Comments on: Pennsylvania Spice Box Build – Done on Time (Barely)

By: William Lohr

William Lohr — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:02:57 +0000

Glen captured the thoughts that I was having while I was reading your post. I would not have the courage to to document, for the free world, the learning curve you’ve been climbing over the last few years in the shop but you’ve been an inspriation on more than one occasion to step off into new untried areas. The spice cabinet is a tour de force of well developed skills and experience. I have wanted to make two of these for my nephews as wedding gifts, but needed a nudge. Hats off to you.

Ok, for balance on your ego, there was that moment… where you were jumping on your bench issuing forth the “Wicked Witch of the West” laugh…

Happy New Year!

By: Steve_OH

Steve_OH — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:59:40 +0000

Supposedly, white ash is a good wood to use for storing foodstuffs, as it imparts no flavors or colors.

-Steve

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 19:12:21 +0000

Thanks Phil.

This one is destined to hold jewelry, not spices, so I didn’t take toxicity issues into consideration. That said, the primary walnut and secondary poplar I used are found in a number of period Penn spice boxes. However, as most of these were displayed in public rooms (e.g. the parlor), they likely didn’t hold spices either. Instead, they were probably used to hold valuables/papers and the like — at least in the 18th century, when spices weren’t as pricey a commodity as in the previous century.

There’s a wonderful book, “The Pennsylvania Spice Box,” by Lee Ellen Griffith that you might try to find (at your library…it’s out of print and quite expensive to buy) if you want to read more about them. There’s a also an interesting short article here: http://thehuntmagazine.com/antiques/2009/06/pennsylvania-spice-boxes/#axzz1iKStctbc

By: PhilS

PhilS — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:33:59 +0000

Very nicely done. Seems that you’ve included a fair amount of detail, inlay, drawers, etc, to get done in a short time frame with a small margin for error. Clearly, you were successful pulling all this together.

Did you have to do anything particular to the cabinet or drawers considering that spices, or other foodstuffs, would be stored there? Are there toxicity issues or even just concerns over smells or tastes that might be imparted from the wood or the finish?

Any particular finishes, or woods for that matter, you would or would not use for a piece to be used in that way?

I have a few cooks in my family and I’m considering a similar project.

Thanks for posting the finished cabinet and the details.

By: Kenny

Kenny — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 20:05:49 +0000

Great job Meagan. Really nice work.

By: Megan Fitzpatrick

Megan Fitzpatrick — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:57:37 +0000

Thanks guys!

And Mitch, that’s a great idea…but I think Glen would win that prize every time.

By: George West

George West — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:28:26 +0000

Nice job Megan.

By: Mitch Wilson

Mitch Wilson — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:11:19 +0000

Megan
I would like to suggest that you create an annual Glen Huey award. It should be given to someone who can demonstrate the patience and generosity that Glen does when he teaches novices like me (the chief doofus in the class that I took with him this past summer). He is an extraordinary individual and deserves the recognition.

By: John Cashman

John Cashman — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 13:13:37 +0000

Nicely done. I’m sure your Mom will always remember her trip and the wonderful gift.

In the long run, all that matters is on time, or not on time.

By: Glen D. Huey

Glen D. Huey — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 12:50:37 +0000

Megan,

In my eyes you have become a great woodworker. It has nothing to do with the project you picked, although I must confess that I am partial to the overall design. I am especially impressed with the decisions you made as you progressed through the project. You made adjustments based on the materials you had at hand or could find (many woodworkers would have stopped until the “listed” material sizes could have been gathered), you changed the box design to better fit your abilities (partially completed project are commonplace in shops as builders hit walls of which they are not sure how to scale), and you worked on the spice box with a combination of both hand and power tools giving props to the area of tools that best fit your way of woodworking. These are the lessons that all woodworkers should learn. And the finished box is top-notch – your idea on stringing the door looks perfect. Congrats.