing the drill to help with ejection of material. Do you have any thoughts on how to minimize burning with such a large diameter bit?
It is important to slow down the speed of the bit when using a large forstner bit, particularly in cherry which is prone to burning. Here’s a helpful chart to illustrate the appropriate speed for each bit: https://www.infinitytools.com/PDF/Forstner_Bit_SpeedChart.pdf
that look good I try this
Looking for a smaller project for my dad
nice plan
fantastic idea
Looks interesting
Interesting gift idea
Thank you
Good for grandchildren
looks great
hello
I like the boxes and would like to make some.
Thanks
Hey
Great for using scrap pieces of wood
The BandSaw box looks simple enough
I’m on the website https://www.wwgoa.com/plan/a-beautiful-ring-box/ but don’t see a video or any link to the instructions. Just a finished picture. Help!?
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Looking for a nice project for xmas gift for my daughter
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Plans do not down load. I wish to used this as a Woods I project and the down loading of the pdf does not work. Error message states that he plans have expired. Any chance of reactivating the down load?
I make these and rather than use a screw, I use a pop rivet. I cut the pin side to about 3/4″ long and glue the wider side into the top of the box from the underside.
comment
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Love to try it.
Learn something new
High interest in this
I’m logged into my account (premium membership), but don’t see the video. How do I access the video George made of this project?
Hello Barbara,
Thank you for contacting us.
This is an informative article and download PDF. There is no video.
If you have any other questions, please chat, email, or call Customer Service.
Sincerely,
Sarah
Wood Workers Guild of America Video Membership
Interesting. I distinctly remember watching a video with George demonstrating how he built the ring box. It was just before Valentines Day. Oh well. Maybe it was just a 1 day event and wasn’t recorded.