King Tutankhamun's Plywood Legacy!

In 1500 BC Egyptian craftsmen used thin strips of dark ebony to decorate the outside of a cedar wood casket found in King Tutankhamun's tomb.

The Greeks and Romans later used this technique to produce decorative objects such as fine furniture. In the 1600's this method of decorating furniture became known as  veneering and the thin strips were called veneers.

Since then the technology has advanced considerably and plywood is now made from three or more thin layers of wood veneer, glued together with an adhesive. Each layer, or 'ply', has the grain running at right angles to it's neighbour, in order to reduce shrinkage and improve strength. 

Birch Ply Round Hamper Gift Boxes

Plywood has excellent strength and stiffness properties, and therefore performs well in applications where high strength and rigidity is required. It also has good resistance to humidity and is easy to work and handle.

Most plywood is supplied in large, flat sheets with thicknesses ranging from 1.4 mm to 76 mm. The most common panel size used is 1.2 m wide by 2.4 m long.

One of the great advantages of plywood, particularly birch plywood is that it can be pressed into simple or complex curve shapes, for use in furniture, boats and aircraft, so is an extremely versatile material. 

For example, the De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito flown so successfully in World War II was built from compound sandwich panels using Canadian birch plywood.

De Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

However, plywood is also used extensively in wood box making! Among the most common uses for thin gauge birch plywood is the manufacture of round boxes such as large round hamper boxes and shaker boxes.

It's also used as the base layer of wooden boxes to provide greater overall strength and rigidity and as the top layer of larger wood boxes where solid wood would tend to warp!

Plywood has a smooth even grain pattern that's ideal for the application of clear lacquers and beautiful, natural wood and colour stain finishes, that undoubtedly add a touch of elegance and class to the finished product.

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How To Get A Cracked Paint Finish Onto Wooden Boxes!

Many wood gift boxes manufactured for commercial use today are made to high quality standards, with a highly polished finish!

However, authentic cracked paint finishes on wood boxes are also incredibly popular but authenticity is a rare commodity nowadays.

So, this kind of finish is often produced artificially, to provide similar effects to the natural deterioration that occurs to paint over time, particularly when exposed to daylight.

Wooden Box With Cracked Paint Finish

The resulting paint finish is unusual and eye-catching and if done correctly can provide that weather beaten, rustic, farmyard effect that you may be looking for.

So, how do you get a cracked paint finish on a wooden box? Well, there are a number of proprietary 'crackling glaze' products, that you can buy over the counter at your local DIY shop, that will get the job done for you.

The application of the paint is simple enough but you need to understand the process, if you want an authentic looking finish. With this in mind, a little practice on some wood off-cuts you've discarded, until you get it right, makes good sense.

Proprietary crackled glaze products will provide instructions on how you can apply their paint successfully. However, to achieve the very best results, you need to use a combination of water based emulsion paint and crackle paint.

Use two base coats of emulsion paint, then one base coat of proprietary crackle paint. After the first coat of emulsion, add the crackle coat, brushed in the same direction as the emulsion paint underneath.

The second coat of emulsion paint should be applied at right angles to the first. Naturally, each coat of paint needs to be thoroughly dry before the application of the next coat.

Here are three tips to help you, when applying your paint finishes ...

Tip 1: Avoid applying the crackle paint in straight lines. You'll get a far more natural looking finish by painting randomly over the whole box.

Tip 2: Apply the crackle paint quickly, as the crackling process starts almost immediately.

Tip 3: Avoid overdoing the painting. If you paint back and forth too many times, you'll smear over the cracks and spoil the effect.

To provide a more interesting finish, you may wish to use two paint colours. For instance, you can use white emulsion paint as the base coats and red crackle paint as the finishing coat. Your wooden boxes will be painted red overall, with white cracks showing through - a terrific effect!

After drying, you can apply the crackle paint top coat which will seal and protect the crackle effect you've produced.

The process of applying your crackle paint finish is easy and straightforward, once you've had a little bit of practice. 

If you proceed step by step, with a little care and attention, you'll give your wooden boxes a great vintage look and feel that will impress not only your customers but maybe those farmyard animals as well!

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Tramp Art - Why This Art Form Is Being Re-Discovered!

Polmac (UK) Ltd is always curious about art forms that include the production of wooden boxes and the construction and decorative techniques used to make them, to see what we can learn.

One of these is 'Tramp Art', an art form that evolved around the world when small fragments of wood, from discarded shipping crates and cigar boxes were carved into complex geometric shapes.

 

Tramp Art Carved Box

The outside edges of each layer was 'notch carved', or made in the form of a 'crown of thorns'. Tramp Art was popular in the years between the 1870s and the 1940s, after which it began to rapidly decline.

