Making of the Beard Boxes

Why am i making these awesome boxes

I have an ever-expanding collection of beard related products to look after my glorious mane. I say glorious, but it’s a fairly standard mop of facial hair.

I received a few old 35mm slide boxes from my friend, which were never going to be used for that purpose again, and decided that I needed to use them for something other than throwing in the corner of the office and filling with tat.  I wanted a bit a showpiece.

The first build was just thrown together, and worked perfectly.

The next 2 or 3 I’m making are just for fun really.  refining some processes and just something to keep me occupied really. This is the build from start to finish of a couple of the boxes.

I am in no way a carpenter or professional woodworker.  Just a normal bloke wanting to expand my skills.  If I’m using a tool not as intended, or incorrectly, please comment and tell me.  However I am of the school ‘It’s not stupid if it works'(Alec Steele).

What i was going for with the original was the old school, snake oil salesman style, going round the wild west with a box of amazing medicines that just draws you in.

The original finish on these boxes was awful.  I took it back to bare wood and refinished in a Mahogany Varnish to give it a darker colour. I wasn’t going for perfection, as I wanted the boxes to feel a bit more relaxed and used.

Box as i got them

After a good spot of sanding

The metalwork was lacking a certain lustre as well, so this all got removed and given the once over with a small wire wheel and dremel.

Shocking

After a bit of Varnish they were looking better.  I think when I build these from scratch rather than upcycling I will go for a better wood and a more natural finish as well.

One came out lighter than the other.

 

 

Not a bad finish but there were some runs here and there.  Thinner coats or just use wax next time.

On the inside i just used some awesome images which have barber shop and beard styling in mind.

Using PVA glue to put the images in and set them.

 

 

More Varnish to give it an aged look.

 

 

 

Now I got on with using some stripwood to section out the box.  I used my current collection of beard related items to gauge the sizing, but did a lot by eye.

 

 

 

 

I used an old plane and a spoke shave to bring down the height of the wood to meet the edge of the box.  then glued in with a tension fit on quite a bit of the internal wood.

I used Briwax to give it an antique pine look and a bit of protection.

Most of the Hardware was put on after a good wire brushing.

The only bit I left off was the handle, as I  was going to go a bit further with that.

The elastic to hold things inside the box was a bit of a pain to do. I used staples at each end to secure the elastic, and then went for some brass tacks on the inside for a nicer look.

 

 

 

If your interested here is a little video of me putting the elastic into one of the boxes.  Hopefully the first of many videos.

The handle was put together using a faux leather (because we all love the animals) and the original plastic and metal on the inside to give it form and strength.

The finished product.  Fairly happy but with a lot more improvement to come.

 

 

 

These have already gone to a couple of magnificent bearded fellas who were interested after i put up an image of my first one.

If you think I should make more, or one’s in different styles I will.

I have a few old boxes which could be upscaled, they are a bit smaller than this.

I already have plans for another one of the old boxes I’ve rebuilt, and you will see that in a later blog.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this, as much as I’ve enjoyed build them.
You will see links throughout with the gear I used to work on these boxes,s o give them a click if you want to try this yourself.

 

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