The RIGHT way to make a Lid for a Wooden Box

[@timtaylorguitarnut]

In 8th grade we took wood shop half the year and metal shop the other half. This is how we made our first project. I think I still have the box 50 years later

[@MrM6d]

I have my footstool and the plans. Always keep hand made.

[@kevenlee6862]

Schools need to bring these classes back

[@malaywastaken]

@@kevenlee6862they still do if they have the budget for a wood shop/metal. My high school had all of that

[@devo1977s]

Need to bring this back, I teach my kids how to use power equipment but there are tons of children out there who don't have a clue how to use a hammer let alone a power drill

[@djones02]

We spent so long learning how to use and sharpen a plane that most people ran out of time to finish their jewellery boxes. I was so mad because the teacher kept my box and no idea what she did with it. I did get some nasty kickback into my stomach when cutting the floor of a box.

[@ironwood1621]

Great idea. I’ve always taped 1/8” shims to keep the lid from closing on the blade. This looks easier.

[@JackmanWorks]

Same! I’ve done both and this is a lot easier/safer IMO

[@pawpawstew]

I hadn't thought of that. Good tip.

[@theSHAD087]

Ukraine sucks

[@amerikanviking]

​@@USinDistress-yf5iyPutting flags on your channel is dumb anyway.

[@potcommitted5355]

I bet you didn't think about how the lid stays in place either. Cause in this video it won't. Suppose to cut dados where the lid will be before glueing the box together, so you can glue in a lip afterwards.

[@USinDistress-yf5iy]

@j.ceasar Supporting Ukraine LOL! You think 600k kia for Nato and weapons manufacturers is supporting Ukraine? Go ahead and believe the government lie 🤡

[@lyfethusfar275]

Are you making caskets

[@MyGarageWorkshop]

Of all the box making videos I have seen no one has ever done this. It such a simple solution. Well done.

[@Overkillutube]

Finally! Perfect instruction and safety! Why can’t more of these pop up more often! Thank you n great job 👏

[@natepenn9112]

This is a good idea, but I think you can also get safe results if you put the larger side of the box between the fence and blade and use a riving knife/or splitter.

[@JackmanWorks]

Not necessarily. A riving knife is definitely preferred (that's why I used one here), and which side of the blade the lid is on is irrelevant in this case since the pieces aren't being completely cut apart. Both of those things will help, but not guarantee you get a perfect cut on the lid, so this is the safe alternative to guarantee a perfect cut.

[@jc-rj1ox]

@@JackmanWorksregardless it’s still good practice to put the larger side next to the fence. The video starts out talking about safety lol

[@JackmanWorks]

@@jc-rj1ox generally speaking, yes, but not in this use case.

[@brasjeanvil4629]

The larger side of the box is less likely to shake/tip...BUT, your hands look steady enough that aint an issue on such a small box. Nice work.

[@natepenn9112]

@@JackmanWorks your method does not produce a "perfect cut" though, see the burn marks? Also you don't cut all the way through the piece. Raise the blade higher to cut through the piece entirely and run the larger part of the box between the fence and blade using a riving knife and that will actually provide a perfect cut that is as 'safe' from kickback as using a table saw can be.

[@OddlyIncredible]

There's a similar approach used for machining metal parts - you leave small tabs behind to connect the part you're cutting out/off from the rest of the material so it won't disconnect during the process and get thrown or grab a bit or whatever. By not cutting completely through the wood on two sides, the lid remains attached to the rest of the box until it's time to safely separate it.

[@crispy9175]

I.... I never knew this... But it's so clear and logical now that i do. Thank you my man. Very educational for me.

[@alistairmills7608]

Nice. Kick-back on a table saw is a WICKED and very dangerous experience. I have seen pieces as long and skinny as a broom handle become giant arrows. Your technique is a most excellent way to avoid kick-back. 🙌🙌🙌

[@mindless7577]

Once at school many years ago someone put his 2 by 3 piece of wood in the wrong side of the milling machine.. it shot out at the other end and left a dent in a steel door where all four sides of the wood were visible😳

[@SergeantExtreme]

Another famous KZbinr actually had an incident (that recently happened too) where a kickback had the piece of wood fly clean through the back wall.

