This project was built and designed by Sam Macy.
Sam set out to make a watch display that looks immovable at first glance but opens with a clever hidden magnetic hinge so watches can be slid on and off easily.
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Design
The concept balances a refined walnut cylinder that holds watch bands with a dramatic live-edge base and industrial metal posts for contrast.
The surprise is mechanical: one post contains a magnet that lets the top section swing away so bracelet-style watch bands can be slid on, keeping the mechanism invisible when closed.
Lumber Prep
Sam started from scrap walnut and a live-edge slab, ripping thin strips to glue up into the thickness needed for an oval cushion that mimics a wrist form.
Grain selection and glue-up were prioritized so the outer faces would show continuous, attractive grain once the cushion was shaped.
Joinery and Hidden Hardware
Instead of obvious fasteners, Sam designed shallow sockets for each metal post and used a small rod to create a pivot point so the top could rotate cleanly.
Magnets are recessed and combined with an inlaid washer so the top section snaps firmly to the base yet releases easily when rotated, keeping the hardware out of sight.
Shaping and Tools
Because the cushion is an oval rather than round, Sam avoided a lathe and shaped the stacked walnut using the bandsaw, hand plane, and sanding, trimming down to a layout sticker for the final profile.
Small shop tricks—double-sided tape for temporary positioning, hand planes for quick material removal, and a sanding disc to square edges—kept the workflow efficient and predictable.
Problem Solving and Adaptation
A parts mismatch forced a pivot in materials: a tiny order error for brass tubing led to sourcing copper pipe from a local store and adapting the finish and mounting approach accordingly.
Sam also used plug cutters, shallow forstner sockets, and a short aluminum rod to ensure the posts registered properly and rotated without complicated bearings, demonstrating how improvisation keeps projects moving.
Finishing
The final sanding went up to a very fine grit and the walnut received a hand-rubbed oil finish that brings out color without overpowering the watches it will display.
Small epoxy set pieces secure the posts and a light polish on the metal gives a warm, industrial accent that complements the walnut grain.
Lessons Learned
This project highlights how design thinking—making something look “locked” while providing a simple user action—can elevate an otherwise small shop build into a conversation piece.
It also reinforces practical shop habits: keep spare hardware, test fit often, and don’t be afraid to repurpose materials when the parts you ordered don’t match reality.
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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.
What strikes me about Sam’s approach here is how he turned a material hiccup into an opportunity. That brass-to-copper pivot shows the kind of adaptability that separates good woodworkers from frustrated ones. When your hardware supplier throws you a curveball, having the confidence to walk into a local store and find an alternative keeps momentum going.
The magnetic hinge concept is brilliant for watch collectors—no fumbling with clasps or stretching bands over a fixed form. Those recessed magnets with inlaid washers create that satisfying “snap” while staying completely invisible. It’s the kind of detail that makes people pick something up just to figure out how it works.
I appreciate Sam’s tool choices for shaping that oval cushion. Avoiding the lathe for non-round work is smart—bandsaw roughing, hand plane cleanup, and careful sanding gets you there without fighting your tools. That layout sticker trick for final profiling is something I’ll remember. Sometimes the simplest jigs are the most reliable.
The contrast between that refined walnut cushion and the raw live-edge base really works. It’s restrained enough to let the watches be the stars while still being interesting to look at empty. That balance is tougher to achieve than it looks.