This project was built and designed by Billy from Newton Makes. It’s a small, elegant jewelry box featuring a sliding dovetail joint, figured walnut, and a soft felt-lined interior—making it an ideal gift or personal keepsake.
The project is compact, but the level of craftsmanship is high. Billy uses a thoughtful combination of joinery, wood selection, and detail work to create a piece that’s simple to make but visually impressive.
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Highlighting the Beauty of Figured Walnut
With small woodworking projects, every grain and detail becomes more noticeable. That’s why Billy selects a striking piece of figured walnut to be the centerpiece of this build.
The rich tones and bold grain of walnut add instant visual interest. Rather than rushing, Billy takes time choosing the right section of the board, letting the natural character of the wood do the heavy lifting in terms of design.
Preparing the Pieces for a Sliding Dovetail
The project begins by ripping the board into two pieces: one for the base and one for the top. Because the sliding dovetail will be cut across the length of these pieces, accurate setup is key.
To reduce stress on the router bit, Billy removes most of the waste at the table saw. This leaves a manageable amount of material for the router to finish shaping the dovetail profile cleanly.
Cutting the Sliding Dovetail Joint
The top piece receives the dovetail profile first. Once it fits and slides well, Billy adjusts the router table to cut the matching groove in the bottom piece.
Rather than aiming for a tight, friction-only fit, the goal is smooth operation. The pieces should slide easily without slop. Achieving that balance takes test fitting and small adjustments, but the final effect is seamless and refined.
Dealing with Small Cracks in the Wood
As the routing progresses, hidden cracks in the walnut sometimes appear. Instead of discarding the material, Billy stabilizes them using black CA glue and accelerator.
This not only repairs the piece but adds subtle contrast within the grain. Once dry, the edges are cleaned up and re-routed, preserving the overall look while improving strength.
Creating a Tray Inside the Box
The inside of the jewelry box includes a routed tray to hold small items. Billy makes a template from MDF to guide the router, allowing him to keep the shape consistent.
He removes the bulk of the waste using a drill press and then routes the final shape using a bearing-guided bit. Multiple shallow passes ensure control and reduce tear-out, resulting in a clean, even tray cavity.
Adding Felt for Protection and Finish
To soften the interior and protect delicate items, Billy adds adhesive-backed felt. The base is lined first, followed by narrow strips that cover the tray’s sidewalls.
This finishing detail is simple but makes the box feel more complete. The black felt contrasts beautifully with the walnut and helps the interior look just as refined as the outside.
Applying a Custom Oil-Poly Finish
Finishing a small, detailed project like this requires a product that enhances grain without overpowering it. Billy applies a blend of polyurethane and oil that floods the surface and adds both warmth and protection.
The oil enriches the walnut’s natural colors, while the polyurethane gives a durable, semi-gloss finish. It’s a great combination for highlighting figured grain patterns on smaller items.
Making Multiple Boxes Efficiently
Once the router and templates are set up, it’s easy to repeat the process. Billy suggests making several boxes at once to save time and maximize output.
These jewelry boxes make excellent gifts and use very little wood. Their size makes them easy to batch out for holidays, birthdays, or other occasions—offering high-end results with minimal material cost.
Why This Project Works
The design stands out thanks to its thoughtful proportions and refined details. The sliding dovetail joint adds just enough complexity to make it rewarding without becoming overwhelming.
Combining that joinery with beautiful walnut and a felt-lined interior elevates the project. The result is a jewelry box that’s practical, elegant, and highly giftable.
Final Thoughts
Billy’s jewelry box project shows how attention to wood selection and joinery can transform a simple design into something truly special. The build is quick, but the result feels carefully crafted and meaningful.
Whether you’re building one or ten, this is a great project to improve your joinery skills and create something people will appreciate for years.
Please support Billy by visiting his website here: https://www.newtonmakes.com/shop.
Matt’s Take
These are my personal thoughts and tips based on my own experience in the shop. This section is not written, reviewed, or endorsed by the original creator of this project.
Sliding dovetails can be intimidating, but they’re actually perfect for smaller projects like this. The key is taking your time with the setup and making test cuts in scrap first. Once you dial in that router table height, the joint comes together beautifully. I love Billy’s approach of removing most of the waste at the table saw before routing — it puts way less stress on the bit and gives you cleaner results.
That CA glue repair technique is gold for dealing with hidden cracks in figured wood. Black CA actually looks intentional against walnut grain, almost like an inlay. It’s one of those happy accidents that can actually improve the piece. When working with highly figured wood, these little surprises are part of the territory.
The felt lining really makes the difference between a nice box and a finished piece. That adhesive-backed felt is worth the extra cost — it stays put and looks professional. For anyone making multiples, buying a whole sheet and cutting your own pieces saves money and gives you more control over the layout.
This is exactly the kind of project that builds confidence with hand-cut joinery while creating something genuinely useful. Small jewelry boxes are perfect for practicing techniques because the material cost is low, but the satisfaction level is high.