I need a bit of quick help regarding a woodworking "emergency".
My SWMBO volunteered me for a little trip through a minefield. To wit, the son (whom I don't know) of my neighbor (whom I barely know) asked my wife if I could help him with a little woodworking project. She said sure.
When he came over to formally ask me to help (two nights ago), it turns out that he wants to make a jewelry box. For his girlfriend. Who lives in Washington DC. He is leaving Sunday. He has no woodworking experience. Or wood. Or plans.
Because of my schedule, that left us with two evenings and part of Saturday and a bit of Sunday morning to get this box made and finished.
Tonight we hope to get the box assembled, and get the first glue-up done so that it will be ready for corner splines to be installed in the mitered corners.
My largest concern is how to finish it. My garage is unheated and it's chilly now in Seattle. I would have liked to do a quick shellac finish, but it's too cold to dry properly in the garage and too smelly for the house. I am thinking some kind of paste wax finish might work. Any ideas?
Thanks for any advice. I really don't want to ruin this project. It's not a good idea to make your neighbors mad at you, even if you don't talk often. Also, the kid seems very nice, and it would be good for him to have a positive experience with woodworking.