Simple tools such as pocketknives were used to carve the wood and assemble mainly utilitarian objects. Thousands of tramp art objects were produced worldwide but mostly in the USA where the art form took root.

The most common objects produced were carved wooden boxes, such as jewellery boxes and picture frames, although objects of every conceivable shape and size, including full sized furniture were made.

Tramp Art was a democratic art form made wherever suitable raw materials could be found. It is thought that in the USA 50 different ethnic groups were involved in making tramp art objects.

It appealed to anyone who was proficient at whittling wood with a penknife, because making tramp art objects was relatively quick and easy. Tramp art was mostly made in the home environment by people from all walks of life.

Tramps or 'hoboes' as they were called in America, also made tramp art but not in very great quantities. The name tramp art was conceived in modern times and was believed to have been created by skilled German or Scandinavian immigrants to America, although some people dispute this.

Tramp art is an important art form and is a testament to the ability and creativity of ordinary people, with little, or no training in the arts, to produce objects of great artistic merit and beauty.

The Tramp Art movement was among the first to use discarded materials to make objects of art, as well as every day utilitarian objects. Many of these objects are truly stunning and it is no surprise that the art form it being discovered once again.

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Why Use Tubes In Wood Presentation Packaging?

In the commercial world, companies vie with each other to stand out from the crowd, so potential customers are drawn to their products rather than a competitors'. That's why innovation in product design is so important!

When people think of wooden boxes, they probably imagine a square or rectangular wood box. However, in recent times and particularly in the premium spirits sector, tubes are being used more and more as an economic alternative to traditional rectalinear shapes.

Whisky Boxes In Tube Format

They can be made from thin gauge plywood, such as Finnish birch ply that can be easily bent to a tight circumference, then lapped and pinned with copper, or plated metal studs at the vertical joints. These may be straight, or shaped to produce a wave pattern, or saw tooth effect, for greater decorative impact!

Tubes can also be made from natural wood veneers, which are popular because of the range of beautiful veneers to choose from. Natural, wood veneers are readily available, economic, stable and very practical to use.

Veneers are thinner than plywood, so are normally glued to an inner core for greater strength and stability, either as flat sheets, or to provide a winding, spiral effect.

Once the tubes have been made, solid wood bases and lift-off lids can be added. Lift-off lids may be traditional, lapped or flush style, or cut at forty five degrees at the base, to provide a more contemporary look and feel!

Thin gauge plywood or wood veneered tubes can be decorated using a wide range of natural wood and colour stains and clear lacquer finishes, if the natural warmth and beauty of wood is preferred.

They can also be branded with a company logo and/ or text by printing directly onto the wood surface, or using engraved, or etched metal plates.

Thin gauge plywood or natural wood veneered tubes are quick and easy to make. Where practical,  economic and innovative design solutions are required to replace traditional rectilinear shapes, they can provide a stunning alternative.

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Should I Use Wood Presentation Boxes To Sell My Products?

For those businesses that sell tangible products that you can pick up and touch, one of the first questions they may ask is "How do I sell my products"?

One of the best ways to sell tangible products is to use high quality, wood presentation packaging, because this type of packaging has been proved to increase sales and boost profits!

Many businesses, particularly small to medium size businesses, believe that using presentation packaging will stymie sales, due to the inevitable hike in price. "My products will be too expensive for my customers, if I buy your wooden boxes" is a typical comment!

Polmac F&M Condiments Box

However, the most successful companies know that high quality, presentation packaging adds value to the products inside, so it attracts more customers, which means they'll make more sales!

Furthermore, because of the 'added value' created, a psychological transformation takes place and customers will even be prepared to pay more!

"But my products are relatively low value and do not lend themselves to this type of packaging!" I hear you say! This may be true. Wood, presentation packaging is best used for selling high value products, such as single-malt whisky, cutlery and precision instruments etc. 

However, the perception that customers have of low value products can be raised significantly by selling them in gift sets!

In other words, by using gifts boxes, your products are now perceived as high value and will be much more attractive to potential buyers!

This is a technique that's often used in the health & beauty and speciality food industries with great success. Gift boxes are popular throughout the year and particularly on special occasions such as anniversaries, birthdays and Christmas and are a great way to sell your products!

One of the special features of wood, presentation packaging is that you can easily create your own designs, to suit your exact needs, so you can test the market at little cost. This means you can try out new ideas, without breaking the bank and have more money available to invest in your business. For small to medium size businesses this may be godsend!

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Turn Your Wood Presentation Boxes Into Objects Of Desire & Real Affection!

Now that Christmas is over, what do you do with all those wonderful, wood presentation boxes that were used to package your presents?

