Shop Made 1/2" Box Joint Jig

[ssmith1627]

Built a basic little jig today to make 1/2" box joints on the BT3K using the miter slot. Works pretty well. Need to keep tinkering until I get settings I'm happy with.

http://ssmith1627.myphotoalbum.com/v...album01&page=5

Most of the chipout came from making hasty cuts to size of the pieces on the miter saw. The joints would look nicer if I hadn't hacked up the end of the wood that way first. I'm going to try some with a few pieces of poplar once I feel like I'm getting a good fit.

How tight do you want these joints ? Tight enough that a rubber mallet is required to get them together ? Or will that not leave any room for the glue ?? Thanks for any insight there.

Steve

[bfrikken]

Man is that nice. I've messed around with this joint and really like it. Got to get myself a dado blade set. I currently do multiple passes, and it's a pain in the rear.

[ssmith1627]

I'm using the Avenger dado set. Works pretty nice so far IF you don't mind the good amount of adjusting to find the right shims.

I want to add the right side miter slot table. Then I'd rebuild this as a sled. It needs more surface area to the right of the blade for wider stock. But pretty happy with the results so far. Think I'll use this to build the 8 drawers for my workbench.

I still want a 2nd BT3K for the other end of my extended rails. Dado blades in one and regular blade in the other. I get the dados in there and then I need to make a cut on something and can't. I keep hoping they'll go on clearance or sale again !

Steve

[RodKirby]

Looks great!

Go for an "easy" (hand) press fit - you do need to allow a "poofteenth" for glue.

[ssmith1627]

Another round with the dado shims tonight and I should have it. I went from hammer tight to too loose. The middle is there somewhere and that should work well.

I did a glue test for the "too loose" one as well to see what the result was there but I think it'll be better just a bit tighter than that.

Steve

[Joe Lyddon]

That link never did work for me...

[bigsteel15]

Another round with the dado shims tonight and I should have it. I went from hammer tight to too loose. The middle is there somewhere and that should work well.

I did a glue test for the "too loose" one as well to see what the result was there but I think it'll be better just a bit tighter than that.

Steve

Have you tried using post-it notes for shims...works great as suggested by Mark Duginske.
They are consistently 4 thou thick.

[Pappy]

Simple and effective. Works for me!