best way to build a box with miter joints?

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  • durango dude
    Senior Member
    • Mar 2011
    • 934
    • a thousand or so feet above insanity
    • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

    best way to build a box with miter joints?

    I'm building a box for my son - who's presenting an engagement ring to his beloved girlfriend.

    I've built two (2) trial boxes ---- and am really trying to figure out the best way to cut the wood.

    Step 1 ---- I plane down some 3/4" wood --- dropping it down to 3/8"

    Step 2: ---- using a stop on my SMT, I cut 3.5" lengths.

    Step 3 ---- Miter the lengths, cutting 45 deg cuts.
    (here's my question - what's the best way?)

    Option 1 --- lay the lengths flat, and rotate the blade to 45 degs
    Option 2 --- turn the lengths up -- and use the miter setting
    (need to use a stop block, and best to clamp length to miter)

    I got better results with option 2 --- it sure involves a lot, though.

    Any thoughts on better ways to cut a 45 deg cut?

    I thought about my jointer - but crossgrain cuts are a bad idea on that.
  • chopnhack
    Veteran Member
    • Oct 2006
    • 3779
    • Florida
    • Ryobi BT3100

    #2
    I think it was mentioned in another post, but the sled seems to be the most accurate. I found my smt to have too much slop to be very accurate. YMMV
    I think in straight lines, but dream in curves

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    • Pappy
      The Full Monte
      • Dec 2002
      • 10453
      • San Marcos, TX, USA.
      • BT3000 (x2)

      #3
      For a 6 sided box that I make often I use the SMT to cut the 22 1/2 angles needed. For a 4 sided box, I agree with Chop, a miter sled would be the most accurate.

      For assembly, lay the pieces out in order on a piece of wide painters tape with the tape extending past one end. Brush glue into the joints and roll the box together. The tape will hold the joints tight yet allow enough slip to get the alignment right. In the case of the boxes I make, the top and bottom are glued to the box without any joinery and provide extra strength.

      Click image for larger version

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      Don, aka Pappy,

      Wise men talk because they have something to say,
      Fools because they have to say something.
      Plato

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      • pelligrini
        Veteran Member
        • Apr 2007
        • 4217
        • Fort Worth, TX
        • Craftsman 21829

        #4
        I've found that a sled is the most accurate and repeatable. I incorporate some hold downs and adjustable stops on my sleds. I can achieve some pretty accurate cuts on just the saw. Sometimes a donkey's ear on a shooting board is still necessary to get that perfect fit. With accurate cuts a lot of clamping isn't necessary.

        I like using my tilt box to set the bevel on the blade too.
        Erik

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        • JoeyGee
          Veteran Member
          • Nov 2005
          • 1509
          • Sylvania, OH, USA.
          • BT3100-1

          #5
          Like Eric said, I would use a sled. I haven't made one, but it's on my list. Here is a video of one:



          Should be very easy to cut the small parts by clamping them down.
          Joe

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