how to make box/finger joints with a Mark V

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:29 pm

I purchased a porter cable jig to use with my porter cable router. It took me a full day of reading the instructions (which were awful) to figure out the proper method of use and secrets. My finger joints were perfect and simple the first and every other time. That I should say is also another first for me. It usually takes me longer than anyone on this forum to get anything right. Jim

Oh yeah the secret. Use the appropriate sized router bit for the joint desired and always, always, always hold the router to the same side of the jig.

:D;)

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 6:48 pm

[quote="fjimp"]I purchased a porter cable jig to use with my porter cable router. It took me a full day of reading the instructions (which were awful) to figure out the proper method of use and secrets. My finger joints were perfect and simple the first and every other time. That I should say is also another first for me. It usually takes me longer than anyone on this forum to get anything right. Jim

Oh yeah the secret. Use the appropriate sized router bit for the joint desired and always, always, always hold the router to the same side of the jig.

:D]

Jim,

Which Porter Cable jig do you have to make finger joints. I have one that I thought made finger joints but it only does dovetails. That is to say, there are no templates for finger joints.

fjimp · Post by **fjimp** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:16 pm

dusty wrote:Jim,

Which Porter Cable jig do you have to make finger joints. I have one that I thought made finger joints but it only does dovetails. That is to say, there are no templates for finger joints.

Dusty I have four 4210, 4212, 4213 and 4215. Now all of this is packed so I am guessing it was 4213 or 4215. I am sorry I can't get to them just now. I seem to remember when I bought the other two I needed to get the last templates in order to do the smaller joints. Jim

easterngray · Post by **easterngray** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:21 pm

A way to get around slight differences in spacing is to cut all the boards at the same time. For a really ingenious (emphasis on GENIUS!) box joint jig, check this fellow out:

http://woodgears.ca/box_joint/jig.html

Make sure you watch the video of the jig in operation; simply AMAZING!

Alec

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:35 pm

[quote="fjimp"]. . .

Oh yeah the secret. Use the appropriate sized router bit for the joint desired and always, always, always hold the router to the same side of the jig.

:D]
Same is true if making dovetails!!!! I found this out with my craftsman

router/jig.