Most presentation packaging materials such as cardboard and plastic are designed to be discarded once the product inside has been consumed or used.

However, wooden boxes are more robust and long-lasting, so there's no need to throw them away. There's something really satisfying about prolonging the life of wood boxes by finding new and creative uses for them.

It's a bit like an old work horse who's retired and is now enjoying a more sedentary life on a farm, providing rides for the local kids, instead of being sent to the knackers yard!

Wooden Storage Box Decorated With Promotional Theatre Images

Wooden gift boxes are often thought of as simple storage containers but with a little creative thinking they can be turned into objects of desire and real affection!

Wood gift boxes are used as containers for many everyday products, such as whisky and premium spirits, wine and champagne, cheese and condiments and tools etc. They come in all shapes, sizes and designs. Some have hinged lids, lift-off lids and sliding lids or are supplied as cases and crates without lids.

So, how can we give our wooden boxes a new lease of life? Well, that's up to you but you can turn them into such things as flower boxes, wall décor shelves, storage containers for old vinyl records, kitchen utensils, vintage china, tools and children's art materials. 

They can also be used to create flower arrangements for dinner table centre pieces, seed beds for the garden and storage containers for your fruit and veg!

Once you've decided how to use your wooden boxes don't worry about the condition. Sometimes that battered look is an advantage, so all you need to do is clean them up a bit. 

Children's Pencil Boxes Plain Decorated With Side Images

On the other hand if you want some colour you can paint them with a plain matt emulsion to provide that rustic, retro look and perhaps stick some interesting images on the sides! 

One simple and inexpensive way to decorate your boxes is to create attractive collages using materials from around the house. These could be bits of old newspaper, wallpaper pieces from your last decorating job, hand crafted paper, brown wrapping paper, coloured tissue paper, pieces of coloured silk and flock fabric, pictures from glossy magazines and old sheet music!

Your wooden boxes can truly become objects of desire and real affection, with a long lease of life, if you find a new purpose for them. All you need to do is to put your thinking cap on and get those creative juices flowing!

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Transfers For Wooden Gift Boxes!

Traditional ways of decorating a wooden gift box include painting, staining, carving, pyrography, inlay, laser etching, decoupage etc. But a novel way of decorating wood boxes that we discovered recently was by transferring photo images. This is a great way of personalizing wooden boxes and they make great gifts, not only at Christmas but at any time of the year.

Transferring any image from paper to another surface is fun and surprisingly easy. You don't need any special skills - just a little practice. Give it a go and soon you'll be looking for more ways to apply this simple technique!

Transfer Images On A Wooden Gift Box

The first thing you should bear in mind is that it's difficult to transfer an image obtained from an inkjet printer, as it will tend to smudge. That's okay if you like impressionism but not so good if you want a clean, crisp image transfer. So, what you'll need is a black and white or colour photocopied image.

The process of transferring the image involves applying a special transfer solution to the image you've chosen. You can purchase the transfer solution from any craft shop, or online. You then press down the image (photo side) onto the surface of the wooden box and leave it to dry.

The wooden box you have in mind can be unfinished, or if you want the image to stand out, it can be pre-painted with a water based emulsion paint, or even an oil paint.

Once the photo copy paper is dry, a damp cloth is used to wet the paper which is then gently removed leaving the image behind.

You can use a wood oil aerosol spray, or a proprietary seal from B&Q or Homebase to remove the paper residue and to provide a nice sheen or gloss finish.

The finished result is great because the image looks as though it's part of the wood rather than being stuck on like a paper transfer, or decoupage. So, what's stopping you - give it a go and release those creative juices!

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Bandsaw Boxes - Evocative & Appealing!

Band saw boxes are made from wood and are cut using a band saw. A solid, or laminated block of wood may be used to make a bandsaw box which often has a curvy linear shape, although not exclusively so.

They are quick, easy and fun to make and only require a 1/4 inch band saw blade with a hook profile. What looks good on the eye is simply marked up and cut out. The shapes and patterns that can be designed are almost limitless. 

Bandsaw Box

Other tools used to make bandsaw boxes depend upon the finish required. These may include sanding tools, carving tools and paint brushes if a painted colour finish is required.

Bandsaw boxes may be intricate and highly decorated, so are often used to store jewellery and trinkets and make great keepsake boxes.

They are particularly pleasing on the eye because everything fits so perfectly together. This is possible because all the various parts of the box are cut from the same block of wood and the 'kerf' or cut the bandsaw makes will be even all round.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses this 'kerfing' technique to make it's wooden boxes, to ensure a perfect fit between the lids and bases. All six sides of the wooden box are glued together to make a composite carcass and the lid is then cut out from the top using a circular saw. In this instance the 'kerf' is made by the circular saw blade!

