free for apple download Wood Block - Music Box

These pegs came from a large craft store but I have also used river pebbles.

The wooden pegs lift the box up from its resting place so that the music can be heard more readily whether the lid is left on or off. The music box workings may be purchased at hobby stores or ordered online.

This helps me avoid the residual odor of the Polyurethane that I use to cover the outer surface of the box. (I have given up asking store employees where their felt rectangles are located.) I use that on two sides and the bottom just for a decorative touch one may optionally use none or cover all sides. They are lined inside with cut-to-size felt 'squares,' which are actually rectangles 11 1/2' by 9', or about the size of printer paper, and can be bought at craft stores.

They are 5 7/8' long, 5 1/2' deep, and 2 3/4' tall (not counting the 5/8' feet) but I have made them with many other dimensions and shapes. The music boxes pictured are made with project-specific quarter-inch hardwood that is inexpensive and very easy to work with and cut. These music boxes may be made with any good scraps of lumber that you happen to have on hand or you may make your own trip to your favorite lumber yard. My father owned a hardware/sporting goods store while I was growing up, so a journey through any well-stocked lumber yard is always a happy memory. I also received a generous educator's grant from them a few years ago that allowed my students to enjoy countless hours of building and community volunteer donations, so excuse any fond bias that I am at times inclined to demonstrate. I have a favorite blue box store about twenty miles away and I love their selections of all kinds of lumber. This Instructable will focus on wood, which is a very soothing, comfortable material with which to work. One can pick up stones and rocks nearly anywhere one can also spend obscene amounts of hard-earned cash on exotic rocks. Wood and stone are my favorite art media.

Alaskan Bev heading out to the wood shop (actually, enjoying a holiday Hallowe'en party with her Boy Scout troop).

Free for apple download Wood Block - Music Box