Scrap piece of Formica for the line burning, neat. Thanks for that. NICE job. Keep getting more well, better that is.

Thanks very much Harold, for your supportive comments. Take care Mike

Top Job as always Mike I am glad to see your well on the way to recovery Thanks

Great project Mike and beautifully executed as usual. I have a neighbour that follows the Jewish faith, so I think I shall have to attempt one of these before the end of November. Thanks for sharing and take care.

Thanks Russell your comments are greatly appreciated. Take care Mike

I must say, this is a great gift: A toy for the child and a treasure box for the youth!

I've just got to say, as a man who grew up without the teachings of his father, a man who spent most of his time in the wood shop, the wood turning community I has to be by far the most accepting, teaching, and sharing community I have ever had the pleasure of joining...the handful of people I follow here on KZfaq have taught me, a beginning turner, so much that I feel I should have been paying for an education...lovely work, and thank you for sharing your knowledge

Beautiful job Mike, I love the finish. Thanks for the great tips, the brush and formica. Glad to see your on the mend. Take care, Carl

Mike you always make great stuff, inspiring stuff. You did it again. Thanks for sharing it with us.

Thanks very much, your comments are much appreciated, as is your support. Take care Mike

What a wonderful project!!! The Goncalo Alves looks so nice and the sound it makes when you place the top on and off sounds almost metallic...Beautiful turning! Thanks so much for sharing this great little project and your clear, concise step by step instructions! Safe turning to you always!

I've been watching out for a video from you for a while firstly as an indicator that you have been restored to health and secondly to enjoy and learn from another of your projects. I haven't been disappointed on either count so it's good to see you looking so well and the little box is absolutely beautiful. Best wishes, Alan.

Well done again Mike. Great finishing. I always look forward to your videos. Glad to see that you are quickly recovering.

Amazing wood turner with an amazing perspective. Glad to see you are doing better. Greatly enjoy your videos.

Great little video Mike. Many thanks for posting this and I am glad I found it. I bought one of Andy's Dreidel boxes a couple of years ago for my neighbour at Hanukkah. Now, thanks to you, I can try and make one of my own.

I really enjoyed this project. I love that finish you do, tried it myself and need some work. That wood is beautiful. Thanks for another great video.

Hey Mike its great to see you in such good spirit. Thanks for another fine video. You never let me down. Thanks

Nice box Mike. Always look forward to your next project. Also would like to thank you for putting me onto other turner's via sharing. As you say a great bunch and a pleasure to watch. Having MS I cannot turn sometimes and get a bit frustrated about that but thank God for your clips as it gives me lots of ideas for when I can turn. Best regards and many thanks David

Beautiful little box Mike! Great turn!

Mike, that turned out awesome...well done.

Now that is a really cool idea Mike! I have a Jewish friend and she always spends Christmas day with us. I think I'll be making this for her for the next Hanukah.

Nice box, that Goncalo Alves wood really makes things look great! Congratulations

Excellent project. Thanks for going to the trouble of making and sharing this.

Mike, excellent video with loads of good tips great examples of skilled tool control.

Mike, very nicely done. Pretty piece of wood as well.

Beautiful! That is some beautiful wood. You are an artist.

+Jamie Clarke. Thanks you for pointing that out to me, I was truly unaware. I did however say at the beginning of the video that it was "my take" on it. Now that you have encouraged me to do some proper research on the Driedel, I may well attempt a proper one at some time in the future. Thanks again for the information....and watching the video. Take care Mike

Another beautiful job Mike. More importantly very pleased. To hear that your health continues to improve.

Stunning piece of art - You make it look so easy. really appreciate all your videos you upload.

Its a lovely box with a beautiful finish thanks James

Great box. Your productions are done very well. No wasted time. Thank you for your time. Fred

Brilliant job Mike. Takes me awhile to catch up. lol. Keep safe mate..

