Pinterest.

So I officially won the eBay auction for the tansu box! Hazah! Now I have to age it back on the outside and build all new drawers for the inside... You can take a look at this Pinterest board that I made to see the feel/mood/style I am going for when the box is done:

http://www.pinterest.com/papatiki/mystery-box/

For my midterm I may try to finish a proof of concept box to prove the servo works, but we will see...

The box begins to take shape...

A few neat tricks to use for my box...

 

An arduino powered infinity mirror...

I am also trying to figure out how to create the Japanese Makyoh Magic Mirror Effect. These sources discuss possible methods...

http://complex.gmu.edu/www-phys/phys262/soln/magic_mirror_phy_ed_2001.pdf

http://met.sdsmt.edu/reu/2012/2/2.Report/Final%20Report.pdf

http://dr.ntu.edu.sg/bitstream/handle/10220/13367/Investigation%20of%20surface%20%26%20sub-surface%20profile,%20techniques%20of%20measurement%20and%20replication%20of%20the%20chinese%20magic%20mirror.pdf?sequence=1

http://theedgeofreality.proboards.com/thread/3918

A Tut on laser etching pigmented metal

http://www.instructables.com/id/Laser-etched-Equipment-Nameplates/?ALLSTEPS

And here is the outer box shell that I am attempting to get. The inside drawers will be modified and little secrets will be scattered through-out to enhance the reverse geo-cache effect.

Also some hardware I am considering.

 

   

 

Inlays and UV

Some neat surface effects for my box. First the metal inlay I mentioned previously including some tips and tutorials...

http://www.engraverscafe.com/showthread.php?12350-Incrustation-quot-line-quot-metal-in-wood-by-Evgeni




http://www.davidpriceflintlocks.com/id30.html


http://www.davidpriceflintlocks.com/id32.html


And then some neat things with simple gears, and UV paint...

http://deron.meranda.us/create/coraline-box/
 

 

 

I think I would use the UV paint for a secret message or to create a map like this one...

Fantastic Wooden Gears

A bunch of wooden gear sets, including laser cut gears and a gear generator!

This online gear generator could be just the ticket for making some wood gears for my box...

http://woodgears.ca/gear_cutting/template.html

Illusions, Tricks and Gadgets oh-my!

Some neat illusions, tricks and gadgets that might help in the riddles of the box...

Deciphering codes...

Ice!

Fire!

Cool Indiana Jones Style Magic Mirror effect

Cool Indiana Jones style sand thing




magnets for a magnetic lock

and some unusually powered motors

Also a couple of boxes...

I really like the metal inlay on this one... it's gorgeous, and could be achieved more easily through acid etching.

And here is a nifty little puzzle box that uses tech to support it!

Completely off Topic - Wood Duplicators

combining one of these things with a 3d printer, a 3d scanner, a laser cutter or a cnc machine could create some unbelievable results.

Wood ones first.

And here is one for coins!

Aging and Weathering the Wood

Some handy tips and tricks for making wood look old and distressed... I will be doing this to the outside of the box in an attempt to make it more mysterious.

Vinegar and Steel wool (with tea to increase the tannins), an old trick, but one of my favorites.

Motor Oil... Interesting

Burning Man

Wood abuse & waterslide decals

and finally some cool paint distressing demos

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-faux-paint-antique-distressed-furniture-vi/

PUZZLE BOXES!

Some fantastic puzzle boxes that use a variety of methods to open. All are very unique and inspiring

The similarity of the moving parts makes it easy to get mixed up while solving this one

Some excellent wooden gears here

A whole bunch of puzzle boxes demonstrated

Even more puzzle boxes!

Many more ideas for hidden compartments can be found here:
http://www.stashvault.com/

And finally these Japanese ship chests or Karakuri Tansu are absolutely stunning. I am growing a little obsessed with them. This is essentially what I want to create, but merged with technology.

Here is a website that explains things a little bit more...

http://karakuriya.com/english/chest/shikake.htm

Also, any more boxes can be found here as well...

http://www.pinterest.com/johnptobin/chests-boxes-and-trunks/

Wooden Mechanisms

Some nifty wooden mechanics that I have been researching for possible use in my box. I like the idea of creating something low tech with old world craftsmanship and then enhancing it with high tech elements.

A wooden combination lock

A couple of different views of a secret drawer release

A Magnetic latch trick

Anniversary Lock 

Secret Compartments in a Pennsylvania Spice Box



Steampunk Style Box with working wood gears

Aurthur Ganson's Mechanical Art Machines...

I think that there is something exquisite and beautiful about they kind of things that Arthur Ganson's sculptures do. They are elaborate automatons that do things mechanically that it would be very complex to accomplish if programmed. I think that the merger of this brand of engineering mixed with clever ideas and programs is the sweet spot for the coming of age world of electronic art.

It would be wonderful to make my box or the objects in the box fit together to form some simple machine that is needed to complete the final quest task. Food for thought...

The Pennsylvania Quest Box

After much consideration I will likely be building a modified version of one of these wonderful boxes, known to the woodworking communities as a "Pennsylvania spice box". I like this box form for it's mystery and history. Also... secret compartments!

This will then be made more rugged by stripping away the fancy parts of the outside (dainty feat, molding) adding corner guards, and making the outside appearance look old disheveled. This might be accompanied by an old lock and key or symbols burned into the outer shell.

In contrast inside the door there will be multiple different woods, fancy pants drawer pulls, an inlay on the back of the door and maybe even text. It will look grand and unlikely for something with such a utilitarian outside.

Somewhere there will also be a mounted display and a button that when pressed displays a distance to an unknown destination on the display as well as how many "steps" in that destination. Steps will be used for writing with GPS later on. Once the box is brought to withing a couple hundred feet of the destination, one drawer will be opened by a servo.

This drawer may contain a small part needed to complete a larger puzzle at the end of the journey, a small prize, a clue or something to be used onsite for a location specific geo-cache.

This process will continue until all of the drawers are opened and the final prize is revealed. Of course there may be some secrets about the box that aren't so evident...

For more about the mechanics of the box, go check out...

https://www.sundial.com/quest-box/notes-for-builders/