I’ve always liked the symmetry of box joints and the ability to vary them cleanly has its place. I like A most here but in a project might prefer another. Looks good.
i always preferred the box joint over dovetails. i just like the look better. im kinda traditional so A is my choice, but i kinda like the B pattern also.
working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.
Thanks for replying Ryan. I have always been traditional with box fingers and have always stayed with them being equal and the same. But recently I've seen a few woodworker alternate widths, etc. and I sort of like it. I have an idea to try and do inlaid finger joints. Never seen this done.
I have an Incra jig for the router table that I use for box joints. One I have used a few times is a staggered joint. i.e. short, long, short, long etc. I like the traditional type A but with the depth of the cut equal to the width.
All of them are functional. I like variety, so using any of them will give a same size box different looks, and that way it keeps them fresh, win with a sound joint, win with a different look, Win win. :-)
A configuration that I like is where there is a 2:1 or 3:2 ratio between the 2 boards. You could even do a 3:1 ratio. The actual ratio isn't important -- just that the fingers on one board are visibly wider than the other. That sort of gives you a look like dovetails but with simpler finger joints. I've also done a fat one in the middle, and have them get smaller after each pair of fingers. For example 5:4:3:2:1 or 4:3:2, depending upon how wide and how many fingers.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
Here is one, though it’s not as obvious on this scale. I think it is about a 3:2 and the outside fingers are a little smaller to finish off the width. In hindsight a 4:2 ratio might have been better on this one. A bigger difference makes it stand out better.
BTW, this is a chest that sits under my lathe for my turning tools.
--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.
