Box Joint Jig

Nice jig. I’ll bet you get tight joints with that one. I also like that zero clearance insert. What is it made of? It looks like lacewood.

-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.

Hi Spaids,

This is a nice jig and the box joints that you have posted show it’s well made.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

box joints are definately fancy. (and strong)

-- bryano

and fast.

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever... - Keats

Bradford I actually have no idea what that insert wood is. I was at a place in St. Louis that sells reclaimed local hardwood picking up some mulberry and I grabbed a piece of twisted up garbage for jigs and such.

I am hoping that any other newbies like me on this site will see how easy the jig is and try it out for themselves. I’m pretty happy to have box joints in my bag of tricks now.

-- Total Freakin Newbie

I’ve seen this before on Norm Adams show and it does look easy enough to make. The only thing I was thinking of when first seen, it was the accuracy needed between the pin and the slot. But as I’m typing this I’m thinking that you can adjust the distance between the slot and pin by moving the backer in slotted holes. This will give you a perfect box joint. MMMMM I think you talked me into making one…..Thanks for taking time to post your ideas.

-- Dominic, Trinity, Florida

Look like qu.sawn white oak…nice jig for a nice price…Blkcherry

looks good.. good luck with it

-- making sawdust....

Nice Jig, Am wondering how its made. Looks pretty simple though, I just finished cutting some 1/2” box joints using my scroll saw for a couple of drawers. If you’d get a chance could you “e-mail me the plans”. Also wondering about your zero clearance insert. I’ve cut out a template for my saw but am unsure as to how I fasten it to the table. Thanks for listening.

-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.

I agree with the Quarter sawn White oak for the insert…very nice and the jig is something that I have made as well….

-- Dusty56@comcast.net

This is a comment I left on my project where I made a box using this jig. Its so easy that there are no plans.

Ron,

yea I made it from issue 181 the December 2007 issue of wood magazine. It was a piece of cake to make the jig. You don’t have to buy the issue though because Wood has a free video of it on their website where they walk you through the jigs creation and use. In the video they guy is even using the same Ridgid table saw that I have and the box he shows you will look eerily similar to the one I posted. hmmm wonder why?

Video
Click on jigs and then click on box joint jig, put a shirt on, then go make the box but if it looks better than mine don’t post it.
:)
Its real easy dude. Two little sticks and a scrap piece of mdf.

-- Total Freakin Newbie

Hey I just thought of an improvement to this jig. This jig required that you screw it to your miter gage. Once you have adjusted it so the joints are in that just right amount of tightness zone you’ll find that it is all lost once you need your miter gage back for normal use. I’m thinking that once I have it set just right that I should attach a runner to the jig to run in the other miter slot. Then I can remove it from my miter gage that is running in the other slot and even attach a second runner so I have one in both miter slots. Then my jig is set to be “perfect” every time I pick it up and I don’t have to reset anything. This will work because I’m going to use the same dado blade every time I use this jig.

-- Total Freakin Newbie

Very nice. I like the simple ones as you can make a couple for different sized fingers. As you said, once it bites the dust, scrap MDF isn’t far away.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

I love the zero clearence insert. Very unique. Where did you get the lumber?

-- -Alex, St Charles, MO - "Measure twice, cut once, and go back to the lumber yard because you still screwed up."

Lumber Logs is where I got that. I’m not sure what it is though. If you check Craig’s list the guys at lumber logs will post the one or two Saturdays a month that they are open. Otherwise you need and appointment and a minimum purchase of about $150 I think. No minimum on there “open” days.

-- Total Freakin Newbie