Wooden Hinged Boxes

Dates / Times

Saturday July 18 and Sunday July 19, 2026 (9 AM to 5 PM)

Course Description

Working with Artisan Woodworker Craig Courter, students will build a handcrafted wooden hinge box using precise router joinery and traditional woodworking techniques. The project is a small presentation box featuring a fully functional wooden hinge, an elegant and durable alternative to metal hardware.

Students will cut the box joints on the router table using a dedicated box joint jig. Craig will guide students through setting up the jig, indexing the cuts correctly, and producing tight fitting joints that form the structure of the box.

A highlight of the class is the construction of the wooden hinge. Following the method popularized by Rob Cosman, students will create the hinge pin by making a dowel directly from the same wood used for the box. Because the hinge components are made from the same material, the grain and color match the box itself. When the lid is closed, the hinge almost disappears, giving the finished piece a clean and refined appearance.

Along the way students will learn practical box making skills including accurate layout, safe router table operation, precise joinery, hinge construction, and careful fitting.

By the end of the class, each student will leave with a beautiful finished wooden hinge box and a deeper understanding of precision box making techniques.

This course is suitable for beginners who have basic shop safety knowledge as well as more experienced woodworkers who want to learn the distinctive technique of wooden hinge construction. All materials are provided, and students will take home the box they create.

Skills Covered

  • Planning and laying out a box project

  • Milling lumber flat, square, and to final thickness

  • Cutting precise box joints on a router table using a box joint jig

  • Using shooting boards, hand planes, and chisels for accurate fitting

  • Making wooden dowels from matching stock

  • Assembling and gluing a box accurately

  • Fitting the lid and tuning the wooden hinge

  • Surface preparation and applying a finish