How to Make a Wooden Music Box
A music box is a charming keepsake or knickknack that can be passed down through the generations. A basic music box is relatively easy to make, and it is a good project for beginning woodworking students. Although there are many ways to make a music box, the basic principles of assembly are the same. You can use these principles to make your own music box with just a few pieces of wood, simple tools and a few peripheral parts.
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Things You'll Need
- 2 wood pieces, 3 inches by 3 inches
- 4 wood pieces, 3 inches by 6 inches
- 4 wood pieces, 1/2 inch by 1/2 inch; height determined by key
- Wood glue
- Electric drill or manual awl
- Metal punches, 1 medium size and 1 small size
- 2 metal hinges
- Small screws
- Wood carving tools (optional)
- Sandpaper
- Decorating materials (optional)
Instructions
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Preparation
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1
Carve a design into your wood if desired.
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2
Drill a small hole in one of the 3- by 6-inch pieces of wood. This will be the base of the music box that the music mechanism goes through.
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3
Screw the hinges to another of the 3- by 6-inch pieces of wood. This piece will be the top of your music box.
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4
Sand all pieces of wood.
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5
Punch a small hole in the center of the piece of metal with the metal punch. Then punch four smaller holes in each corner of the piece of metal with the smaller punch and screw the piece of metal onto your bottom piece of 3- by 6-inch wood so that the large hole in the metal lines up with the hole in the wood.
Assembly
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6
Glue the 3- by 3-inch pieces of wood to the bottom 3- by 6-inch piece of wood to which you have secured the metal piece. This should create a U shape, and forms the sides of the box.
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7
Glue the 3- by 6-inch pieces of wood to the bottom 3- by 6-inch piece of wood and the 3- by 3-inch pieces of wood. This completes the box shape by adding the back and front panels.
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8
Set the top 3- by 6-inch panel of wood on top of your box so the hinges are on the outside and hang over the back panel. Connect the top panel to the back panel by screwing the loose end of the hinge to the back panel.
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9
Remove any sawdust from your box, either by brushing, blowing or vacuuming it out.
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10
Unscrew the music mechanism from the key according to the manufacturer's instructions. Glue the mechanism to the metal panel on the inside of the box and reconnect the key to the mechanism by threading the key through the bottom panel hole from the outside. Glue the four feet panels--1/2 inch by 1/2 inch--to the four corners of the outside of the bottom panel to elevate the box and allow the key to turn freely.
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