I have a wooden snuffbox which I bought only a few months back and now the sliding lid is slipping open, rendering it unsuitable for carrying about in my pocket. It used to close very firmly, offering a good bit of resistence, but now, it just slides open with a shake. Not good. I am going to send away for a new one in the morning, but this being my first snuffbox I attach sentimental value to it, and if possible would like to tighten it up again. Does anyone have any suggestions?
I’ve lined the edges of lids with the wax from a beeswax candle with success. Also read this Thread.
I might as well chime in here. The biggest problem I have with the sliding lid wood boxes is if I open it all the way it always makes a mess of snuff coming out the back, under side of lid if I was to pinch from it. I end up just opening it a crack and tapping on the back of my hand to snuff from there to avoid this and I do typically prefer pinching. Ken
Tap the lid before you open the box. That should solve the problem.
The beezwax method works well
The humidity of the box and the lid can be different at times. The snuff too has it’s humidity so the balance of the three may help things.
I always tap the lid, it never seems to help. It seems to get stuck between the lid and the box itself, sort of in the runners and a groove in there (it is a heartwood box).
Ken
OH. Then the solution is to get a PC box. I think they are machined better.
@Ken, I have one Heartwood box too. There are two grooves in the underside of the lid. It seems as if the snuff gets stuck in there. When one opens the lid, the snuff drops out. I’ve filled in the grooves with glue which solved the problem. I can’t see any use for those grooves.
Neither can I. I might try that. Thanks.
Ken
beeswax works great!!
@PieterClaassen The Heartwood are very well made and always tight and I think the grooves are there for a reason. They make the lid to adjust perfectly no matter what is the ambient humidity. I believe when they are released they are made tight against at a pretty low humidity level. But if there is more humidity and heat in your area, or depending on the season, the lid will expand but it will bend just a little and will remain tight but relatively easy to open because of those cracks. If there were no grooves the lid could crack and eventually break under high humidity climate. Take this for what it’s worth I have not verified with the company but that is how I understand the design. I guess if you live in pretty dry climate you don’t need them and can fill them with a hard glue.
I’ll add another recommendation for beeswax. Not only will it tighten up the lid, but also it adds a very faint sweet scent to the wood.