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A slightly more complex example

 

Take the example we used earlier: 6” X 8” x 4 1/2”.  Let’s add a ¼” bottom (dadoed) and a 3/8” thick top. Also, we want to have the top 4 fingers be part a hinged lid. We will assemble the box with its top and bottom in place and then cut the lid off on a table saw.  We want all the fingers to be the same size when we are done so the finger where we will cut needs to wider by the width of our saw kerf.  We have a standard kerf blade on the table saw so we’ll add 1/8” to the board width and then use the editor to make room for the kerf on one of the fingers.  

 

You should measure the kerf that your saw blade makes but here are some general guidelines:

  • Standard kerf table saw blade - 4/32” (1/8”).

  • Thin kerf table saw blade - 3/32”

  • Band saws - determine your blade kerf and factor in cleaning up the usually rough band saw cut. It is likely that your kerf will be close to 2/32” (1/16”).

 

First, we click on the equal tab and abandon the previous design.  We make the board 4 5/8” wide and leave all the other parameters the same.  Then click on the editor tab.  You will see this:

Next, we make the top finger full width.

  • Select all cuts by clicking the All button

  • Click the left Move button 6 times.

We should see this:

We want to make room for the wider cut (7A) so we have to move 1A through 6A to the right and then widen 7A.

  • Click Toggle (9A)

  • Move the active cut to the right one finger. Click the right arrow in the Active Cut Select box.

  • Click Toggle (8A)

  • Move the active cut to the right one finger. Click the right arrow in the Active Cut Select box.

  • Click Toggle (7A)

  • Press the right Move button 4 time

  • Click None

  • Click Toggle (to select the 7A cut)

  • Click the right arrow under Widen 4 times. A new cut mark next to 7A will be added. You should now see this:

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

Now we have a template that will give us a 3/8” finger in the 3rd cut position from the left on the A side of the joint.  When the box is cut apart at the top of this finger using a standard width saw blade, all the fingers will have the same size. Note: be sure to read up on how to safely cut the tops off of boxes like this, it can be a safety hazard.

 

We are now ready to print and prepare the template for use in the Incra LS positioner.

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