Add Hidden Splines to Box Miters

Comments

1. 
   user-7018892 | Nov 21, 2018 07:56am | #1

   I'm glad that Doug Stowe still has all of his fingers. No featherboard for the table saw grooving cuts. Awfully close to the spinning router bit. What could go wrong?

   FWW should note that the experienced maker is not using certain safety precautions.

2. 
   John_Moran | Nov 14, 2019 05:24am | #2

   Ref. the health and safety comment.

   Yes, it looks a bit dangerous, but in fact everything is covered and guided by fences. and trying to manipulate small pieces of wood when surrounded by H&S bits and pieces is probably more dangerous in practice.

   I have an array of four small router tables that I use for making small boxes - cutting rebates and slots. with all of them the cutter is covered by the work-piece and guided by a solid fence. with the usual care and attention to what you are doing, it is almost impossible to make human contact with the cutter.

   Mechanical contrivances are prone to lull one into a false sense of security - by far the best piece of H&S practice is the copious use of common sense and care & attention. The "experienced maker" IS using safety precautions, they are just in their head and not visible mechanical contrivances.

3. 
   Joe52 | Nov 14, 2019 10:22am | #3

   Doug, I am always amazed by your skill. Watching this video I thought "how simple is his set up!" No million dollar router tables or jigs, just what works. Thank you for reminding me I don't need the newest/greatest flavor of the month.

4. 
   MiterMightNot | Dec 16, 2020 01:35pm | #4

   Good stuff but for us old, deaf, woodworkers, it isn't much good without closed captioning...

5. 
   Ecton | Dec 16, 2020 06:35pm | #5

   I’ve always been amazed at Doug’s skill and knowledge. He proves that you don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to turn out beautiful work. I have a couple of his books and have learned a lot of good techniques from him and have been able to duplicate some of his ingenious jigs as well.

6. 
   WorksInTheory | Jan 06, 2022 12:37pm | #6

   Hahah - "we don't need to measure, anything will do ....(takes tape measure and measures exactly 7-3/4"). Also what was that sanding contraption - is it a rectangle sheet sander on a pillow to something?

7. 
   michaelhenderson | Jan 11, 2023 05:03pm | #7

   There's a simpler way to add a "spline" to a box. I use an ff biscuit and cut the slots in the miters using a sled at 45 degree and a slot cutting router bit. You can see my setup at https://mikes-woodwork.com/BoxTutorial-2ndVersion.htm