How to Make a Poor Man's Mitre Box | Paul Sellers

The best way to get hold of a mitre box that suits your needs is to make your own. In this video, Paul shows how he makes one in a matter of minutes that guarantees accuracy, especially when used in combination with a shooting board (link to shooting board video). They can be used for many things such as trim for tool chests, boxes and drawers as well as picture frames and the like.
For more information on these topics, see paulsellers.com or woodworkingmas...

[@revwayne6168]

I needed a miter box to help a neighbor replace some small trim on his bay window. I didn't want to haul my boat anchor-of-a-miter saw for these small pieces. I watched this video three or four times then built one. My neighbor was stunned at how dead on accurate the cuts were and said, "that's brilliant!" I told him that it's Paul Seller's idea not mine I just copied him. Thank you Paul!

[@AlAmantea]

Mr. Sellers, I am always amazed at how simply you are are to breakdown complex joinery. Your videos are worth your weight in gold. Every time I watch them, I am fully captivated and engaged in what you do. You are truly a master of the craft and I feel privileged to have a glimpse into your world. Thank you for all you do.

[@DaceyMark]

I've just built one of these in 10 minutes! and I can't believe how accurate it is! Thanks Paul -

[@michaelmiller463]

Another well done video. We need a video on the making of that marking gauge. I love the pin for locking it down. Right at the thumb. Great design.

[@dmand2353]

4:43 I instinctively blew at the screen XD.

[@TechTins_Projects]

Love it. You make it all look so easy. Then when I try and attempt the same thing its never right. One day ;-)

[@phabi0]

damn right. LOL

[@MrFtax]

Useful, simple & effective. Inexpensive too. Thanks Paul! On a side note, I hope that you start teaching again here in the USA. I look forward to another class.

[@thinkstorm]

I'm not as proficient as you in cutting that neatly, my miters are not quite 45 degrees (though I'm getting better). But I put another 1x3 on the other side as well, same height, and cut the complementing piece of wood on the other side: if my miter on side1 is a bit over 45deg it will be the same amount under 45deg on side2, and together they always make 90 degrees. voila. :) crisis averted.

[@axegrinder3746]

T.C After 40+ years in fine furniture I had never thought about what you just said. The two pieces would have to compliment themselves perfectly making it a perfect 90 deg. every time! This is very good for painted or say higher-up trim not seen as close. For what I do with furniture 99% I could not use this tip but..., very clever indeed.

[@bighands69]

@@axegrinder3746 As long as you use the same slot in reverse it will cut the opposing angle. In the end you really need to use a shooting board for the best accuracy.

[@hudsonriverlee]

Yes, Acrprmann, I pay attention. I watch Mr. Paul Sellers, working with chisels and hand planes, and hand saws and such as often as I can. My Favorite of all wood working videos on the internet, is watching Paul Sellers make the Geometric Inlay. Utilizing this very design of miterbox. I made the Poorman router, the dovetail guide. When a woodworking master teaches, they stop and mention what to be more Critical off. I had never even Heard of a knife wall. Never, until watching Paul Sellers cutting several across a board. I utilize the knife wall all the time now. As well, I stopped using a pencil, and began using a marking knife. All things I learned by watching the Master woodworker. Seeing Paul file away the teeth on a saw blade and recut them, my head still spins. Then, among all else, I watched Paul Sellers make the Dovetail guide on a board, mark out the lines to cut and, then flip the board over and mark the opposite side. The simplest low set up time of any tool. This is what I do every Early Am. I enjoy Paul's videos. Well done Mr. Sellers. Simply well done. I love the ending of the Geometric inlay video when you place the bookmark into your own book, that is clever beyond words.

[@seanc7151]

Very simple and very good. Thank you Paul and your team.

[@fridunanti]

Great! Paul goes, as usual, his own and allmost provocative, way. Things are not complicated with Paul

[@allenholdway8683]

Paul, as a newbe in woodworking, your time and help has been a great benefit to me . I spent a lot of time learning about tools and techniques from you. Thanks for taking the time to help us learn from your videos.

[@thecordlesscarpenter7956]

Never ceases to amaze me how efficiently you work. You work so efficiently it almost looks like you are working very slowly but as I follow along with your videos I find myself looking for the remote to rewind button because I'm so slow... I have to remind myself you've been doing this for 50+ years. Love all the videos! beginning my doorman's workbench build next week! Please don't stop.

[@PeterWMeek]

+Darrell Gardner - Sharp tools (which cut very fast) make things look easy. Watch (if you haven't) some of Paul's saw, plane, and chisel sharpening videos. Knowing how to use them completes the formula for "easy" woodworking.