Wow Mike that is a beautiful piece of work! I'm happy to see you feeling up to putting together a video. A great job of it indeed! You have converted me to using 0000 wire wool. It lays down a nice even base of sealer to put any finish on. I do like using it a lot. Thanks for sharing Mikey!

Hi Mike I started turning in November 2012 this is just to say I have enjoyed your videos and I like how you show the steps this is just say thanks for all the tips please keep them coming Harry.

Hi Mike, That's a brilliant idea, a toy that looks stunning even if the child has forgotten to tidy it away... at last. Mike your finish cuts are stunning mate! not one bit of tool scaring whatever it's called, and the sharpness of your internal corners... the little finial looked like it was a different wood glued in! Perfect. It is amazing to watch, thanks for sharing your video. Cheers Andy

Cheers Marty, thanks for the comment and concern. Take care Mike

Mike I really liked the way you reversed the top to finish off the point. I have made only a couple of top cases or boxes but will try this method. Very nice demo Sam

Wow, love your amazing work and great channel. From an aspiring wood worker in New Zealand.

Mike, as usual, wonderful job.

With great admiration for the naturalness with which to master the gouges. Great nice video.

Beautiful piece. Lovely video. Thank you.

hi Mike i,m so glad to see u better, God bless u

Thanks David, the pleasure is all mine mate, sharing is what this craft is all about. Take care Mike

Its so refreshing to see even professional make the chisel judder over the work. Your effortless technique is beautiful to watch.

great little box Mike, glad to see your on the mend bonny lad

That is a beautiful item. That would is very pretty.

Lovely box mike , look forward to the next video hope you get well soon from a KZfaq turner from sunny Pembrokeshire

another beautiful piece mike,and finish on it is stunning,re- you having bother spinning the top on the bottom of the piece,maybe if you make a small indentation on the bottom this might help with the spinning just a thought might be worth trying....am hyper tonite so cant sleep lol lol ..of to latvia on friday evening for a holiday and see in-laws ,plenty fishing and barbeques,,thanks for sharing vid ,really enjoyed it.....dougie...

Thanks Paul, lovely to hear from someone who lives in God's country ;). Take care Mike

I've never even heard of a Dreidel Box before. I have to say very good job of explaining. I believe I have wood that could be used on a project like this. Thanks again for sharing

Well done Mike. Happy that ou are on the mend.

Très beau travail Mike Une super idée cette boite toupie. Lolo

Nice piece Mike, the wood looks hard and polishes up well

nice finish on the box mike well done the new babe is nice and jute and running well. take care,Robbie

Very nice job, Mike!

a nice piece of turning Mike and the grain came up well with that finish. Sean

Hi Mike, I'm hoping to turn two of these for my boys Christmas stockings. Thanks for detailed video and instruction. Derek

Thanks Mike-- I learn a ton every time you upload a video. So far I haven't been able to replicate much, but the practice is fun!

Thanks for your kind comments, GA is a lovely wood to turn, and it takes a good finish. Take care Mike

Beautiful.. will most defently try making this. Subscribed!

Thanks, and my pleasure Dale. The wood turning/wood working community is as you say, a great family to be a part of, and sharing experiences is it's ethos Take care Mike

Thank you Tim, glad to be of a little help. Practice is the key, sometimes tedious, but essential. Thanks for watching, and your kind words. Take care Mike

That's very attractive and I love the sound it makes when you put the top on, a bit like the old-fashioned sound of Ebony. That Goncalo Alvez was highly prized by kings and queens of Europe in the 17th and 18th Centuries because of the finish it took. The craftsmen weren't as happy because the finish didn't come easy on tables etc. I have a love/hate relationship with it but, however frustrating a piece might be, I still buy more. You're looking well. Best Wishes, Brendan.

Quality work and a great teacher :)

Good work mate & keep getting well soon thank you for sharing

This is very interesting. A dreidel box is traditionally made of paper folded in the shape of a dreidel top and filled with candy or other treats. As you said, they are a traditional Hanukah gift. This is a very nice spin (no pun intended) on the concept. I especially like the idea of making the bottom concave as to allow the top to spin on it. Very nice and very beautiful project. Well done!

