By tradition, dovetails are associated with only the finest craftsmanship. For many, cutting dovetails by hand is a woodworker’s rite of passage. Putting such egotistic notions aside, there is, in fact, a great deal of satisfaction in the quiet work of using traditional tools and techniques to gradually master a skill. From a practical standpoint, dovetails are an effective way to hold the parts of a box together and their presence is a sure sign of the time and attention of careful hands. Even if your dovetails are less than perfect, they will serve as evidence of your growth as a craftsman.

The oversize wooden hinges used in this box were inspired by the work of a British box maker, Peter Lloyd, whose rustic boxes are beautiful and engaging. They are fairly simple to make using a drill press, router table, and box-joint jig. This is the first article…