Architectural Woodworking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Does anyone know how to make this joint?

5/21/14       
Ben Member

I need to make about 300 wooden boxes. They don't need to be perfectly beautiful, but do need to be strong. The boxes I have been using have this kind of joint on the corners, which has worked relatively well. But I can't seem to figure how to make it. Of course, I could make a billion passes on the table saw, but that would take forever. Does anyone have any idea of how to make this joint (or one similar and strong) efficiently?


View higher quality, full size image (2448 X 3264)

5/21/14       #2: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Scott Sober  Member

Website: http://www.cymafurnituredesign.com

Hi Ben,

That is done with a hauncher machine. It is a series of cutters in a row evenly spaced to create the finger joints.

Scott

5/21/14       #3: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
David R Sochar Member

In Woodweb's Machinery listings is a Beehive box machine for sale. It is much less than the industrial size machines found on Ex-Factory and IRS sites.

There are two ways to do this: make each notch one at a time, or make them all at once. One method is very fast, but expensive to buy and tool, the other is slow, but flexible and easy to get into.

Beehive Box Machine

5/21/14       #4: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Ben Member

Wow, never heard of a hauncher or a beehive box machine. I looked both of them up though, and it's way more than I can afford to buy for 300 boxes. What about some sort of shaper cutter? I've found finger joint cutters, but they are all tapered. And there are the groovers for shapers, but I'd need 22 of them, and they aren't cheap either. I've thought of stacking circular saw blades on the shaper with shims in between, but that seems a bit sketchy.

5/21/14       #5: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
mike

Have a machine shop make a accurate jig out of aluminum
and use a straight bit and collar on a
router.You might have to use a little larger fingers, but still quite strong. You could actually do them on a dovetail jig, but the spacing might be more than you want.

5/21/14       #6: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
perley

Look up how to make box joint on you tube.

5/21/14       #7: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
cris

buy a used hauncher do the job sell the hauncher.

5/21/14       #8: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Adam

B

5/21/14       #9: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Geoff

Ben,
The machine that David linked to in this thread is only going to cost you $8.00/box. That's $2,400.00 for the machine divided by 300 boxes. In my mind that is cheap. In addition, I cope parts on a shaper regularly and...well I guess you could do it.
I am also familiar with the machine David linked to. It works just like a dovetail machine. One part goes in horizontally and the other goes in vertically (up, not down like a porter cable jig) and then you pass the router (which is part of the machine) under the two parts. It's not super fast and you have a lot of part handling (I am getting boadred just thinking about it).
So, maybe you do have a good idea. Figure out a way to stack a bunch of parts together and cope them on the shaper. I hope you have one with a sliding table.
The other way would be on a table saw with a dado blade but, 300 boxes would take forever.

Good luck,
Geoff

5/21/14       #10: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Adam

Most decent dovetail jigs will do boxjoints.

Unless you have the beehive machine, no one does 1/8" box joints. 3/8"(10mm) joinery is plenty for a box. 1/4" is probably overkill; however, it can be done on the dovetail jigs.

300 boxes is no small feat.

5/22/14       #11: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
mark

How about stacking cutters and material. You could get at least 3 blades with spacers on a cabinet saw. Then stack your parts and clamp together in bundles that are ok to handle and reduce the number of passes. Overcut the depth a bit to account for variation in the stack.
Or, you could order some dovetail drawer boxes...

5/23/14       #12: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Bill

How many do you want to make.

5/23/14       #13: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Larry

Reading 101: "I need to make about 300 wooden boxes."

5/25/14       #14: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
joiner Member

I like Mark's idea about multiple blades with spacers. It will take some tedious setup, but I've done it.
I prefer to use one of my shop made wooden table saw sleds. Add a tall plywood backer to hold the stacks of parts steady while on end. Clamp a stop block to the sled backer on the left side so the part is indexed for the first cut on the other edge. Then install an index pin or chip on the right side of the sled so that the slots made by the first pass slip over it to align the next cuts, and then repeat till all cuts are made.
It will take some doing to get the offset of parts right for a flush edge. It ain't high production, but it's all I have.

5/27/14       #15: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Bill

Reading 101: "I need to make about 300 wooden boxes." .

Very productive.

6/7/14       #16: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
Gary B.

Ben,

This is what you need to make it go fast. You can buy the plans for 12 bucks, and make the parts for one box faster than an employee could put together the previous box.

Personally, I think this (300 boxes) is where "lean thinking" really shines. If you can have someone prepping and assembling the boxes as you machine them, you'll be amazed at how fast it can go. Even better if you can have someone behind that finishing them.

Videos

10/14/15       #17: Does anyone know how to make this j ...
jim

MLCS has a finger joint cutter , for a small shaper / router table.. what I would do is cut a bunch of strips to the size of cutter. Clamp them together and run through cutter flip and do other end. the do a fast glue up of say 5 strips. it has only five cutters of 5/32 each, it cuts only 1-7/16 you might be able to rig a milling machine and move the cutter up and down as needed. or a heavy duty drill press.. just some thoughts. or like he said a table saw with three blades, and do a few at a time.

Box Joint Router Bit


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)