If you want to make a self-centering box lid, you can always add a liner to the bottom that is slightly higher than the bottom, then it will lock to top in place.   There is another way

 

• Make a groove on the inside, about 1/2 way thru the sides. 
• Assemble the box
• Cut off the top, just below the inside cut.   Save a piece of side scrap to help locate depth and fence distance.
• The bottom will lock the top in place

 

                         Lid

Inside          +------------+    Outside

                    |                |

                    +-----+       |

Cut first -->   xxxxx|        |

                    +-----+-----|

                     |       |xxxxx       <-- cut after assembly

                     |      +-----+

                     |               |

                     |               |

                     |               |

                     |               |

                    +------------+

Edited March 9, 20179 yr by kmealy

I would forget to add the thickness of the top and the outside cut would be too high.

In theory tho,everything being equal,that is a neat idea.

Herb

You're right Herb.   I normally do inset top panels.   Either way, scrap is your friend.

I have lots of friends,a bin full..

Herb

something like this?

Cutting the inside grooves...

Afraid I cheated a bit, I simply flipped it over..

Cut the other groove until they split..   Made things easier to do a rebate for a lid's panel..

Before all the grooves were cut...after?

Looks better than the OEM box....maybe.

thanks again Keith...

@steven newman

You made that look so easy,Steven.

 

@kmealy

Keith, this should make a good snug fit, and the inside corners would come out square without any hand work which is always hard to make match to the sides.

 

I have always glued a strip inside the lid or the box to create the seal, but this is a better idea.

 

Herb

Edited March 10, 20179 yr by Dadio

try a kerf and spline to Keith's plan....