Do I really need the I Box??

[ecom1]

When I first saw this item online, I added it to my wish list. Over the last while, there have been ongoing reviews that have been reinforcing that decision.

Last weekend, I decided to practice my resawing on the SS bandsaw - I successfully and accurately resawed a scrap cedar fence board. I decided to make a couple of boxes with the results just for fun, and on one, I decided to make box joints using a simple router jig I have that is easy to set up (It's the system used in the Router Workshop TV show).

I didn't document the progress, but here's the result after sanding, with no filler. I know I rushed the cuts, and think the results would be better if I took my time.

So my question to the I Box owners is did they buy it to replace another system, and if so, was it an improvement? As nice as it would be to have a new Shopsmith jig, I'm questioning whether I would see a big improvement in either speed or accuracy? My router jig is set up to make 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2 box joints (plus dovetails) - if I wanted to do finger joints, then I'd need another solution.

[Gene Howe]

Ed, the I Box is a great tool and great fun to play with. I really enjoy using mine. That being said, the joints produced are not demonstrably better tha those you pictured.

[dusty]

Absolutely not! You do not need the I-Box to do beautiful box joints. The only advantage of having an I-Box, by my way of seeing it, is that nice joints may be created with fewer mistakes. I have several around the house and shop with a variety of successes and failures.

[rjent]

No, you don't need the Ibox. I have successfully made quite a few finger and box joints without one, but it does make it easier and quicker to make them. I have not had mine very long, but so far I am very glad I did get one.

JMHO


BTW, nice joints ...

[dusty]

What virtue does the I-Box have that might make you want one even though you can make nice joints without it? Easy question. Easy answer. Pin width equals groove width every time (once properly adjusted as John has said). Achieving that equality is the most difficult part of box joints.

[reible]

Is this the jig system you have?

IMG_3369sc.jpg (220.81 KiB) Viewed 12557 times

Ed

[ecom1]

Is this the jig system you have?

IMG_3369sc.jpg

Ed

Yes, that's the one Ed. Do you use it? If so, how do you think it compares to the I Box for accuracy and set up?

[masonsailor2]

I would have to agree the Ibox is nice and is an incra tool so it no doubt performs well but it is merely a tool to speed things up. Box joints are completely doable on the SS without it and with great results as seen in the pictures. The SS miter with a simple jig will give you perfect box joints. The incra is no doubt a fun tool though. Just a simple matter of whether you want it and can afford it. The cost of the Ibox will buy some really nice wood for a piece of furniture ! Decisions decisions !
Paul

[reible]

It is not going to be easy to compare as they are very different. What I can say is that on smaller boxes I think the router system excels but with larger parts the i-box is nicer. I wouldn't want to give up either.

I have a lot of ways to make box joints and I certainly didn't need most of them. I learned how to make an attachment for my miter gauge back before I had shopsmith gear and perhaps more then half of the joints I've done were done this way. It easy to do, cheap and expendable, when I finished cutting the joints I recycled the jig so that is how easy they are to make.

I have a combo dovetail/box joint jig that takes a hand held router to cut the joints. I have two incra jigs that have right angle sleds that allow one to do a lot of different joints, and a jointech jig that does the same. I have a special miter gauge fence that is designed to help cut box joints..... I'm flush with ways of making the joints.

When I plan a project I figure out which tools make the most sense to use and go that way. The i-box is rather new to me so I like to keep using it to learn more about it and how it handles things so for now I'd go with it for just about everything. A few of the jigs are way more effort to set up so unless I were going to do say 10 drawers I wouldn't take the time to use them. Still other jigs I haven't used much anymore, they didn't do as well as I had hoped and why stress out working with them.

If you do decide to get the jig also include the box joint blade sets they sell in your cost they are worth it.

It's not cheap so if you want to hold your cost down there are better ways to do that then getting the jig. If you want the convenience and something ready made that works then it is worth it on those accounts.

Ed

Is this the jig system you have?

IMG_3369sc.jpg

Ed

Yes, that's the one Ed. Do you use it? If so, how do you think it compares to the I Box for accuracy and set up?

[ecom1]

Thanks for the input guys. I think I'll leave it on my wish list, but at a lower priority than say 520 upgrade or Power-pro