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The Joint Book is the ultimate workshop reference, giving woodworkers all the knowledge they need to choose the right joint for the job. It also features step-by-step, illustrated instructions for making over 70 joints, including mortise and tenon joints, dovetails, miters and more. In short, it covers every basic joint in every joint family--including a range of joint variations and helpful jigs.

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Box Joint Jig Plans:

We’ve always liked box joints, and here’s why. They offer both strength and unique good looks. Although not as refined as dovetail joints, they can be cut on a tablesaw or router table using a simple shop-built jig. Not only that, but you can use a box-joint jig on virtually any width or thickness of stock. Our jig combines simplicity of construction with micro-adjustability. Interchangeable indexing pins allow you to cut box joints of any size without having to build a different jig each time.

Box making has always been one of the perennial favorites of all wood projects. And because wooden boxes make such meaningful gifts, this collection of beautiful, durable, and functional box projects is sure to please. All of the designs are based on traditional boxes, historically inspired by Shaker, Arts & Crafts, and other popular styles.

Box Joints: Finger Joint, Dovetail, Mitered, Rabbet Butt

CORNER JOINTS FROM CUSTOM BOXES WE HAVE MADE IN OUR WOOD SHOP

Box Joints: Information about Basic Box Joints

Data compliments of Dan & Deb McBride ~ azwoodman.com

Butt Joint

The butt joint is the simplest and least expensive of all joints. It is considered a rather weak joint, however, we strengthen all 'butt joints' by using TiteBond® II Glue and nails. Corner blocks can be added for some projects. Some of our slide-lid boxes require the use of this corner style to function and fit together properly.

Miter Joint

Next in line is the mitered corner. The conventional miter joint is made by mitering each corner at a 45-degree angle. It hides the end grain and provides a larger gluing area and can be held together with nails or screws. We recommend this joint for boxes made out of woodgrain veneer. Some consider it to be a weak joint unless it is strengthened with a spline of some kind between the joint pieces. This is true for larger projects, but for small boxes this problem is eliminated by using glue reinforced with brad nails.

Rabbet / Double Rabbet Butt Joint

For a medium cost range joint, we recommend the rabbet-butt joint. It is stronger and more rigid than a butt joint, and is one of our most requested corner styles for crafters who plan to paint the outside of their boxes.

Some of the end grain will show which can add a decorative touch. The joint is not recommended for woodgrain veneers.

Finger Joint

The finger joint is a strong, interlocking corner joint that adds a decorative touch to our custom boxes. For boxes 5" or less in height, we recommend this joint. It is a little more difficult to make and requires that we use our Woodrat joinery machine which takes skill and accuracy. For this we charge extra for applying this style to our custom wood boxes.

Dovetail Joint

Here is a strong joint that adds a decorative touch to a custom box, especially ones that are taller than 5" in height. These are little more labor intensive, requires the use of our Leigh Dovetail Jig, thus making them more expensive than other joints. These joints have very good mechanical strength and like all our other joints, are held together with water-resistant glue.

Featured Article:

Creating Splined-Miter Joints

Create a new spin on traditional splined miter joints. Just install the splines at an angle, as shown with this Maple & Walnut letter tray. The results are eye-catching!

By varying the number and placement of the splines, you can come up with other designs.

First, make a simple spline-cutting jig for your tablesaw. Then, mark three evenly spaced spline locations on a piece of scrap the same width as the tray side ... » more info

Woodworking Router Jigs

LEIGH™ Dovetail Jigs and Accessories

Leigh Super Dovetail Jigs

» Leigh 12" Jig
» Leigh 18" Jig
» Leigh 24" Jig

NEW Super Jigs offer extraordinary joint making capability at exceptional price points. Super Jigs are available in 3 sizes (widths): Leigh 12", Leigh 18" and Leigh 24" to satisfy the needs of every woodworker and every budget. No other jigs equal the versatility and precision of LEIGH Super Jigs.

Variably spaced Through & Half-blind dovetails are standard on all Super Jigs
Infinitely adjustable one-piece fingers are easily positioned for any joint pattern, guaranteeing a half pin at each edge of the joint, regardless of board width
Cross-cut fence fits on the dovetail finger assembly to become a sliding dovetail template
Rout half-blind pin boards and tail boards at the same time using the included two-function spacer to offset the tail board and rout complete joints in one pass

With the Super Jigs, you're not limited to one bit and one depth of cut. Just select any of the five half-blind bits available and rout half-blind joints in the depth that best suits your project. The finger assembly can also produce two sizes of box joints, 5/16" and 5/8".

