I want to do some finger joint cutting but the biggest shaper cutter size I can find only cuts to an inch and a half. I need a minimum of 2 1/2 inches. Since I will be doing some work on a woodie wagon later it might be nice to get some really large cutters, say something that will cut up to an 8 inch wide board?
any suggestions for sources?
Do you simply offset the cutter for the female end?
Edited 1/21/2008 11:02 am ET by frenchy
Replies
Hey, Frenchy! Hmmmm, I'm having trouble following your questions. You mean this kind of joint, right?
View Image
You needing 2.5" fingers? Wow. Yes, you offset the cutter for the female parts. Well, not the cutter, but the stock. Using a jig like this:
View Image
You have shown what is commonly called a box joint and does get confused with a finger joint too often. A finger joint is similar except it has tapered fingers and is used to make short boards into long boards. You see it on paint grade millwork all the time. This would be a good addition to the wood terminology post.
"Box joint" and "finger joint" seem to be used interchangeably for the joint I pictured. However, I can see the usefulness of distinuishing a box joint from a joint for two boards end-to-end, so I will change my ways!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 1/22/2008 12:08 pm by forestgirl
You are right though, Jamie. " Box Joint" and "Finger Joint" are both correct names for the joint you pictured within the scope of case work. But when referring to trim or mouldings, "Finger Joint" or "Finger Jointed Material" would be the term used to describe what frenchy is wanting to do. This is the common trade practice, anyway. Normally these two never overlap.
Paul
Edited 1/22/2008 12:56 pm ET by colebearanimals
Hey Paul,
Ain't that also called a board stretcher joint!?
:-)
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Good morning Bob ( oops, afternoon where you be),
Yep. Board stretcher. Years ago, when I first discovered pocket hole joinery (Kreg Jig) that's what we called it as well.
That reminds me of when we were kids, going to the shoe store for a new pair of shoes. After finding a pair, I complained that they felt a little tight. The salesman said, " Oh, that's OK. I'll go put them in the shoe stretcher. " After a minute I decided to check out this machine. When I got to the open door of the back room I saw him with a broom handle shoved into that shoe, jerking it around like a crazy man. He must have really needed a sale.
I haven't thought of that in years." Stretcher" must have set it off. :)
Have a good afternoon,
Paul
Hey Paul,
When we built a 22' solar room onto our old house we had to get a laminated beam to cover the open span. It was constructed out of 2 x 6 SYP beams of various lengths that were finger jointed together.
The fingers on those joints, if I remember correctly were nearly 2" long! Some mighty large cutters were used to make those cuts. Also bear in mind that these cuts were nearly 6" long across the beams. Must have been some kind of machine for those.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
forestgirl,
No you will often see fingerjoints in automotive applications.. Woodies!
they are tapered fingers that interlock.. the large sizes I mentioned are often found on big late 40's early 50's type of wood work. Think Chrysler Town and Country
Love those old cars! OK, I understand your meaning now. I see those joints in lots of items, especially garden trellises, arches and such. That's also the joint that ticked somebody here off when they got an inexpensive workbench from Lee Valley. I will, henceforth, call the other joint a box joint -- never mind that so many others call them finger joints.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Here's one of the many "how to" articles on the web:
http://www.cabinetmaking.com/pages/fingerjig.htm
Are you sure you need 2-1/2 finger joint cutters? I've never seen them that big in 25 years of buying tooling. You need to talk to the industrial tooling sources like Gladu, http://www.cggschmidt.com/ FS Tool and such. Most likely a custom bit and require a minumum of a 1-1/4" spindle. The price will probably cause a heart atack.
Edited 1/21/2008 12:30 pm ET by RickL
RickL
an inch & a quarter spindle is no problem.. Commonly used in large late 40's early 50's style woodies think Chrysler Town and Country .. I tried your sources and it didn't connect..
You want heart attack? Try buying that wood after someone has done the fingerjointing.. I'm sure the price pays for the tooling, the wood, the shaper, and makes a few house payments as well!
Maybe I exagerate,, a little
http://www.cggschmidt.com/ has been around for years. You didn't even try the other sources I listed. These folks don't advertise in the hobby mags like FWW.
http://www.woodweb.com/ProductDirectory/PDTooling.html Tooling...
RickL
Thank you! that time everything worked, already sent an E mail. to your first site will start contacting your other sites..
I really approeciate your efforts , thank you!
Frenchy, you can get those from Leitz. Sizes up to 260mm diameter. Very expensive- you may have to flog that XK 150.
Don't do what I witnessed: put the wrong table bushings in the spindle then raise the cutters, breaking all the tips off neatly.....
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