Bandsaws may be used to cut practically any irregular shape, which means that bandsaw boxes may be made into virtually any shape. If drawers are included for example, they may be a traditional rectangular, circular or oval shape.

No two bandsaw boxes are ever exactly alike because there are always variations in colour and texture from one piece of wood to the next, even if the wood is from the same tree. This is what can make bandsaw boxes so evocative and appealing!

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North American Bent Wood Boxes!

Traditional square or rectangular wooden boxes sometimes have rounded corners for effect. The process comprises making wood boxes with 90 degree corners, using traditional jointing methods such as mitres, butt joints, finger joints etc. and then reducing the corners to a rounded shape, either manually or by machine.

Bent wood boxes however are traditional wood boxes made by the First Nations people of North America from one piece of wood that's steamed and bent at the corners to form a box. The rounded corners are therefore formed naturally by the way they're made.

North American Bent Wood Box

Uses for bent wood boxes were varied and included food storage, cooking utensils, clothing accessories, for ceremonial purposes and burials, water carrying, canoes and dwellings.

Bent wood boxes were often elaborately decorated and / or carved, particularly if they were made for trading purposes, whilst other more utilitarian boxes were left plain undecorated.

Today, many bent wood boxes of different shapes and sizes are made for specialist collectors and can be purchased online, from museum gift shops, as well as directly from the craftsmen themselves.

Bent wood boxes are made from a single piece of wood in which three grooves called 'kerfs' have been cut where the corners occur. The wood is then steamed at each groove position, bent and pegged at the final corner to create the four sides of the box.

A cedar wood base is then fixed to the underside of the box using pegs and finally a lid is made for the top which is usually rebated to fit.

Steaming the wood makes it softer and therefore more pliable, especially if the wood is green, so it bends easily at the groove positions where the wood thickness has been reduced.

The First Nation people of North America used cedar wood because it was readily available in the areas they lived and because it has a straight grain, lending itself to being bent and is also lightweight and easily worked, making it the ideal material for making boxes.

Important members of the tribe were able to demonstrate their status by the number of bent wood boxes they possessed and how elaborately they were carved and / or decorated.

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Wood Presentation Wine Boxes - Elegant & Appealing!

Wooden boxes are an elegant and appealing way to present wine and make great gift ideas. On the more practical side, wine bottles in wood presentation boxes can be securely stored and easily accessed by means of hinged or sliding lids.

For most wine aficionados what counts of course is the finest vintage wine. However, I'm sure anyone who loves wine will enjoy any vintage even more when it comes in a finely crafted, wooden wine box.

Fortnum & Mason Single Bottle Wine Box

Wood is an extremely versatile material so wine boxes come in all shapes, sizes and designs. They can contain a single wine bottle or multiple bottles of wine. These 'wine cases' typically hold up to 12 bottles of wine and have a carrying handle because of the excessive weight.

Wine gift boxes can also include wine accessories such as cork screws and glasses to provide a complete wine tasting package.

There are also many variations on the theme such as champagne boxes, port and stilton boxes, with personal touches added, such as engravings, scrolls and hand written, or printed personal messages.

Fortnum & Mason Port & Stilton Box

Personal touches add value and an 'emotional charge' to the entire experience, so make the wine box, or wine gift set more memorable and therefore more marketable.

That is why many companies give gifts of wine in elegant wooden boxes to their customers particularly at Christmas time, as an expression of thanks for their continuing custom.

This custom is reminiscent of the time when wine was packed in rustic wooden cases to provide a perfect addition to anyone's wine collection.

Wine makes a wonderful gift for family, friends and business associates who take wine seriously. Nothing makes a more thoughtful statement than a fine bottle of wine in a beautifully crafted wooden gift box.

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Wood - Beautiful, Organic & Eco-Friendly!

Wood is one of the most useful materials in the world and has many different uses, because it's strong and versatile. 

Wood is available as hardwood or softwood but these descriptions don't always refer to the actual hardness or softness of the wood, which can be confusing.

 Beech Tree (Hardwood)

Hardwoods are from broad leaved (deciduous) trees, such as beech, birch, mahogany, maple, oak, teak and walnut and lose their leaves in the autumn.

Softwoods on the other hand are from evergreen (coniferous) trees that have needles and cones throughout the year and include cypress, fir, pine, spruce and redwood.

Pinewood Forest (Softwood)

Generally, hardwoods are harder than softwoods but this is not always the case. For example, linden wood and alder wood which Polmac (UK) Ltd uses as base woods, because they're ideal for staining wood boxes, are actually hardwoods that are comparatively soft and lightweight.

