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Gap between box lid and box question

Posted by Richard Wilkins on October 16, 2016 at 11:15am in Building Secrets, Tips, Advice, Discussion

There's a gap between the lid and the box of about 1/32" at it's greatest point. I think it's because of the hinges or maybe it's just because the lid and box weren't subjected to strict QC (It's a cigar box after all!)... But I'm looking for any advice I can get in making the box fit together at little tighter -- using only hand tools.

I was thinking of taking the hinges off just to see how the two parts fit together without the hinges. And then I might have to nail or screw  or glue the two parts together.....?

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Replies

  • Fomhorach October 19, 2016 at 1:52pm

    Are the hinges inside out?

    Sometimes little hinges can be flipped around so there is no gap.

    Personally I would have just taken them off and used a chisel/craft knife to deepen the recess that they fit in. Much like you do when you hang a new door.

  • Taffy Evans October 17, 2016 at 7:21pm

    Hi, glue  sandpaper to a flat surface, eg old sheet of glass, and run the two, or just the offending opening edge over this. You could end up chasing you tail with planning. I do this on all my boxes before gluing the tops and backs on.

    Cheers Taff

    • Gilles C. Caron > Taffy Evans October 18, 2016 at 5:28pm
      That's my way too.

      And I glue everything together because I like how it vibrates with the neck.

      I just make sure that I can access the electronics one way or another...
    • Richard Wilkins > Taffy Evans October 17, 2016 at 9:34pm

      ok yes! I forgot about using a large flat surface ( I have a big ceramic tile) with sandpaper as a sort of "plane". thx!

  • Shawn October 16, 2016 at 11:57pm
    Use the thin veneer that comes inside some boxes boxes to build up the gap one strip per side top and bottom. I just super glue them in place then shave them flush then I use the block/ screw method that chickenbone talked about. That way it's wood on wood no cutting to get back inside.
    I now make a controll access panel in the back so I do not have to pull strings to do electrical work. After 300 some guitars it just started to make sense to take the time to plan that into the build.
    • Richard Wilkins > Shawn October 17, 2016 at 9:43pm

      That kind of experience (300+ guitars) is no joke. Thanks, Shawn. I never would've thought you could learn so much from building cbgs. Love it.

      • Shawn > Richard Wilkins October 18, 2016 at 11:51am
        Thanks Richard I have been building for over 9 years now and still learning new tricks and tips.
  • ChickenboneJohn October 16, 2016 at 1:14pm

    Leave it alone, don't worry about it, it's only a cigar box. Do not glue the thing together, that will make it impossible to do any repairs to it in future.

    If it really bugs you, glue some small blocks into the corners of the lower part of the box and make them tall enough to extend into the top, then you can put some small screws thru the top part of the side and into the block whilst clamping the whole thing as tight as you can get.

    • Richard Wilkins > ChickenboneJohn October 17, 2016 at 9:47pm

      Thanks John. I just happened to have a little triangle of red oak that fit perfectly into one corner. In fact, the lid fits so tight now that it's the only thing keeping the box together. I'll stick a screw in it just to be thorough. Can't see much of a gap anymore either!

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