Don’t Buy A Mitre Saw // Precision Miter Box

#woodworking #miter #DIY

If you are going to cut trim for a project at a job site and you don’t have room for your powered miter saw, this week’s video offers the perfect solution. The miter box has been a basic woodworking tool for generations. Once upon a time, finish carpenters used mitre boxes for cutting all their casing and trim. In this video I show you how to make your own miter box and why it is better and more accurate than an expensive, power miter saw. By the way, if you are building a cabin, off-grid, this is an excellent tool to bring with you.

DISCLAIMER: My videos are for entertainment purposes only. Do not attempt to do anything that is shown in my videos. Woodworking and Metal Working are very dangerous activities and should only be performed by trained professionals.
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[rogermartin]

I've never seen one with the sacrificial bit in the middle, such a great idea. Like others have said, nice short video. Really good.

[ryanalbert]

The sacrifice plate Is blew my brain today lol, such a simple idea but way worth it. Nice 👍

[sapelesteve]

Other than taking a bit longer, I agree with you Eric that cutting those angles by hand is the best way to do it. Nice

[christofix]

Nice! It doesn't take much space and it is easy to make. Great jig

[bevanstuart]

Thanks for your ideas. I like to use wedges that are 8 to 10 degrees for various things such as clamping so I made a miter box with those two angles to make them reliably repeatable. I have not used a pull saw though, so I think I will try that also.

[gregh]

I had a need of one of these today. Remembered watching this video and threw one together. I don't like the one I built as the small handsaw I have made a rough cut. I think I now need one of those Japanese saws.. heh heh.. Really something with a thinner blade, . I went to a hacksaw blade but now my kerf is to wide. But point remains. Following this video worked. I put a digital angle finder on the kerf on the miter box and read 45.0 degrees. I just get to make another one.

[TheFlatlander]

Nice short vid. I use a Stanley miter box which has various fixed point angles for those trim moldings that aren't exactly 90 or 45 degrees. I can see using this for picture framing or other framing where you aren't matching the exact wall or ceiling angles since virtually all houses aren't completely square and plumb. Thanks for sharing. Cheers!

[christopherguiliano]

Totally going to be doing this one. My problem is I bought the plastic one and the factory cuts are just so wide. By the time I hit the bottom my cut is off.

[BohumirZamecnik]

Nice build! I'm thinking I can try to make the cuts on a bandsaw since I don't have a table saw. A blade with 0.65 mm kerf should be OK for ryoba with 0.5 mm kerf. The only trick might be to set the band saw table to 45 deg and make one cut with the box in horizontal position, another with vertical.

[harrydavis]

Another money-saving jig. Thanks, Eric. Well done my friend.

[woodfern]

Very cool, now attach a vacuum hose to the box and you got yourself a Festool miter box. Much cleaner than an electric miter saw. Now does this work for crown molding and such? Though it may take a little longer to cut, you can work indoors in the same room you’re trimming out, it may actually be faster than having to carry the piece outside and then having to bring it back in. And then there’s less clean up because it’s not throwing dust all over the place like an electric one. This may actually be the way to go.

[lilalti]

brilliant video and great trick. cheers!

[sweetpea]

Would you think about makes and selling a few?

[bappudeshmukh]

I wonder if this mitre box can be used for aluminium channels.?

[syedsafi]

What if someone has no table saw like your's? How to.make these cuts perfect?

[AkinDubois]

Great Video! just made one this past week and its such a wonderful tool to have.Thank you! I really enjoyed the backround music also. By any chance could I get you to share the track info.

[bobdunn]

Thanks Eric. I sold my "big" mitre saw and rely on my table saw for everything for the same reasons you mentioned. I'll add this to my jigs, BTW i'm wondering if you have any issues with the mitre slots on your Ridgid? Mine are off and its always a struggle to get a sled or crosscut sled working accurately.

[feloniousfisherman]

So i am down with this but I'm just a little confused on the measurements. Was it 3 pieces 12 inches long by 3 inches wide?

[shep]

How would you use this for larger baseboards? Do you stand them on end and cut them or do you really just need a miter saw for 6” baseboards? Thank you

[davidletz]

Greta video, Eric. Where do you normally purchase the extended-length driver bits you used in the video?