Many hardwoods have beautiful grain character and are used for making wooden boxes and furniture, as well as for decorative woodwork.

Softwoods often come from trees that are tall and straight and are used extensively in the construction industry but can also be used in wooden box making, if a tougher and more durable material is required.

The structure of wood determines its appearance, how it behaves and what it's used for. 

There are many tree varieties with a wide range of properties that are different to materials such as metals, plastics and ceramics.

These materials have a fairly uniform inner structure that makes them behave exactly the same way in all directions. Wood however has different properties in different directions, due to its natural, annual growth ring structure.

If properly treated and preserved wood will last a long time before it begins to deteriorate. However, because wood is an organic material, it's subject to the natural forces of decay, such as fungus and insects that will gradually attack its structure and eventually reduce it to dust.

People learned to use wood for practical and decorative purposes from the earliest times. Today, it's still a very popular material and is particularly admired for its natural, organic and eco-friendly properties.

Forestry can be 100% sustainable but random, unregulated logging can seriously damage the environment, whether it's to clear a tropical rainforest or to selectively cut down mature trees in an old woodland.

Trees provide important habitats for many other species and help to increase bio-diversity. If managed in a sustainable way, forestry is a great example of how people can live in perfect harmony with the environment and benefit from it. 

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Decorated Ceramic Tile Boxes Make Stunning Gifts!

Plain, undecorated wooden boxes (box blanks) can be transformed using a variety of traditional decorative techniques into functional and artistic gifts. The visual effects these decorative techniques can provide are limited only by your own imagination.

Traditional methods of decorating wooden boxes include painting, with acrylic craft paints, emulsion, oil based paints and wood stains, with natural wood and / or colour stains.

Polmac (UK) Ltd Decorated Ceramic Tile Boxes

You can use small pieces of coloured tissue paper to decoupage your wood boxes, if you prefer a more random, vibrant finish.

The sea glass you've collected from a recent visit to the beach can be glued to your wooden boxes, to create stunning mosaics.

You can also create more complex or basic designs using pyrography (wood burning) and traditional wood carving techniques.

However, one of the most unusual and interesting methods of embellishing wooden boxes is to use decorative ceramic tiles, glued onto the surface.

You can create your own ceramic tile designs, if you have access to a kiln, by hand decorating, or using decorative transfers. If not, you can use decorated tiles from your local tile shop.

When fixing ceramic tiles onto your wood boxes, bear in mind that wood 'moves' due to moisture content, whereas ceramic tiles and glass are static. This means the glue needs to provide separation as well as adhesion.

So, a good choice would be silicone, as it's relatively inexpensive and easy to use.

However, if you're using plywood, you'll need to seal it first, then use a flexible, cement based adhesive, rather than a pre-mixed tub adhesive.

These two gluing methods assume the substrate, whether it's wood, mdf, or plywood, is reasonably rigid and doesn't flex or bow with variations in temperature.

Wood boxes decorated with ceramic tiles and mosaic, are perfect for displaying your tile and mosaic artwork.

They offer unusual design opportunities that can wow and impress your friends and / or clients.

These decorated, ceramic tile boxes make stunning gifts to store treasured mementos and photos in, or to use as elegant gift packages!

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Presentation Packaging & Sustainability!

Lots of people believe that presentation packaging and the more robust transit packaging, although commercially necessary, isn't really something they need to think about too much!

They consider a box, even a wooden box as an inconsequential container. It's what you must open to access what really matters - the product inside.

Well, many consumers today do care about packaging in the broadest sense, particularly when it concerns attitudes about sustainability.

Packing Polmac Wood Presentation Boxes

Of course, I'm biased. Polmac (UK) Ltd is a 20 year plus business specializing in supplying customized, wood presentation boxes and we believe that it really does matter.

Why? - Because many people think that an item's packaging, tells them something about how much the company cares about them.

Furthermore, they think that packaging solutions in general, should reflect the environmental values of the company they're buying from and the role it plays in protecting the products they purchased!

Consumers care about sustainable packaging practices and this is not just about them being biodegradable or recyclable. It's also about the wider economy and the use of scarce natural resources.

For instance, many delivery systems and packaging solutions are inadequate in terms of meeting today's packaging challenges!

The result is damage and damaged products have to be re- delivered using packing materials that will have to be reused, recycled and / or disposed of in landfill, using up more and more valuable resources.

Naturally, the delivery systems have to be fit for purpose, as does the outer transit packaging! If the packaging materials are also re-usable and recyclable, then so much the better.

That's why Polmac (UK) Ltd takes great care to ensure we use only materials from sustainable and managed sources and our wood boxes are packaged in a sustainable way, prior to despatch to the customer.