[@nicholasporter20]

​@mindless7577 ..can only imagine that was a creation of chaos in a school shop class.. we learned young..power tools= power shenanigans..yet still too young and dumb to realize the possible penalties..lmao

[@mindless7577]

@@nicholasporter20 so true, a few weeks later i decided to stick my fingers in the machine cutting of two fingers and nearly lost them.. it had no brake and was spinning free when i touched it so my fingers weren’t pulverized ‘just’ cut off. I can tell you that that hurts a little😅

[@professionalSkillionaire]

⁠@@mindless7577Odd how you decided to first tell the story about the other kid putting his piece of wood in the machine backwards. Then later decided to casually mention that you had cut two of your own fingers off using the same machine. I gotta tell ya brotha.. That whole story reeks of made up bullsh!t and lies.

[@ribbitism]

interesting approach. weirdly, i experienced my first ever kick back yesterday. i have a beautiful purple bruise where a 3x2x1 piece got shot at my belly. oof. first time in 40 years, i dont think im doing badly but i may well use this technique at some point in the future!

[@gaiustacitus4242]

A 10mm thick leather apron helps to reduce the injuries from kick backs that impact the body. Just pray you never get hit in the face as the repair can costs thousands of dollars.

[@luvr381]

I instinctively stand with my body not behind the blade, served me well when I first got my saw and a piece of ash shot across the shop and chipped a cinder block.

[@theamaturepro]

I used to do a ton of woodwork and cabinetry and never had an issue. Recently, KZbin has decided I need to rediscover that passion and I've seen tons of videos about kickback safety. I kinda laughed at them at first, but now I realize how incredibly careless I was. I never positioned myself behind a blade though. I've got a belly now, so that might be harder than it used to be. Lol. I tore all the safety crap off my saw when I got it, I don't know if it's still buried under my bench or not, but I'll see if I can get myself to live with and use it when I get my shop set back up this winter. There's some scary stories out there, I'm glad you're ok!

[@TarantuLandoCalcuLingus]

I have two matching scars on my side from a square 12 inch piece of 3/4 plywood! Man it felt like i was shot

[@Mr.Demenius]

@@theamatureprowe’ve all been there! Unfortunately that’s why according to statistics the vast majority of woodworkers that get bad injuries are years to decades into it. Takes a real dummy to run up to a table saw or a jointer and just do whatever. But any of us can get complacent after doing the same thing 1,000x times with no issue. Each time getting more and more confident you can guide it less carefully, or maybe push it through the last bit while turning and reaching for a tool, not checking the angle of your fence or your jig, etc.

[@michaelfred8848]

Not a woodworker and I have never thought of making a box but I really enjoyed watching this process of cutting that lid. I would have done it the hard way 😅

[@lrfiv]

Also, without this tip (or some other preventative) when you cut the very last bit of the final cut it is super easy to have the blade take a chunk out of the corner of the lid, even if it doesn't kick back. Now your lid needs a bunch of work so that it fits without gap. My method involves kerf-thick shims and a couple clamps, but your method (aka my NEW method) is superior. Thanks for the rare short that is actually worthwhile!

[@nurgle-j5n]

You earned my sub man. With a lot of these woodworking youtubers, their info is good - but they get their face right in the camera and scream at you for most of the video for some reason. I like your calm demeanor and that u spent the whole time actually showing the work.

[@JackmanWorks]

What’s funny is that I know exactly which people you’re talking about 😂. There’s a reason I do things differently over here.

[@pauljarrell8162]

That is a very, very good tip. Most stuff on here I don’t find very useful and sometimes I think maybe it’s just because I’m a prude Or maybe I’m just practical? This is actually a very very useful thing. I appreciate it and I will use it for years to come, and I will pass it on. Thank you.

[@bonesrhodes3762]

and the lid always fits - plus, if you line the inside of the box with some thin pieces which are taller than the sides, the lid will be a light pressure fit and virtually airtight - no hinges needed

[@Bokehlisious]

Wow! That's a useful tip! Cutting the last side is always difficult. This will help to make a clean cut! Thnx, mate!

[@2M3TAL4U]

Honestly, the end of the video is pretty plane.

[@nurgle-j5n]

lol

[@frankharris3308]

That's it, you're blocked

[@DissidentPrick]

Good one dad

[@MrDevilstar52]

Father of five children here, can confirm. That was funny.