[@thecordlesscarpenter7956]

Thanks for the tip, I've actually watched every single one of his videos. I've began sharpening my saws, made a few mallets (getting ready to make another out of osage orange), winding sticks, making a TV stand now... in preps for the bench. I've been a machinist for 23 years and just getting into (6 months so far) traditional woodworking. What I find difficult is transferring from metal where I'm used to .0001 tolerances, to wood where the tolerances are layout are obviously different. I'll get there, it's just going to take a bit of time breaking the habit of precision and use to fractions vise decimals lol.

[@Saturday8pm]

Not poor but I refuse to buy YET ANOTHER wildly inaccurate hand mitre. I can't make Mr Sellers' shooting board, don't have the tools, but THIS I can hack. Many Thanks!

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Really useful tool to have around in the shop! Thanks for sharing!

[@fabianmalcolm6511]

I guess im asking the wrong place but does any of you know of a tool to log back into an instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the password. I would love any help you can offer me.

[@camilomoises2032]

@Fabian Malcolm instablaster =)

[@fabianmalcolm6511]

@Camilo Moises Thanks so much for your reply. I found the site through google and Im in the hacking process now. Takes a while so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@fabianmalcolm6511]

@Camilo Moises It did the trick and I finally got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thanks so much you really help me out :D

[@camilomoises2032]

@Fabian Malcolm You are welcome xD

[@user8ZAKC1X6KC]

So way back before power tools. How did finish carpenters make off angle cuts for miters and stuff. Like 48 degrees or something. Miter boxes only seem to do perfect angles. Why am I asking? Sometimes as a landlord I have to cut one piece of trim and I don't have my Miter saw with me. I have my manual saw... and some wood. This seems like a good option. Did pre-powertool carpenters just make a custom miter box every time? Maybe they just got a really good at making really accurate off cut angles free hand.

[@harley75us]

There is only one thing I can say.God, I love watching you work (teach).What ever word or words you want to use to describe what you do.I have learned so much & expect to learn so much more.I have received confirmation that my recent book order should be in my splintered hands in about 3 to 4 weeks.I can hardly wait. I feel like I did as a little kid on Christmas morning.Thank You so very much for what you do for the wood working community,I am also very thankful for the internet. Without it I don't know if I would have found you.I hope this doesn't sound to mushy. But then again I really don't care.Marty

[@marydsmyth]

Amazing! Very impressive. Im fed up looking for a 30 degree mitre box and now I can make my own in the morning. Merci mille fois!

[@MattDiresta]

great, simple solution!

[@vaniasaucer]

Thank you for the video. Now I can make my "poor woman'" mitre box!!

[@taylarogers313]

Did you ever make it? I'm a "do it yourself" girl and I am having the toughest time framing some shelves and a mirror in my bathroom

[@samwiser989]

Amazing tip, really enjoy your videos and looking forward to the chair build :)

[@gautambarua8260]

Is this good for cutting a 3inch picture frame molding? I see that your mitre box has only one wall as opposed to two in most boxes.

[@Paul.Sellers]

Just make it long enough for two opposite mitres.

[@12Fritzi12]

beautifully simple effective - there is nothing more to say. Great

[@Valk69]

Thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge. I could watch you work wood all day long.

[@creaseref]

Hi Paul, I need to cut an outside corner at 42 degrees by hand, ???

[@VovanVedernikov]

Это не показатель. Хотябы рамку собрали.

[@LivefreeanddiyTv]

great tip, thanks for sharing!

[@blackswanprepping8827]

Great alternative to a chop saw, thanks for sharing!

[@TobyGarcia]

+Dutchhorse - probably more accurate to say a chop saw is a poor alternative to this.

[@wickerpony]

+Toby Garcia Yeah nah

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

+Dutchhorse And no loss of fingers!

[@AsiAzzy]

True master. You need accurate 45? mark it and cut it free hand while eyballing it. That is master level experience with a saw. Mine isn't great as all my freehand cuts are not straight or plumb or perpendicular to work, same with freehand drilling. I base my accuracy on jigs for now. Maybe I'll reach a level where i can rely on my cuts to be plumb just from feel and experience.. somewhere in distance future perhaps.

[@johnbarneswood]

Easy and simply tip. I'll have to give a shot at it sometime

[@schnooder]

Frustrated. I've tried this device so many times and still can't seem to get my miters correct. My box cut is true and straight, but when I use it to make single cut to a piece of 2x2, then rotate one of the two cut pieces 180* to check, I'm way out of square.

[@schnooder]

I'm think you misinterpreted my comment Derek. I was not implying that Mr. Sellers jig was poorly designed, I was looking for friendly advice or constructive tips as to how I might figure out what I was doing wrong. You gave me neither.

[@cesarrodriguez9597]

Derek Charette If it is such a elementary skill, why don't you tell him what he did wrong? So that he may correct his ' operator error '. Maybe you can't teach, therefore you are not inclined to be making this type of comments. If you are not here to help, keep your opinions to yourself.