Polmac wooden boxes are first individually wrapped in white paper to prevent scuff marks on boxes during transit. In certain circumstances, single - layer, cardboard sleeves (outers) are used instead of white paper, to make doubly sure there are no scuff marks during transit.

Finally, they're packed and sealed in 6-ply corrugated, impact resistant, cardboard boxes, palleted and shrink wrapped. This minimizes any transit damage and the sustainability issues this may cause.

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Protecting & Displaying Military Memorabilia!

Wood presentation packaging is a broad term that can mean not only wooden boxes but also wood constructions that enclose, store, or display items that are valuable, have some emotional connection, or are simply beautiful to look at.

For example, over the last ten years there has been a huge surge in the number of people collecting military memorabilia. There are many reasons for this, including the recent anniversaries of two world wars and an insatiable appetite for all things military.

Wall Mounted Medal Display Case

Other reasons include the popularity of war films such as 'Saving Private Ryan' and the 'Band of Brothers' television series. Interest is also generated through the many military fairs held across the country and of course online trade.

People thinking about collecting war memorabilia need to decide how to protect and display it to best effect. War memorabilia come in all shapes, sizes and types, from tiny bullets, medals and badges to huge tanks and planes.

You can store your collection in a battered old trunk if you want but if your collection is special you may consider ordering a large, stylish wooden box with latches that lock and a carrying handle, all made to your exact specifications.

Wall Mounted 'Challenge Coin' Display Case

However, if you decide to preserve and display your military memorabilia, it's important to do it properly. Displaying military memorabilia can be very rewarding because not only is it a way of honouring the individuals who served their country, it's also a way of keeping family history alive, if the items have a  personal connection.

The larger items can be displayed on specially designed pedestals or in large glass cabinets, like the ones you see in museums.

Smaller items such as medals and badges can be displayed in shallow or deep 'shadow boxes', that are small, glass-fronted wooden display cases, usually mounted on a wall.

There are also specially designed, wall mounted wood display cases for so called 'challenge coins'. These are small coins or medallions given to members of an organization displaying the insignia or emblem of that organization.

Uniforms can also be displayed in wooden (picture) frames rather like wood framed oil paintings but with a lockable glass front.

When considering the display of military memorabilia, there are usually two considerations ...

1: How to display it in the best possible way so it can be seen and admired.
2: How to provide easy access so it can be handled from time to time.

Today, wood presentation packaging can mean different things to different people. However, the real beauty of these wood presentation display methods is that you can take any military object and turn it into a valuable collectable item and display it with perfect grace.

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Getting Married? Use Wooden Flower Boxes For Centrepieces!

When considering the décor for your wedding reception it's always tempting to leave the arrangements to the wedding management company, if you have one. Whatever the circumstances, you'll naturally have an input but you can easily use your creative talents to add your very own personal touches.

For instance, you can design and make your own wedding invitations and stationary and you can also design your own wedding centrepieces, that will undoubtedly set the tone for the wedding reception.

Using Wooden Boxes For Floral Centrepieces

For brides and grooms a DIY craft wedding is a terrific way to put your own stamp on your wedding, especially if you're looking for a more rustic overall flavour. If your wedding is taking place in a barn for example, it may be an ideal opportunity for some creative thinking.

Weddings can be expensive affairs, so making some of the decorative items yourself can be an excellent way of saving money, especially if the finances are a bit tight!

If you haven't done any art since school don't worry about it. You can still wow your guests by using your imagination and developing some really interesting ideas. One way to accomplish this is to design your own wooden boxes for centrepieces.

If you're looking for modern trends, a good place to start looking are wedding websites and magazines where you can find some terrific ideas for wooden boxes for floral arrangements.

You'll also find the little bits and pieces you'll need as embelishments, such as coloured ribbons, bows, cut out decorations and trims. This will ensure your wood boxes for centrepieces look modern, fresh and of course professional.

Wooden boxes come in all shapes, sizes and finishes, such as square, rectangular, round, hexagonal, octagonal, single tier and 2-tier etc. You can use old wooden craft boxes from the shed and decorate them yourself, or you can have new ones made to your requirements and even have your names and a message printed on them.

The very first thing to decide is the shape and the size of your wood boxes and after that the finish. For instance, this could be a simple matt emulsion in light pastel shades, a clear lacquer finish or a wood or colour stain if you wish to retain the grain character of the wood.

Wooden boxes can make spectacular wedding centrepiece floral arrangements. The keys to success are to provide lots of colour and variety in your floral arrangements, so use your creative juices to mix things up a bit!

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Hand Tool Woodworking Myths Exposed!

Polmac (UK) Ltd manufactures custom-made, wood presentation boxes and packaging using traditional woodcraft techniques and semi-automated methods of production.

