Is it possible to make miter corners with a scroll saw?

[wickens]

I am thinking about making a memory box. I would like to make it with mitered corners. Can I do it with a scroll saw? I don't have any more room in my workspace for another tool so buying something to do the job isn't the answer. Or is there another type of corner I should use?

[Marcel in Longueuil]

Hi wickens,

First I'd like to welcome you here.

You will find it difficult to do mitered corners on the scrollsaw (notice I did not say impossible) but cutting a straight line is not the easiest thing to do on the scrollsaw.

Have you thought about using a handsaw and miter box?
It would be a lot easier than on the scrollsaw, doesn't take much room and isn't expensive.

As far as other types of joints on the scrollsaw : You could use dovetails, I've done a clothing pin box for my wife that way ( http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...00/ppuser/3814). I suppose finger joints would be feasible. And Lap joints are another possibility.

I'm sure others may have suggestions too.

Regards,
Marcel

[Jim8Mad]

Wickens,
I remember reading something about doing dovetails on a scrollsaw, so I went digging through my magazines. Yep. Here it is. SSW Issue #19 (Summer 2005). The same article also shows you how to make wooden hinges for that memory box. Below is a link for making a table saw jig which may also help you out with miter corners and some other aspects of your box.

http://www.scrollsawer.com/articles/...aw-Joinery.php

Don't forget to post pictures when your done. We love to see people showing off what they can do.

Jim

[minowevie]

I am thinking about making a memory box. I would like to make it with mitered corners. Can I do it with a scroll saw? I don't have any more room in my workspace for another tool so buying something to do the job isn't the answer. Or is there another type of corner I should use?

abasuluty, wickens. I cut all my miter cuts on the scroll saw. let me see if i can bring http://www.betterwoodworking.com/compound_miter.htmup the miter calculator. scuss my spelling your freind Evie

[lucky788scroller]

Evie, please retype in the link you posted. I think the last few letters are mixed up, the link doesnt work. Dale

[lucky788scroller]

nevermind evie..... I read your mind! http://www.betterwoodworking.com/compound_miter.htm
Thats evies link!

[Gill]

What a useful link - thanks .

I wouldn't attempt cutting mitres on a scroll saw - like Marcel says, a handsaw and miter box or even a dedicated miter saw would be much more accurate (and cheap, too). There's a reason why manufacturer's are able to sell tools that are dedicated to this task.

Until Evie said she cuts miter joints, I would have said it was impossible to cut them accurately with a scroll saw. However, Evie's so talented she's quite capable of scrolling cuts that mere mortals would find impossible!

Gill

[CanadianScroller]

use a shooting board.

The problem of keeping a straight edge while cutting mitres on a scroll saw has been mentioned here a few times. You can cut the wood on the saw and then true it up after with a shooting board.

This is just a simple jig that has a surface on the angle of the miter and a surface perpendicular to the miter.
You place the wood on the jig and sand or plane the edge till it is true.

[Rolf]

Depending on the size of the joint I do my miters on a disk sander.
If it is too big I use my table saw or a router table with a 45 deg bit.
That is a great web site Evie, thanks.