The amazing joint making capability of Super Jigs is due in part to the revolutionary new LEIGH E-Bush. Very precise adjustments for fit are made easily with the E-Bush. Settings are changed using the included pin wrench and the uniquely shaped locking nut makes tightening the E-Bush a snap.

Markings clearly indicate the adjustment direction necessary for the desired change
A simple twist of the E Bush changes its active diameter which in turn changes the fit of finger joints and half-blind dovetails
Easy to use cam action clamps and aluminum clamp bars hold the work piece securely against non slip material applied to each clamping surface

Includes: ½"-8° dovetail bit, ½"-14° dovetail bit, 5/16" straight bit, ½" to 8mm collet reducer, sliding dovetail fence, Half-blind bridge piece material, E-Bush, fully illustrated User Guide and Instructional DVD.

LEIGH Super Jig Accessory Kits

Includes a Vacuum & Router Support (VRS) and 7-Piece Boxed LEIGH Router Bit Set. Leigh's ingenious VRS provides router support and dust-free routing.

7-Piece Bit Set features 8mm shank bits including:

   1/4" x 8° dovetail; 5/16" x 8° dovetail; 3/8" x 8° dovetail;
   7/16" x 8° dovetail; 1/2" x 10° dovetail;
   1/2" x 12° dovetail; 1/2" x 18° dovetail

Whiteside Seven Piece Bit Set for the Leigh Jig

Contains: 8° x 11/16" dovetail, 1" CL, 1/2" SH; 1/2" D x 1/2" SH straight; 14° x 1/2" dovetail, 1/2" CL, 8mm SH; 18° x 1/2" dovetail, 3/8" CL, 8mm SH; 5/16" D x 1" CL, 8mm SH straight; 8° x 7/16" dovetail, 5/8" CL, 8mm SH; 1/2" to 8mm collet adapter

Leigh D4R-PRO Dovetail Jig

Model D4R-PRO:

Includes three carbide router bits, a 1/2" D x 8° x 8mm dovetail bit and a 5/16" x 1" x 8mm straight bit for through dovetails, and a 1/2" D x 14° x 8mm dovetail bit for half blind dovetails.

Also included is a 1/2" to 8mm collet reducer and a 7/16" template guide bushing, a comprehensive instruction manual and instructional DVD.

Leigh D4R Accessory Kit:

Leigh D4 accessory kit includes the (VRS) vacuum and router support and 12 piece bit set. Leigh's ingenious VRS provides router support and dust-free routing. The 12-piece bit set features 1/2" and 8mm shank bits. The set includes: 1/4" x 8 degree dovetail, 5/16" x 8 degree dovetail, 3/8" x 8 degree dovetail, 7/16" x 8 degree dovetail, 11/16" x 8 degree dovetail, 13/16" x 8 degree dovetail, 7/16" x 1-1/4" CL straight, 1/2 x 1-1/4" CL straight, 1/2" x 10 degree dovetail, 1/2" x 12 degree dovetail, 1/2" x 18 degree dovetail and a 1/2" to 8mm collet reducer.

Leigh Isoloc Templates

Leigh's revolutionary Isoloc joints represent the first entirely practical alternative to the traditional half-blind dovetail.

With a Leigh 24" D4R or 16" D1600 Dovetail jig and a 24" or 16" Isoloc template, even novice woodworkers can produce strong, functional and distinctively attractive joints.

By removing the Dovetail finger assembly and simply sliding on one of the three Isoloc templates, you are ready to produce some extraordinary joinery.

* NOW AVAILABLE! Isoloc Templates for the Leigh Super Jigs

Leigh F2 and F1600 Finger Joint Templates

Finger joints add visually striking design to corner assemblies. Unlike dovetails, finger joints do not interlock mechanically but their enormous amount of glue surface can make them almost as strong as dovetails throughout the life of the adhesive.

Leigh's versatile F2 and F1600 Finger Joint Templates are the most comprehensive and accurate jigs available to the home woodworker or small shop professional. The F2 produces 9-sizes and the F1600 produces 6-sizes of square-cornered fingers from 1/16" to 1/2". The F2 can also cut square half-blind joints, and beautiful, unique rounded half-blind joints.

Leigh's patented Variable Guidebush System (VGS), provided with both finger joint templates, makes certain you can make every joint fit flawlessly. If you thought your Leigh jig was versatile, wait until you add this Finger Joint system to your arsenal. Complete with instructions.