Handcut Large Box Joints
The road you follow while building a project can take a variety of interesting turns. Trying a different technique is one way to explore a new path. While following the progress of the tansu cabinet, I thought it would be fun to try cutting the distinctive wide box joints by hand. What I discovered is that this approach offers a surprising number of lessons in mastering a few basic hand tools.
Simplicity supplies part of the attraction of wide box joints. There are four parts in each assembly. One pair of the parts has slots cut in each end. The mating pair of pieces have a single pin formed on the ends.
When cutting the joints by hand, it means there are only a few cuts — most of them straight. However,