Hi Thor, welcome to the exploding bowl club mate ;). There are some great videos on the subject, from which I leart, but the key is practice, and try to understand what the chisel is capable of doing, and how you need to present it to the work to achieve the right result. I had many disaters, and still do, spent time just placing the bevel on the wood, without the lathe on, and rotate by hand, to see the position of the tool when it starts to cut. Then increase the speed. Cheers Mike

Mike, Very nice job. I like how this one looks. And you're looking much better also. Makes me think it's time to do another. Alan Stratton

really nice piece there Mike

Nice job Mike, congratulations. Kind regards. Miguel

Hi Brendan, I replied to you last night, but it seems it got lost in the ether! Thanks for the compliment, and the History lesson too, I found that very interesting. Like you I find that Goncalo can be very awkward to work sometimes, but when it comes good, it's marvelous stuff me thinks. Take care Mike

Thanks Doc., what a great idea re the bevel on the Formica, wish I'd thought of that. Well it took a Paddy to tell the Taffy the way to go ;). Take care mate Mike

Your face might still be a little twisted although looking much better, but your turning is spot on and I am inspired to try to make one. Thank you so much for your videos they are always interesting and your shop space is amazing. The assortment of Sheffield steel in the background makes me drool. If I am ever on the other side of the pond I want to look you up and tell some stories together. Peace and good turning! Erik

What a beutiful Box. Desmond

Thanks Alan, I really appreciate your kind comments. Take care Mike

Beautiful work.

Hi Jake....well done mate, look forward to receiving the pictures. Take care Mike

Great job, very very nice !

Hi, I just use a piece of scrap Formica to burn the lines. Thanks for watching. Cheers Mike

Thank you Mark. If I was I know nothing of it....lol. Normally when I'm at work, I only spend about four or five hours a week in the shop, actually turning. lately quite a bit more , as I am still off work with this Palsy, due to my right eye not closing properly, and I drive for a living, and it still waters a lot, not good if you drive 10 hours a day for four days a week, sometimes five. Take care Mike

Thank you James, make sure you allow each application to really dry, before the final buffing, and applying the next coat. Take care Mike

Great video mike

Thanks Sam, I appreciate you watching and commenting. Take care Mike

Thanks George. I use the Numatic NV750 vacuum extractor with a "Bendy Hose" attachment, which allows me to get the head to the point of dust production, it has a 1200W motor, and is very effective and quiet. Cheers Mike

Thanks Harry, glad to be of some help. Thanks for your support. Take care Mike

Lol..diolch yn fawr iawn Olly, appreciate your comment. Take care Mike

Thanks Jake, appreciate your comments. Take care Mike

Thanks Carl, the Formica is a great way to burn end grain lines. Take care Mike

Thanks Christian, i appreciate your support mate. Take care Mike

Always do the best

Thank you, I use two coats of cellulose sanding sealer mixed with cellulose thinners ( 3:1), allowing to dry between each coat, and cut back each dry coat with 00 00 wire wool. Then apply two coats of Chestnut Wax22, again allowing each coat to dry and burnishing between each application. Take care Mike

Very nice, Mike. I hope Andy sees this. I always remember Homer Simpson once referring to one of these as 'a doodle'! :-)

Hi Mike, good video and good idea, very original, greetings from Spain.

Terrific gift idea (if i can master it hehe). Love the shape of the top

Your too kind Mark, thank you. Take care Mike

Sweet project!

Hi Tom Tom, thanks for your kind words mate. Glad you like the steel wool method, it is rather effective. Take care 'ol friend Mike

Lol....one day I'll get around to setting up a stall at a craft fair.....maybe ;) Cheers Mike

Thank you for your encouragement and continued support mate. Take care Mike

beautiful job Mike