{"id":2576,"date":"2022-02-03T03:29:00","date_gmt":"2022-02-03T00:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/woodiswood.com\/?p=2576"},"modified":"2022-09-07T12:00:21","modified_gmt":"2022-09-07T09:00:21","slug":"how-to-make-a-box-joint-without-a-table-saw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/woodiswood.com\/how-to-make-a-box-joint-without-a-table-saw\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Make a Box Joint Without a Table Saw"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Most professional woodworkers use a table saw or router table when making box joints for different projects. The advantages of using a table saw or router table is the precision and accuracy that you can achieve. They also cut faster and hence save a lot of time as compared to using hand tools. However, these tools are expensive to buy and if you are looking for an alternative way to make a box joint without a table saw, this is the right article for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a box joint without a table saw, you will need to have woodworking dividers, a wood clamp, marking gauge, try square, a coping saw, a back tenon saw, and a chisel. With the tools, mark the wood using a pair of woodwork dividers to give you the precise number of fingers that you will cut, then measure the depth using a marking gauge, clamp the wood and do vertical cuts using the back saw until the depth mark, then use the coping saw and chisel to do horizontal cuts and to remove the fingers while doing the finishing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that using hand tools to make box joints can be a slow but sure process. This will need great woodworking skill and precision. Just like making dovetail joints, this is even simpler if you know how to make dovetail by hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, box joints are common in most woodworking projects such as cabinets, wooden tables, decks, book racks, and shelves among other projects. Therefore, as a woodworker, whether a novice or experienced, these are the common tasks that are inevitable and you need the skill to accomplish whether you have a table saw or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5 Steps To Building a Box Joint Without a Table Saw<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you don’t want to use a table saw or a router plane, then the only option is to make your box joints using the simple hand tools that you have in your workshop. In this section, we will take you through a step-by-step process on how to achieve this without strain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 1 \u2013 Do the markings<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The first step is always to do the markings on your wood. You need to make some measurements and know the number of fingers that you can create on the wood depending on the width or the length of the wood. You can use woodworking dividers to help you divide and know the number of finger joints to create.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After that, mark the horizontal lines where the saw will align as you cut the horizontal depth. Before that, also measure the depth of your joints using the marking gauge, and mark them accordingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2 \u2013 Clamp the wood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Clamping the wood tightly will help eliminate errors that would otherwise result from the movements while cutting. In this step, you need to clamp the wood such that you can see all the marks from the top towards the depth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3 \u2013 Cut the vertical depths<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Using a back tenon saw, cut along the marked points vertically until the point where you have the horizontal mark, then repeat with all the points that you have marked to achieve the number of finger joints that you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4 \u2013 Cut horizontally to create finger joints<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is perhaps the most challenging thing, especially if you are a beginner at woodworking. However, with the right tools, you can achieve this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this step, you need to use the coping saw and chisel. The coping saw is made for complex cuttings like this and with skill, you can cut along the horizontal marks by aligning the saw while cutting from the depth of the horizontal cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While doing this cut, ensure that you cut alternately so that you can create interlocking joints with that of the other wood. You also need to ensure that the marks on the other wood will interlock perfectly once you are done creating these joints. The chisel is for finishing and ensuring that the joints are at right angles and precise for perfect fitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 5 \u2013 Repeat with the other wood<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After you are done with the first wood, repeat the same process with the other wood that you wish to interlock with to make a perfect box joint. For the other wood, you need to cut complementary joints that will interlock perfectly by doing opposite alternating cuts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tips for making a box joint<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Making a box joint, especially by hand requires great attention to detail. You need to do the markings perfectly and ensure that both blocks of wood will eventually interlock perfectly leaving no gaps or unpleasant grains. Some of the few tips to keep you on track include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n