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Box Joints


Jeff Peters

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Hi I am new here buy want to use this site for info on wood working.

I want to start using  box joints for some small boxes I want to build.

I plan on using my table saw. with a sled

Want to be able to do 1/4" and 3/8" joints.

So here is my questions.

How do I tell which size opening I need to use.

Related to the width of the wood.

All the videos I have watched no body says a thing about how they came up with the proper spacing on the last cut.

Jeff

 

Edited by Ron Dudelston
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Jeff, It's easier to show than explain but here goes; First take a template board of choice and make you first cut with either 1/4 or 3/8 using your miter gauge. Then move to the right the same width as your first cut and then make a second cut, then put a peg in the first slot and glue it. Then you simply 

Place your board against the template and make your first cut on the box part, then place it over the peg and continue till; you reach the end of the board and you will have a perfect layout for each end.

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Jeff, I'm not sure if I'm reading your question correctly, but here goes. My preference is If I have 1/2" thick boards, I use 1/4" box joints. If I have 3/4" thick boards, I use 3/8" box joints, etc. The table saw is a ok way to go, I did it that way for years with a jig attached to the miter gauge. But I've found that I get better results with a router and a dovetail jig that has a box joint template. A router bit produces a flatter bottom.

Edited by CharlieL
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3 hours ago, Jeff Peters said:

How do I tell which size opening I need to use.

Related to the width of the wood.

Welcome to the forums Jeff...

I believe the look/sizing is all aesthetics and what you like......

this is a case for experimentation...

 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=pictures++of+box+joints&t=ffsb&atb=v47-7bs&ia=images&iax=1

 

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While I hand cut mine....I do use the size chisel to set the spacing.   1/4" fingers= 1/4" wide chisel.   I just mark along one edge, to test how the spacing is going to turn out.   sawn lines.JPG

On this one. Every other space is a waste cut.   There is a knife line across the bottom of the fingers, set to the thickness of the mating board.

chopped out.JPG

I usually chop out the waste from one side of the corner, and use those fingers to mark out the matching fingers.    I leave the lines on the second part.   I cut on the waste side of them.   Just a simple "X" to mark which finger will be the waste ones..

test fit.JPG

A little tune up, and the fingers will mesh just fine..

IMAG0004.JPG

Takes about as long as setting up a tablesaw jig...

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Maybe, if you can find someone willing to do a re grind (I guess). Easier would be to get a blade to do it from the start. Since box joints are cut with the grain by nature, just buying a rip blade should do it, they typically have a flat top with their chisel style teeth. If you really want a combo blade that cuts a flat bottom, I understand that Forrest can grind a new one to that cpec for a price. there may be other options, someone will chime in with some.

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Woodsmith has a video on the TS sled/jig for finger joints.  It shows how to set the spacing, using a horizontal stop block with a screw adjustment.  I found that a non-flat cut can be squared up by using a chisel as a bottom-scraper.  Just don't get aggressive with it or you change the depth.  I also found that using a dado blade for variable width was handy.

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