[@nuttiBONG]

I love you man keep going as long as you can Paul!

[@headknocker8999]

You should have put a mini starrett square on that miter at the end to show how perfect it was.. I'm gonna make myself a fret slot miter box for .023" kerf & put a piece of plexi on two wing nuts into the saw to adjust the depth, That's the idea anyhow instead of buying an expensive setup & saw from Stewart McCdonald

[@marcinlenski3857]

Thank you. It looks so easy :-)

[@byLokie]

I bought a Mitre box years ago. It was sloppy where the saw guides were but I stuck some duct tape on one side of the channel to remove the sloppiness. It works a treat I made this too and it’s very accurate. Thank you

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

Another perfect demonstration of a very useful idea. Many thanks.

[@matthewholborow9942]

I love this video! Who needs plastic tat when you can make something proper yourself in 10 minutes?

[@notcharles]

Exactly what I need for aa simple miter job! Thanks, once again, for a solution!

[@StopGravity]

Have been using a store bought mitre box and as you noted, "...sloppy..." So glad to see this video. As always, thank you for your inspirational tutorials. Looking forward to getting your book.

[@dantco]

That's easy! The idea appears to be spend a few extra seconds to get two precise 45s that will produce many 45s...for those times when I'm away from my shop...love it! I gotta hunt down that double-sided tape too! Paul defied me to pull it apart...not to prove him wrong, but to test the strength.

[@paulsellers7953]

+dantco Actually, you don't really need to tape the pieces. Just clamp them in the vise.

[@dantco]

I actually like the tape idea. I'm already working a source! :-)

[@philgibbs4045]

You can use Gorilla or Scotch D/S mounting tape. Super strong stuff - and I doubt if you'll get the 2 pieces apart.

[@Ljungbacken7181]

I whant some more complex movies.....thnx though fore a good tip on mighterbox... =)

[@paulsellers7953]

+Magnus Johnsson All complex projects are made up of simple moves relying on steps like this, Magnus.

[@Ljungbacken7181]

yeah, i know....Sorry, what i meant whas, i love to see you work on something that are bigger better stronger and more komplex....i just love to see how you do it.... I have seen every vidio, all of them.... =)

[@uaaerospace]

+Magnus Johnsson He presents more complicated projects at woodworkingmasterclasses.com. He charges a nominal fee for access to the project videos, but as a paying member I will say that it is well worth it.

[@josehgoncalves3805]

Excelente.... Muito grato

[@brianknowles7130]

Many thanks .. certainly solved or will help me solve one the problems that I continue to have. Great vid.Rgds

[@cesarrodriguez9597]

+ Paul Sellers You mentioned that the jig would eventually ware out. How about installing some metal guides?

[@joejamesmonroe1854]

Hi Paul, Ive seen you use some very nice marking gauges over the years. The one you used today seems very easy & fast to adjust. Would you show us how to make one like this? Thanks. You are a true Master!!

[@NoOne-fe3gc]

7:47 Beautiful , Simple and Effective . That about sums up this channel

[@passmeby9398]

Eight amazing minutes.

[@jorgefernandez8774]

interesantes e instructivos sus enseñanzas como siempre gracias por ello jorge de argentina

[@joelhenry4643]

Pure perfection!

[@artemdavinci]

Create a video for making a marking gauge. Such as: 2:34

[@planofaction_]

well hot damn.

[@purpleturkey11]

Good tip Paul, thanks ... wish my chisel was as keen as yours, very sharp 👍

[@Mienecus]

Awesome simplicity!

[@peterkell2341]

Old school wood worker. Wish he was my teacher when at school. Nice calm voice sir Thank you

[@MIWESTI]

:) :) :)

[@gall_blader_works]

Can i use plywood to make on of these? Or is solid wood the recommended option?

[@garycottreau8442]

Nice Paul. I have never seen anything like this. Hats off!

[@ibrhemahmed170]

Very goood

[@cynthiajluciene9677]

Great video, thank you, but I don't know what the name of the tool is that you used to mark the angles on the miter box. :( I don't like having to ask someone at the home improvement stores because they see 1. I'm a woman, 2. I'm a bit "seasoned" (60 yrs old) and 3. I'm blonde. I guess it's natural for anyone who notices these 3 things about me to assume I have no idea what I'm doing which is sometimes offensive to me, especially if I'm already having a rough day. I've actually been known to lash out at an innocent young man who thought he would help me by giving me advice based on his "vast knowledge and experience" he aquired in just a few months of working at the store. Hmph! If the poor kid refers to me as "Ma'am" instead of "Miss", well then he's really in for it. So dear sir, that said, I'm pretty sure you can understand why I'd appreciate it if you named the tools you were using in your videos. (I'm pretty positive the kids working at home improvement stores would appreciate it as well, even more so than I) ...wink, wink... Thank you so much.

