Issue 598

Mitering Methods

There are so many ways to achieve success at various woodworking tasks. For example, if I am going to make a whole kitchen full of raised-panel doors, I like to set up three router stations: one to make the stick cut, one to cope the ends and another outfitted with a panel-raising bit. I surface all my lumber to the exact same thickness and get busy. But if I am only going to make one or two raised-panel doors, all I use is my table saw (life is short, keep it simple).

But there are some tasks, like gluing up a miter joint (simple in concept, annoying in practice), where I will take all the help I can get. Again, there are many ways to achieve a successful miter glue-up: biscuits, splines, using a lock miter bit and others. In this issue, we have two videos that address these points exactly. First, Chris Marshall takes you through the steps of building a raised-panel door on the table saw. It’s quick, simple and sweet. In the second video, I demonstrate some jigs from Rockler that I now use regularly for gluing up casework corners — especially mitered corners.

Check them out and then let me know your tricks for gluing up miters. Like I said, I will take all the help I can get!

Rob Johnstone, Woodworker’s Journal

Featured Videos

How to Make Tongue & Groove Cabinet Doors with a Table Saw

Build sturdy cabinet doors in many styles using only a table saw and a dado blade.

Corner Clips Make Building Cabinets Easier

One of the most important factors when assembling cabinets is to make sure the case pieces are square to each other. And assembling cabinets can be a challenge when you’re working alone. Learn how the Rockler Clamp-It Corner Jig and Corner Clips make it easier to assemble perpendicular cabinet and box corners.