Building a Piggy Bank with a Mail Box Door

In this episode, we build a piggy bank with a mailbox door.  It was a fun video to make as I filmed it from the board’s point of view, from lumber selection to milling to joinery and final assembly.

Handcrafted in Colorado.

Summary

Creating Shop Tour Videos and Project Planning

Brian discussed his best-selling product and the process of creating a shop tour video without actually doing a shop tour. He used a GoPro mounted on a board to capture the project’s progression from the lumber rack to the final stage. Brian emphasized the importance of using stops at equipment for consistency and accuracy in cutting parts. He also shared his preference for using a table saw with a sacrificial fence for chamfering and his method of keeping boards in order for grain flow. Lastly, he mentioned the availability of “how to” woodworking plans and materials for building similar projects, as well as finding mailbox doors on eBay.

The main box is made from maple, and the top and keys are accented with walnut.

 The Rise and Fall of a Best-Selling Product

This project was once one of my bestselling creations—until I could no longer sell it. The reason? A key component became unavailable; I’ll dive into that later.   But first, let me explain how this video (and now this blog post) came about. I wanted to give a shop tour without actually doing a traditional walkthrough, so I came up with a creative solution: I clamped a GoPro to the end of a board and filmed its entire journey—from the lumber rack through milling and fabrication to the finished product.   Imagine the board had eyes, watching itself get cut, shaped, and assembled. A little weird? Maybe. But I thought it was a cool perspective.

The Process: A Board’s Eye View

1. Milling the Lumber

The journey begins at the lumber rack, where I select the board and cut it down to size at the radial arm saw. Then, it’s off to the planer to bring it to its final thickness.

Editing this part was tricky—it took three or four passes to get the footage just right, blending the transitions smoothly as the board moved from one machine to the next. (Yes, my editing skills are amateur by most standards, but it gets the job done!)

2. Consistency is Key

One of the most important lessons in woodworking is using stops on your equipment. Stops ensure consistency, which is crucial for keeping your project square and accurate. A good stop block is worth the investment—don’t skip it.

3. Cutting Dados for the Lid

Next, I cut dados (grooves) into the sides so the lid could nest neatly inside. I made the lid slightly narrower than necessary to allow for wood movement—expansion and contraction happen, and you don’t want a tight fit causing problems later.

4. Chamfering with the Table Saw

I prefer using the table saw with a sacrificial fence rather than a router bit for chamfered edges. It’s faster, cleaner, and reduces tear-out. (And yes, I know moving the quill back and forth isn’t ideal, but I kept lateral pressure minimal—just a light cleanup pass.)

5. Grain Matching for a Seamless Look

When assembling projects like this, I keep the boards in order so the grain flows naturally from one piece to the next. It’s a small detail that most people won’t notice, but those who do will appreciate it, like a hidden Easter egg in the craftsmanship.

6. Assembly with Blue Tape?

For glue-ups, I’ve found that blue painter’s tape provides just enough clamping pressure, as long as your joints are clean and tight. If your joinery is sloppy, you might need something stronger, but for well-fitted pieces, tape works surprisingly well.

7. Adding Keys for Strength

To reinforce the box, I added decorative keys (spline inlays). I set the depth by eye, using a jig to hold everything at a 45-degree angle. Pro tip: Use a flat-bottom blade—otherwise, the inlay won’t sit flush. These keys aren’t just for looks; they add serious strength to the joints.

I used walnut for the splines themselves, carefully fitting them before running them through the planer to ensure a perfect thickness.

Why I Can’t Sell This Anymore

So, what killed this bestselling product? The mailbox doors I used are no longer being made.  These weren’t just any doors—they had a small glass panel showing a nameplate, which customers loved. The doors available now (mostly salvaged or from eBay) have a different style, often with combination locks.   If you want to build something similar, I do have plans available with all the measurements—you’ll just need to source a different door.

Final Thoughts

This project was a fun experiment in storytelling through woodworking. By filming from the board’s perspective, I got to share the entire process uniquely.  Even though this particular product is no longer viable, the techniques—using stops, grain matching, chamfering, and spline reinforcement—are timeless. Whether building a keepsake box or a custom cabinet, these principles will serve you well.

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