How to Make Perfect Box Joints

Box joints are a strong, sturdy and attractive alternative to dovetail joints. While a through dovetail joint is stronger than a box joint, it's also more complicated to create. However, as you'll see in the following steps, a perfectly-fitting, clean box joint is easy to create very quickly with a simple box joint jig for your table saw.

In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to build a box joint jig that can be used over and over again to create box joints.

Difficulty Level

• Woodworking: Easy
• Finishing: none required

Time to Complete

• 15 minutes

Recommended Tools

• Table Saw with miter gauge and stacked dado blade set
• Cordless Drill or Corded Power Drill
Materials Needed
• 1 - 5-1/2" x 10" piece of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood or 1x6
• 3 - 1-1/4" Wood Screws
• Woodworking Glue

To begin making your box joint jig, you'll need to determine what width you'll want each of the fingers of the joint to be. For instance, if you want to make your fingers 1/2" wide, start by ripping a strip of stock 1/2" x 1/2" by at least four inches long. Also, cut a piece of 1x6 (or plywood) cut to a finished size of 5-1/2" x 10" as shown in the picture above.