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Box with hand cut finger joints

8K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  gfadvm 
#1 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
 

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#2 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
In my experience the coping saw never gives a straight cut. What I do is leave the line and may 1/32 -1/26, just don't cut your line. Then go in with a sharp chisel and work your way back to the line. As with all things, just keep practicing, it will come to you and begin to feel more natural. In my experience, when it feels wrong it usually is and I need to find a different way to achieve what I want. Don't be scared to ask for advice either. If you have questions, you can always message me and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Joey
 

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#3 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
Which way is your blade on the coping saw? I was always taught that the blade should be set to cut on the pull stroke, and only very recently learned that, in fact, the saw can be used on either the push or the pull stroke. It seems that you pull the saw to cut very thin material and push it to cut thicker material. I must admit that I still need to try that myself though.
 

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#4 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
Thanks JoeyG, I plan to continue practicing. After all, my wood is free for now.

Thanks Tootles, I was pulling so I could try to watch the line. I may need a new blade in the coping saw as it was looking all out of whack while I was sawing. I also had a terrible time with the miter saw sticking in the wood, causing the entire work bench to shake violently. I thought I was going to break the 1/2 inch piece in half before it cut.
 

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#5 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
Your welcome, I'll give one more tip. If you don't want to just end up hating woodworking, you MUST have sharp blades. There is nothing more discouraging than try to make a good cut with a dull knife/blade. It is virtually impossible to get a good, clean, straight cut with a dull tool. Which means your joints won't line up correctly. Keep making sawdust and you will get there.
 

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#6 ·
Making the cut

I decided I was going to get some free wood from a local retail store that had left over pallets laying around. After getting permission, I borrowed a pick-up truck and got a load of pallets home. Trial and error taught me you can not just hammer them apart and expect to have any usable wood. I finally used a handheld circular saw and carefully missed the nails as I disassembled the pallets.

I managed to get four small pieces that looked like they could make a box. I cleaned up the edges on the table saw and marked my lines where I wanted to cut the finger joints being careful to keep each sided aligned by labeling them A-D.

I used a saw from a miter box and a coping saw to make all the cuts for the finger joints.

Wood Wood stain Hardwood Flooring Lumber


I had to use the vice which is attached to my workbench. The sawing wasn't pretty, the workbench was shaking and items from the top shelf were falling on me, but I got through.

Wood Wood stain Table Hardwood Tool


All of the joints didn't fit, two of them had to be chiseled to get them together.

Wood Table Hardwood Wood stain Flooring


Other joints, you can see through.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Tints and shades Lumber


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Tints and shades


Over all, I enjoyed making something (box). I need a lot more practice. I don't know if the saws could be improved on or if I'm just that bad with them? I had a REALLY hard time with the coping saw and getting a straight cut across. It was tough, that's the hardest I've worked in a while. I'm very sore

Wood Luggage and bags Bag Beige Flooring


I took a well deserved break

Electrician Workwear Engineering Electrical wiring Toolroom
A saw binding (or sticking) may be due to the saw being twisted as is being sawed through the wood. Try to keep the saw straight up and down (don't lean the top to either the left or right) and don't swing the handle to the left or right either. You basically want the saw to be either perfectly perpendicular or parallel to the different faces of the wood (e.g. the top, side, or end).

Hth,
Mark
 

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#7 ·
Sanding and finishing what I started

Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Wood stain


I moved on and finished the box. I cleaned up the joints, sanded and added a little filler.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Table Wood stain


The lid is some kind of hardwood and I really wanted to see it finished. These are before and after sanding shots on the lid.

Wood World Art Flooring Hardwood


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor


I conditioned the wood, stained and added several coats of lacquer.

Table Wood Rectangle Yellow Flooring


Table Wood Rectangle Natural material Wood stain
 

Attachments

#8 ·
Sanding and finishing what I started

Wood Rectangle Flooring Hardwood Wood stain


I moved on and finished the box. I cleaned up the joints, sanded and added a little filler.

Wood Rectangle Hardwood Table Wood stain


The lid is some kind of hardwood and I really wanted to see it finished. These are before and after sanding shots on the lid.

Wood World Art Flooring Hardwood


Brown Rectangle Wood Flooring Floor


I conditioned the wood, stained and added several coats of lacquer.

Table Wood Rectangle Yellow Flooring


Table Wood Rectangle Natural material Wood stain
That finish turned out beautiful! Whats with all the burn marks? You either need to: Sharpen your blade, clean your blade, buy a new (better) blade, or adjust your fence parallel to the blade. Unless you really enjoy sanding! LOL
 

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