Friendship box...

This drawing shows the most recent "friendship" box design at the Clear Spring School. If you can follow the steps described in yesterday's post, you can make these boxes with your child using materials ripped from common 2x4 lumber. Prepare the stock by resawing material 1/4 in. thick on the table saw and and cut the ends from 1/2 x 1 1/2 in. stock. Your student or child, using a hand saw and vise, can cut the front, back, bottom and top to length, and then nail the parts together using 3/4 in. #18 gauge nails. You will need a 1 1/2 in. long 1/4 in. dowel to attach the pivoting lid. Glue the dowel in the hole drilled into the end of the box and also glue the dowel to the keeper on top. The lid pivots on the dowel and is kept from coming off by the keeper which consists of a larger dowel or octagonal block cut to a 3/8 in. length.

This is a good project to follow the math facts box as the skills involved are similar though the project is slightly more complex.

Be careful not to glue the box permanently closed. Open and close the box as the glue sets to avoid having it get stuck.

The idea of the friendship box comes from the boxes that children at summer camps in the late 19th century would make and share in remembrance of the bonds formed among friends.

Make, fix and create...