[Hand-Tool Woodworking]

Project: Fly Box from Tornado Wood

Materials

• 1 Wild Cherry Tree knocked over by tornado

Tools

• Stanley #5 Jack Plane
• Japanese Pull Saws
• 1/4" Chisel
• Wheel cutting marking gauge
• Mallet (scrappy, made from Douglas Fir leg column)
• Sharpening stones + strop
• Square
• Measuring tape
• Titebond III Wood Glue

A fly box from tornado wood for my next fly fishing trip

My first real run-in with a tornado in May 2024 was frightening. The whole family plus my dog was huddled in our bathroom at 2am for an hour listening to roaring wind and large hail battering the house. The power flickered on and off during the storm as trees downed power lines, ultimately putting us in the dark for 5 days.

When the storm had passed, I was sure we'd find serious damage to our house. But we lucked out with only heavy yard damage and minor house damage. The cherry tree next to our bedroom just missed the bedroom, only ripping off the gutter as it fell. Many folks in our neighborhood weren't so lucky with trees in bedrooms and living rooms.

Over the next days I got to work gather logs of various species from my yard and those of neighbors to process for woodworking. I bought and read a book on how to properly split and dry wood. And now I can bring some good from what was a traumatic storm for the community.

This fly box was the second project with the tornado wood, the first being a handle for single-bevel an axe head. The trickiest part in my box making is still cutting the grooves without creating a gap at the ends of the box that show through. I got them cut but it was a pain, and they'd look terrible if you could see them. A few more boxes, and maybe I'll figure it out.

I'm looking forward to my next fly fishing trip to try this new box out.

Splitting the cherry tree that hit the house with wedges and a sledge hammer. These halves were further split into fourths and eighths.

My wooden wedges (also cherry) failed, had to resort to the metal wedges. Probably need to use a harder wood for wedges.

Hand planing a split eighth of wet cherry wood where you can clearly see the sapwood (lighter) and heartwood (darker).

Sizing up the dried heartwood pieces against the old plastic fly box.

Panels and dovetails cut and dry-fitted.

Glued and finished with Danish oil.

Lid fastened with brass hinges and magnets inserted to lock the lid. Cork for flies, going for all natural materials.

Fly box closed in natural light

Tried to get some better photos using a white background, but it looks it's for sale :)

Back panel view where I used a piece of combo sapwood and heartwood. The panel sits in grooves that allow for a bit of movement.

Top view. I love the lid since it reminds me of how a river looks while I'm fishing it.