Thought I’d share the final assembly steps to the custom eyeglass cases that were just completed.  The title of this post is worded to hopefully catch your attention!  I get kidded sometimes in our local woodworkers group about my penchant for using hand tools.  That’s fine with me because in my opinion, quiet work processes that don’t create a lot of dust and allow me to hear the radio are just fine.  Shown here is a set of gimlets and they’re just the thing for pre-drilling a screw hole.  Gimlets are tools that have been around for a long time; quick and easy to use to prevent the wood from splitting when using screws.

The hinges used for these cases are the barrel type of hinge from Lee Valley.  If you’re unfamiliar with them here is a LINK to that product page.  Since these do not allow for any adjustments drilling the 10mm hole accurately is crucial!  Although they’re fairly self explanatory, here’s a pictorial essay in case you ever decide to use them.  Not sure how to properly write the brand SOSS;  some are all caps and others only capitalize the first S — only a retired teacher would be concerned about that.

These cases use rare earth magnets to keep them closed.  They’re readily available and Rockler offers them in their catalog as well.  Here’s a LINK to that product page, note that you need to buy the magnets and washers separately.  They’re relatively easy to install into pre-drilled holes.  I suggest drilling these during the beginning steps of the project when everything is still square and easy to hold in a drill press fixture.  I’ll drill these holes with a forstner bit which also leaves a center point for pre-drilling screw hole needed to insert the washers.  Here’s a pictorial sequence of that procedure:

Allow me to clarify those last two pictures, you may find that the hole for the washer that contacts the magnet is a too deep and the holding power isn’t what you want.  In that case, simply raise that up by placing another washer of some kind under it, here I’m using a thin lock washer to accomplish that.

That’s it for now as far as woodworking goes.  The two, African Paduak cases need to be prepared for shipment to the U.K. and I really need to do inventory and make the tags for the upcoming art fair.  That’s October 12 & 13 which will be here quicker than I’d like!  I need to photograph these cases and the series of dovetailed boxes with the sliding lids.  These will all need to be placed into the Etsy store.  Although I’d much rather spend time in the shop these are important tasks that need to be done.  Had an interesting phone call today though for a potential job.  Not customized furniture but rather it’s a stair type unit needed by a physical therapy office.  Wouldn’t be my first “medical appliance” as I did a contact lens station for an optometrist many years ago!