Synopsis: Thin parts, mitered corners with slender splines, and a smoothly sliding lid with a carved fingerhold are the main features of this clever box. Maker Michael Cullen stresses that careful attention to detail and stock preparation are keys to success. The sliding lid must fit snugly but also have smooth action, which means double and triple milling is needed. Small parts require that you pay close attention to safety as well. The result is a gem of a box.

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Some years ago I decided to make a box for my wife, Barbara, to hold some of her favorite pens. My design was inspired by the memory of a simple wooden pencil box with a sliding top that I had as a child. To me, boxes are a beautiful expression of what working in wood is all about. Of all the things I make, nothing else holds as much mystery…