This means we use hand tools as well as power tools when manufacturing our wooden boxes. But why use hand tools when we have all these amazing, ultra-modern, fast, efficient power tools available to us? Well, when analyzed much of what has been said and written about hand tools are myths.

The first myth is that hand tools are slow and inefficient but the truth is that it's often the person who's slow and inefficient and not the tool. Hand tools have always been designed to be used quickly and efficiently but you need to pick the right tool for the job and use it correctly. 

Nailing A Metal Catch Using A Hammer

Polmac (UK) Ltd comes from a craft background, so Polmac craftsmen are expert in the use of traditional hand tools, that provide a degree of quality that power tools cannot match.

Both hand tools and power tools are very quick if used as they are designed to be. Once you understand what the tool is for and practice using it until it becomes second nature, then you'll work quickly and efficiently every time.

The second myth is that hand tools are less precise than power tools but this is simply untrue. A hand plane for example can remove wood to fractions of a millimetre and this kind of precision is something power tools again simply cannot match.

Furthermore, using a hand plane means you don't have to sand the surface to provide a smooth, even finish. With a power planer you invariably do, so the hand tool saves you time.

It's also important to realize that using hand tools doesn't need to be entirely freehand. There are many jigs and appliances available that can help to steady and guide hand tools. Many of these you can build  yourself, for particular kinds of work that you undertake regularly.

Another myth states that hand tools are unsuitable for complicated work. The truth is that hand tools often free you from using complex jig arrangements that are time-consuming to set up.

For example, if you want to cut a joint at a complicated angle it could take ages to set up on a jig. However, using a hand tool means you just need to mark out the joint and cut it - it's that simple!

To obtain the maximum benefit from using hand tools, the first priority is to discover precisely what they should be used for. It is true that power tools are fast and efficient and save you time but hand tools can too, if used properly!

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Wood Jewellery Delights - A New Story To Tell!

Polmac (UK) Ltd specializes in supplying customized, wood presentation boxes and packaging using craft techniques and semi-automated methods of production. 

Our wooden boxes derive from a craft heritage and we are always looking at new ways wood can be used. This allows us to learn new production and finishing methods and keep abreast of developments, which means we can continuously improve the quality of our wood boxes for your benefit. 

The use of specialized, wood decorative techniques in wood gift boxes and jewellery came to our attention recently as an innovative new way wood can be used. 

Wood Bangle Bracelet

From the earliest times our ancestors used wood for creating shelters, making fire, tools, utensils and weapons. They also used wood for decoration. At some point they learned to shape wood and realized that they could carve, pierce and decorate small wooden objects to create primitive jewellery.

When we think of jewellery today we think of precious and semi-precious stones, as well as gold and silver. We rarely think about using wood in jewellery. However, designers today are rediscovering wood as a material that can be used successfully in jewellery, even at the high-end of the jewellery market.

This reincarnation of wood allows us to appreciate the natural warmth and beauty of wood once more and the many uses it has.

Wood & Glass Mosaic Pendant

Many countries, particularly in the new world have fine wood carving traditions and these skills are being preserved for future generations. Traditional wood carvers are co-operating with jewellery designers to produce bold new designs using techniques that have been developed over thousands of years.

People are attracted by unconventional materials such as wood, in superior quality jewellery including bangles, bracelets, earrings and cuffs.

The special quality of wood adds an extra dimension to our visual experience. Polished rosewood and ebony for example contrast beautifully when used with faceted white diamonds!

A technique comprising pressed thin sheets of native coloured woods in rich, natural hues called 'marquetry' was recently discovered in Brazil and is now used in the manufacture of contemporary jewellery.

Many woods like the blue azul cavalho can be combined in marquetry with other materials such as mother-of-pearl and glass, to provide distinctive and beautifully textured designs.

Wood is a truly unique and versatile material and it seems today it definitely has a new story to tell!

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Wood Finishing Techniques - Lacquer Spraying!

Lacquer spraying for gloss, semi gloss and matt lacquers evolved in the 20th century as a quick, easy to apply and durable wood finishing technique. As automation evolved, so did the application of wood finishes.

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses lacquer spraying to finish it's customised, wood presentation boxes, particularly where large production runs are involved, as it's the most efficient and economical method of finishing wood boxes. 

Lacquer Spraying Polmac Wooden Boxes

Most woods can be sealed with a proprietary lacquer sealer before applying the finishing coats. However, careful surface preparation is crucial if a top quality lacquer finish is required!

After sealing, 3 or 4 light coats of lacquer can be applied. When dry, each coat is then lightly sanded ready for a final finishing wet coat, carefully avoiding over-spraying which may cause runs.

