This is how I cut box joints for my hive bodies using a router with a pattern bit (Freud bit number 50-102 purchased on Amazon) and a box joint pattern as shown in the July/August 2012 issue of ShopNotes magazine. I made the pattern long enough to cut box joints for supers on one end and brood boxes on the other end which I made the fingers different sizes. It works great and I did not need to make any adjustments. One advantage is that lumber that is slightly cupped can be flattened with a a clamp and then the box joint cut.
I would like to do that but I am sure there are copyright issues that would get me into trouble. Maybe a library in your area would have a back issue or they could get it inter-library loan. I believe ShopNotes also has back issues for sale.
Actually you route all the way through the board into a piece of 1/4" masonite so there are not round corners. Since you are routing from the end grain of the board it gives you a nice square cut.
I tried doing the box joint on the table saw, but it is more difficult for larger boards and my dado set only cuts up to 13/16 of an inch maximum. With the router and the template, you can route any size box joint you need. My fingers on the box joint are 1-5/8" wide for the brood box and 1-5/16" supers.
That is a pretty cool jig, could you do it for a dovetail rather than a box joint? if I am going to use a router, and take that much time, a dovetail would certainly look like a piece of art. A half blind dovetail may even be fewer cuts.
Thanks for posting this. I have a dovetail machine with a box joint template that I make all of my box joints with, however I know that not everyone can have an expensive machine to to the work. I'm always on the lookout for way people without lots of machinery can make their beehives.
once someone pays for a magazine they can do whatever they want with articles in said magazine like copy them and give them to people legally. in any form they wish to transfer them.
I suggest you be careful with that. One can copy, etc., for "personal use", but copyrights don't usually permit transfer/distribution to others unless specifically allowed by the copyright holder. A legal work-around solution is for someone to go to a library to copy the article for personal use if they cannot obtain an article online from the original publisher.
Less complicated:
Don't you agree that this is way simplified and easier?
All you need basically is a Key that is the same size as the router bit size off set the same distance. Screw the key down and your done with the spacing. Set the height to 3/4" if that is the thickness of the wood and your golden. This took I think 15 minutes to get a template for a router made.
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