ShopNotes issue 8 Box Joint Jig

[david007]

ShopNotes issue 8 Box Joint Jig

free download here:

[tiredofspam]

[Lew Hodgett]

RE: Subject

SFWIW, fabricate a dedigated box joint jig for each finger size.

1/4", 1/2" & 3/4" pretty well covers it.

Once tuned, you just use them.

Lew

[Leon]

The problem with the typical box joint jig is that most do not allow for different sized pins and slots. Basically if you are making box joint drawers to fit a cabinet or chest you have to design the chest around the sizes that the jig affords you.

The iBOX and IIRC the WoodSmith jigs allow you to have different sized pins and slots on the same piece of wood with out changing the sidth of the cutter. This affords you the ability to make the drawer after building the cabinet opening. You can have any width box joint joint. If you are using 1/4" pins and slots the jig allows your joint to be 4

3/16" wide or 6 7/8 with full pins and slots on the ends.

[G. Ross]

Think about it. All the slots are going to be the same unless you change blades. You can change the width of the pins with the jig, but where would the wider pins go? Surely not in the same size slot.

The nice thing about the woodsmith is that you can infinitely adjust the pin width so that they are exactly the width of the slot to get a snug fit all the way down. You are probably too old to appreciate a snug fit.

[Leon]

You have to think outside the box. I have the iBox box joint jig. The very first joint I tried out is with the different irregular width joint. And to be contrary to your comment, the slots are not all the same even though the cutter is the same width.

And what you don't realize about the WoodSmith jig is that it will also allow different sized pins and slots on the same joint with the same sized cutter. This is assuming you are using the same Woodsmith jig that operates like the iBox jig.

Look here for an example of different sized pins and slots made with the same sized cutter. Scroll down to the video but look at the joints on the video before clicking the play button.

[G. Ross]

Thanks for the link. I like the Incra jig, it is much better made than what I have. Still don't understand how it's done, but there is a lot I don't understand.

[tiredofspam]

[Leon]

Actually it might be able to be don on most any jig but as you and I have the jigs that will let you use any size cutter that adds to it's versatility.

In a nut shell you do not cut all the slots from one end to the other. You cut "almost" half way from on end of the board then reverse and start from the other side. When you end up near the middle you have a wider pin and or slot, depending on which piece you are working on.

[G. Ross]

That makes sense. Gotcha.