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	Ball in a Box

See the Wood Carving section for more instructions, hints, and tips.

There are several things to consider before you start:

• The end grain is harder to remove. Make the top and bottom solid and only carve out the four sides.
• If you are going to carve all six sides, start with the end grain ones first. You'll be less apt to break it.
• Square bars are nice, but make the ball smaller. If you make the bars triangular the ball will be bigger, more impressive, and won't fall out as easily.
• You don't want to apply a finish because that would probably glue the ball to the box. So chose a wood with a pretty grain like butternut, catalpa, or mahogany.

1. Get a square piece of wood of whatever size you desire. You may want to make it a little longer in the "with the grain" dimension especially if you are going to leave the end grain sides solid.
2. Draw the bars on all sides.
3. Make cuts on all the lines. Angle them in at a 45 degree angle to make the bars triangular.
   
      
   
   
4. Start removing wood from the corners. I like to move around and do a little work on each corner. Remove as little wood as possible near the middle of each bar.
5. Always keep in mind the shape of the ball that you are trying to find inside.
6. Keep removing wood until the ball is free. Be very careful not to break the bars.
7. Clean up the bars as necessary.
8. Round up the ball by moving it around and removing any high spots. A pair of calipers can be helpful.
9. Sand the bars and ball if desired.

To make a neckerchief slide, glue a ring to one of the bars using E-6000™ glue.

If you are looking for more of a challenge carve two or more balls in a box. Just make the box two or three or more times longer than it is square. Be sure to give yourself a little extra room for the wood that you remove between the balls.

You might also be interested in making captive rings and lollipop in a box.