[@TimothyEdDoran]

Better late than never. Are you referring to the combination square?

[@giuseppeconti7363]

A real master . Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@malcommountie4326]

class

[@Nebulaoblivion]

This was beautiful, thank you for sharing.

[@brigittesvideostuff]

I made one and it worked! Thanks for posting.

[@tex24]

Great video showing how to make an accurate hand tool without a power tool.

[@Exiledk]

That's a nice little Crown gents saw.... I want one.

[@shouldibehere]

Genius!

[@zioMav89]

5 minute saved me lots of time, Paul you are priceless

[@ephemerics]

Thank you.

[@mykidsdad9]

You mentioned that you wouldn't have to use a "Shooting Board"... what is a Shooting Board?

[@aidanearl]

it's a board which allows a plane to run up the side of it at a 90 degree angle to ensure the cut is 90 degrees (or whatever angle you set the board to.

[@CryoGenUK]

Was it a near perfect 90 degrees?... you didn't measure it. It looked good but was it true? Thanks for the video, very informative as usual. :D

[@paulsellers7953]

+CryoGenUK Most likely I haven't had one out of true in many years. And I can cut them 45-degrees without the box by eye.

[@CryoGenUK]

I don't doubt your skill, I bet it was. :D

[@MG-vo7is]

I had no idea I needed something like this. Wow!

[@tahraqapie4783]

genius

[@balbino108]

Very good! Thanks for sharing!

[@user-ov7su1lg3h]

Wow. Incredible precision!

[@thomasarussellsr]

what is the TPI on that Gent's saw?

[@miked22183]

What is the name /type of saw that is used to do this cut?

[@HerrLavett]

Thank you. Makes me feel warm inside.

[@Spartakips]

Excellent quick tip, Paul! Out of curiosity, any recommendations for a reliable and accurate combination square? The two I own are annoyingly prone to wiggling apart and going out of square.

[@Offshoreorganbuilder]

+Max Makes I may be wrong, but I seem to remember noticing that Paul uses a 'Starret.' I have 2 of them (miniature 6" and the 12", like Paul's) and have found them to be convenient to use (i.e. not too heavy) and accurate.

[@Spartakips]

Fantastic, thank you very much!

[@alainthys5516]

merci de nous partager votre savoir

[@pablo24scotland]

As always pleasure to watch :)

[@thefunbot]

you make it look effortless!

[@nikoskaravas903]

!!!!!👍

[@TheDanielsWoodLandShow]

Cool stuff!

[@ikust007]

Always the Master ❤

[@달나라시민]

Thank you! I am a Poor Man.

[@peterbradbury1592]

A really clever idea Paul

[@ClamsAnonymous]

god, this dude is such a G

[@RcFlyer49]

This new shop looks strikingly similar to the old shop! ;)

[@paulsellers7953]

+PiperCub49 This is the old one. We filmed this over a year ago in Wales.

[@timothyzelensky383]

i swear im the worst wood worker to ever live i cant nake anything worth while no matter how hard i try i give up

[@cision5007]

This is why you will always be, in your words, "the worst." A master has failed more times than the novice has tried. A master becomes a master by not "giving up" after failure. Use the tools you have and keep failing.

[@timothyzelensky383]

Iv been trying for a year to build something as simple as a mallet and failed 5 times and went throgh 3 chisels doing it

[@cision5007]

Cattailclan Tim Two options: 1 Figure out what you are doing wrong and try again. 2. Give up. There are literally people with no arms who drive cars with their feet! There is no better high than the one you will feel when you figure it out. If another human can make a thing, then so can you. It is all about learning and figuring out how. It isn't magic. "Do or do not. There is no try" -Yoda

[@timothyzelensky383]

I hope this comment stood for long enough to help.thoughs who felt this way i am a perfectly fine woodworker and pit it here to help others find advice

[@rwhermogenes6554]

Thank you Sir!

[@ДенисФ-ъ3ъ]

Круто придумано, спасибо)

[@keisermick]

You are my god!

[@nathanwooler8047]

That is a nice looking hand saw! What is the brand?

[@paulsellers7953]

+Nathan Wooler Crown, UK. Sold by Woodcraft USA.

[@Oldiesyoungies]

Awesome!

[@moomastico]

second

[@oktcbs12]

how can I make a marking gage. sr.

[@paulsellers7953]

+joe morado I made the one I used there and it is simple enough to make. Feel another video coming on here!

[@oktcbs12]

+Paul Sellers awesome. . thanks sr..

[@joshking3126]

first

[@LucianoRabassa]

nice :-)

[@philrichmond7567]

Can I use 18mm mdf to make the mitre box?

[@gregoryv3147]

You should be able to use anything for the mitre box. Though some materials such as MDF will wear faster than others

[@JanFlycaster]

As always: loved it!