Mitre clamp

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I live in a split level house where a portion has a basement and a portion is slab on grade. The slab part has a foundation wall about 30" above the floor. This part forms a shelf along the wall about 3-1/2" deep which is now only covered with drywall. Wife wants something decorative so I’m making an oak shelf to fit over it. Of course, I can’t just slap a 1by over it. That would be too easy. So I took my 1×6 and ripped it at a 45° angle so I could mitre it back together and make the edge look really thick. The only problem is how to clamp these 2 boards together.

Now, I’m sure I’m not the first rocket surgeon to ever come up with this idea, but I thought I’d share it anyway.

I had some short strips of 2×4s I had ripped to 1-1/2 × 1-1/2 to use as bracing for something else. I ripped a 1/2 × 1/2 rabbet into them and then cut them into smaller blocks.

This worked out well using opposing clamps. Also, you can never have too many clamps. The joint appears tight. I guess I’ll find out tomorrow when I take the clamps off.

Losing fingers since 1969

Sometimes we have to be creative to get the job done, nice work Brian.

woodworking classes, custom furniture maker

Great idea Brian, thats going to look good.

Jack

Thanks. I’ll post the shelf when it’s done next week.

Losing fingers since 1969

It came out great. You can’t even see the joint.

I put a 1/4" round on the edge with my router. The backside of the joint also appears tight.

This makes me very happy. I love mitres but they don’t love me back very often. :-)

Losing fingers since 1969

Ran out of Danish oil. :( Had just enough for one light coat. At least it won’t take long to dry.

Losing fingers since 1969

Cool. Great idea. Shelf looks nice.

I need to create something!

It works well done.

woodworking classes, custom furniture maker