An Amish box has dovetailing at each corner, and is made from quality wood.
The Amish have established a reputation for their fine furniture making over the years because of two reasons. They use the best hardwoods available, and they dovetail their corners together to form a tight bond that will last for centuries. If you want to duplicate the efforts of the Amish in making your own wooden box, start with quality cuts of wood, such as oak, quartersawn oak, cherry, hickory, walnut or maple.
Instructions
Make The Sides and Top
1. Cut the rough edges off each end of the two long boards. Cut each board in half lengthwise, to make four long pieces.
2. Glue these four pieces together, alternating the wood grains. Clamp the pieces together and allow to dry overnight.
3. Run the pieces through a planer until they are 3/4-inches in thickness.
4. From this assembled piece of wood, cut three pieces that are 20 inches in length and two that are 12 inches in length. Cut the plywood to 11 inches by 19 inches for the bottom of the box.
5. Mark all the edges front, back, left, right, interior and exterior, for future reference.
Assemble the Box
6. Cut 3/4-inch box joints, using a push router and jig to form the dovetail joints at each of the four corners.
7. Make a 1/4-inch wide by 3/8-inch deep dado cut--a horizontal cut--1-5/8 inches up from the bottom inside edge on each panel. This will receive the bottom plywood panel.
8. Dry-fit the box together first to make certain all cuts are properly made.
9. Cut legs into the bottom edges on all four sides using a band saw. Make the legs 2 inches wide and 1 inch high.
10. Sand all the surfaces, interior and exterior, except for the box joints. Do not sand the box joints.
11. Glue and clamp the sides and bottom panel together. Make certain that the sides are tight and square. Let dry overnight.
Finish the Box
12. Pre-drill and place a screw into each corner at the top and bottom of the box. Countersink the screws and fill the holes with wood filler.
13. Sand the top piece and position in place. Mark the placement for the hinges.
14. Apply two or three coats of polyurethane, allowing at least 4 hours drying time between each coat.
15. Attach the hinges on the back side of the lid and to the box. Attach the hasp to the front center of the lid. Attach a lid support to the inside of the box.
Tags: each corner, inches length, interior exterior, pieces together, that inches, that inches length