Stamp of Approval

by Diana Thompson

It’s just a small problem to tackle: a wooden stamp holder with serious desk appeal. 

Here's how some woodworkers “thought small.”

Step up to the scroll saw to create this round hardwood box with an ornamented lid. Its clever but simple construction might surprise you. 

This box is made of black walnut, my favorite hardwood. It’s quite dense, and cutting a 1¼"-thick piece on the scroll saw can be difficult. I put clear packing tape on the bottom before cutting to lubricate the blade and help prevent burning the wood. I used a #5 single-tooth blade for this job. A reverse-tooth slows down the saw action when cutting thicker pieces, but works great for cutting the box top and bottom.