If runs do occur, the best remedy is to wait until the lacquer has dried. Then carefully scrape with the flat edge of a razor blade, slowly shaving them down. Finally, the runs are lightly sanded and re-sprayed as necessary.

When moisture in the air becomes trapped in the lacquer finish, 'blushing', which is an unsightly blemish that looks like a white foggy haze, may occur. This can be avoided if the humidity does not exceed 65 % when spraying.

Each spray coat should be lapped by 50 % and the spray path kept parallel with the object, as swinging the spray gun back and forth can produce uneven coverage.

The flow of the lacquer from the spay gun should be adjusted to achieve a smooth, even spray pattern.

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Wood Carving For Beginners!

Polmac (UK) Ltd has been using hand carving techniques, as well as other techniques, to embellish our decorated wood boxes for many years.

There is real craftsmanship involved in hand carving complex patterns on wooden boxes and this takes time but there are some basic skills that you need to learn before you start. 

Wood Relief Carving Leaf Motifs

It's important to use the right tools for the job, so learn which tools are used to accomplish which particular task and practice using them.

Use soft woods like Basswood, because they're easy to carve. This will allow you to learn the basic techniques of wood carving without having to wrestle with a hard wood that's tough to carve.

Polmac (UK) Ltd traditionally uses Linden and Alder which are woods that are soft enough to carve easily and are also ideal for wood staining purposes.

Polmac (UK) Ltd Decorated Boxes

Most importantly, ensure your wood carving tools are always sharp, because then you can cut cleanly and evenly into the wood.

If you take care, it's even possible to cut across the grain. However, remember that it's always better to carve with the grain, rather than against it!

Tip: To prevent the grain from tearing away, cut in from both sides.

Sharp hand carving tools are also safer to use than blunt ones, because with blunt tools you'll invariable need to use more pressure. Accidents can then happen, because by using more pressure, your tools may slip and slide.

It's also important to learn more about the wood itself, particularly the characteristics of the end grain and how it can help or hinder you.

Be ambitious and use your own designs. They don't have to be complicated but it will give you a great sense of satisfaction to produce carvings that you have designed yourself. If this doesn't come easily, don't worry, because the more you practice, the better you'll become.

Start with simple designs, that you know you can easily accomplish and build on that to produce more intricate designs.

You can also experiment with  different kinds of carving to find which ones you really like, such as chip and  relief carving, caricatures, realistic sculpture, wildfowl etc

Wood carving can be immensely enjoyable, so be patient, learn the basics, try out different types of carving and above all have fun!

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Are Finishes For Wooden Boxes Food Safe?

In today's food safety conscious society, particularly after the recent foot and mouth and horse meat scares, it's crucial that wood finishes, particularly those that are in contact with food and children are safe.

Babies and small children are particularly vulnerable, as they have a tendency to explore the world through their mouths.

Wood Stain Application

Water based paints such as emulsion and also wood stains are probably less likely to contain harmful compounds, such as solvents, pesticides and herbicides, than say gloss paint, or lacquer finishes.

But paints and lacquers can flake off, especially on porous surfaces so it's important that they're as stable as possible.

If wood is to be in contact with food the safest option is to leave the surface unfinished.

Wood packaging products such as food hamper boxes, cheese boards and cheese safes are usually made from a hard, robust wood like Beech, that is finely sanded for ease of cleaning and left 'raw' for complete 100 % food safety protection.

Harrods 'Fromagerie' Cheese Safe & Cheese Board 

(Made from natural unfinished Beech)

However, unfinished wood tends to get grubby very quickly, so the surface can be finished with an edible oil to draw out the natural warmth and beauty of the wood and to protect it from finger marks.

Manufacturing wood presentation boxes means that Polmac (UK) Ltd sources a large amount of wood, mostly Linden and Alder, although other woods are also used.

We never use wood from timber suppliers where it may contain harmful additives such as preservatives. All Polmac wood is obtained from sustainable and managed sources, as rough hewn planks, straight from a  reputable, local saw mill. In this way, we can guarantee the quality of our customized, wood packaging products.

There are few wood finishes that every person agrees are completely food safe. However, some people regard all wood finishes as potentially harmful, mainly because manufacturers label their wood products as being food-safe, which implies that other finishes are not!

Therefore, a lot of energy may be expended arguing about food safety issues where in fact none really exists.

However, to be absolutely certain that wood finishes are completely food safe, they must also be properly cured. As a rule of thumb, it takes about 30 days for wood finishes to cure properly

Polmac (UK) Ltd uses branded lacquer and paint finishes that are certified as being food safe, unless otherwise specified.

However, if you're still concerned, or unsure about the food compatibility of wood finishes, then our advice is avoid using any type of wood finish altogether.

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