Stuff I find hiding in pieces of old wood

My latest project. A barter project. I have NIL that lives in Soldotna, Ak. She and her
new hubby prowl the beaches of Cook Inlet off Kalifornsky Beach Rd for peace of mind
and agates. Agates are various forms of silica gas and sand that were formed inside
voids in lava. The theory being these came from either Mt Redoubt or Mt Spurr on the
west side of the inlet. Both, active volcanos to this day. The much softer lava was ground up
when this debris was pushed across the inlet during the glacial activity of the ice age.
They came to rest in the alluvial fans that settled on the east side of the inlet. As the tide
action erodes the soft sand, generally called the buffs, away, the agates are exposed.
They are then polished in the gravel by the wave action. I wanted some of these to
see if I could incorportate them into my boxes. So, she sent me a bag of agates in exchange
for a box. I asked them to separate out a favorite agate just for them.
These became the drawer pulls for the drawers. I have been eyeing this design for awhile,
but didn't know who to build it for....until now.
The agates are actually embedded into the wood.
The drawer fronts are 3/8" thick. The agates are inset 5/16".
It was interesting figuring how to do that. But, using some dental techniques, it is done.
The box is made out of the old oak beams I got and the walnut drawer fronts are walnut
from my neighbors tree that came down 5yrs ago.
It has a removable tray and my favorite....a hidden drawer.
It challenged all my abilities and expanded my processes.
Very bitter sweet when I see one of these completed and
ready to head out into the world. Very glad for where it is going.










Thoughts/comments/suggestions.....

 

There are beaches on the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia where agates are found, as well. Those are beautiful stones to just pick up off the beach. I am always picking up beach rocks, we have many colors on the North shore of MA.
Your agates make very elegant drawer pulls- great use of natural materials. Knobs would look silly, after seeing these.
I love the distressed oak from those beams, the Walnut is a nice contrast for the hearts, but I'd like to see a simpler box in all oak with a dark stone for a knob.
I've got your phone stand in my lap as I type!

 

I will take that into serious consideration.

That is so cool. Thanks!​

 

Very nice as usual. Intriguing design. Let's build a couple boxes and use that pink ivory wood as accents...

 

Very cool, justdraftn !

 

Very pretty wood. Nice work.

 

That's really beautiful. There is a history to the piece of wood it's made from? I scrolled back a wayz and couldn't find it.

 

Thanks! It was well received by the new owner.

The story is the wood. It came from a 100+ year old barn in Indiana.
Oak trees were well over 100yrs old.
These were hand hewed beams.
Wood was brought into Colo. by guys that use what they can in their business.
I got what they could not use as fire wood.
I study each piece very carefully.
When I can't see anything in it.....I burn it.
It is awesome firewood.

 

Glad you didn't go metal detecting with your saw too.

 

Those beautiful agates found their way back to those they were created for.
It found it's way to exactly where it was meant to be.
This was really an amazing, humbling experience for me.

 

It looks perfect there!

 

Beautiful work sir

 

X2!

 

A beach on Crete, Greece ... Lake Huron Beach, Ontario, Canada...

 

Glacier National Park, Lake McDonald...

 

….now stop it.....just stop it.

 

Scots Bay, Nova Scotia (these were tumbled to polish them)