With this plan you can make a Turned box with combination lock lid, a perfect gift for a family member, friend, work colleague etc.

The plan that is offered here is ​​based on the book "Puzzles in Wood" (by Edwin Mather Wyatt, published 1940), more specifically an image and text describing in detail a type of box like this. The box is suitable for storing a variety of valuables, jewelry and the like, as it takes you a lot of time to open if you do not know its “secret”. Of course, it is always possible that the box gets stolen and broken. 

 

Turned box with combination lock lid plan
Project difficulty
Simple, requires precision
Skill level
for DIY enthusiasts
for intermediate experienced woodworker
Level of workshop equipment
Hobby - Sharp and quality hand tools
Lathe
Applied woodworking joints
Round mortise and tenon joint
Dimensions

 Dimensions of the completed turned box according to our plan are as follows: D 162mm (6 3/8''), H 169mm (6 21/32'')

 

Assembly drawing
Turned box with combination lock lid - Assembly drawing and parts list

 

The box consists of 6 parts: box body, knob, lid, inner lid and two cubes. The parts Knob and Inner lid are glued together as a unit. 

 

Part drawings
Turned box - Box body (Part 1)
Turned box - Lid (Part 2)
Turned box - Knob (Part 3)
Turned box - Cube (Part 4)
Turned box - Inner lid (Part 5)

On the top of the box body part there are two grooves entirely around the box, one on the inside and one on the outside. On each the inner side of the lid and the outside of the inner lid, two cubes are to be glued which can pass through the notches to reach the grooves on the box body part and revolve within them. The box can be opened only if all the four cubes are rotated into the proper position to pull it up through the notches on the box body part. The notches are not made opposite each other because, in this case, there would be two positions at which the box may be opened. It is very important to somehow mark and note the position of the lid with respect to the box body which allows the opening of the box. To make it easier, make some decorations on the parts, or remember the position on the basis of wood texture.

Fit all pieces together before gluing to avoid errors.

 

Download project (high resolution images)

Submitted by Ceh Jan