[@harlicon]

Well done, like your style there 👍

[@jeffminer8499]

An extraordinary amount of extra work run the box against fence and the lid falls onto the table simple easy fast accurate every single time!

[@nealbarker7026]

Finally useful and brilliant tip to actually make a job better and safer, nice

[@dangeary2134]

Interesting, how working different materials stick with us forever. A few years ago, I made a small crate out of wood recovered from a box spring. It was good and solid, so I made a crate for my best friend’s son. I totally forgot about it, and saw it recently. It hadn’t fallen apart, and is still as solid as the day I put it together!

[@loudog9153]

If people used the internet for useful videos like this one, our world would be so much better. Thank you sir.

[@Abenteuerlich77]

Badass! Never thought of that! Beautiful box, by the way.

[@JackmanWorks]

Thanks!

[@PabloEskimofo]

I just tape a shim in at the top when I do the final rip. Keeps the box and lid together with the proper distance from the table saw and prevents the blade from pinching (with the help of the riving knife too)

[@Ohshiitsdatboi]

Thanks for sharing not only the pros but the cons as well.

[@adamulias2315]

SOLID ADVICE!!! Thanks man. 😊👍

[@JackmanWorks]

You bet!

[@BasedBidoof]

something that makes so much sense once you see it done. Thanks for opening my eyes

[@Redact63Lluks]

always will remember this my freshman HS woodshop second project was a box, we used all bandsaw though since we were just starting out.

[@jbratt]

A bandsaw to make this cut is a great method. It is not only safer, it takes out a smaller kerf. 👍

[@NicklasSundberg647]

I used the band saw, worked well. Any wrong in that?

[@JackmanWorks]

I never trust that to give me a perfectly straight cut, no matter how dialed in the saw is. A thin kerf blade in the table saw is preferable IMO.

[@mikeking7470]

Good approach. Will do this for the box I need to make next week.

[@marlonvite4152]

Experience VS knowledge is the difference.... safety and greatness combined

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

👍👌👏 Oh WOW, that's a really, really good information.

[@ViviW1nt3r00]

Thanks! That's really useful info.😊

[@Syeona]

I love safety tips! Please more!

[@alexp7274]

"Pretty aggressive kickback" = "Emergency room with a broken finger, nose and/or skull"

[@davidjennings9907]

That's some pretty slick work young man right on

[@xdeadwrongxdeadwrong7181]

This is an awesome idea 😮 👍

[@Jeff-b7l3y]

I learned something today thank you! Simple solutions=intelligent

[@batican8367]

I was just trying to make a box and it was sketchy and I couldn’t flatten the box to save my life... Thanks for sharing this technique

[@frankwice4864]

What a great idea. I have screwed up several boxes because I didn’t know that trick

[@MachineEarth]

Thanks for sharing your expertise and experience with the rest of us.

[@lafamillecarrington]

I've also seen people use blade-width shims to prevent the top pinching the blade

[@JackmanWorks]

That works too! This has always felt safer to me

[@robertgiggie6366]

I love that cute little brass block plane. Definitely need one.

[@edwinmartinez5075]

That smoothing plane was so satisfying, what is it?

[@JackmanWorks]

That's a custom made plane from Tony at Hillview Tool!

[@ginoasci]

You glued up your insert. Looks good

[@XVRickXV]

Great video. Short and sweet and useful!

[@chrisniemann4012]

Never seen this. Thumbs up for actual safety in a video!

[@Faustustopheles]

I was going to do that to a much bigger box soon. appreciate the advice!

[@williamblanchard3357]

Thanks my friend that was a damn good tip

[@CVMGAM]

Takes me back to my 6 years of High School wood shop class.

[@cowboyfromhelI]

You were in high school for 6 years?

[@hmtrimworks7148]

@@cowboyfromhelIYou mean you weren’t?

[@SaucyOperator]

😂

[@DaltonHBrown]

That is definitely on my list of things to make. I work in maintenance at a university, so I have full access to all the equipment I need. However, work comes first before any personal projects. Also, I'm working on learning how to make picture frames.

[@DosezDaily]

Such a good tip. Thanks for sharing coach🫡

[@riddler3856]

Perfect! Gonna try that!❤🎉

[@DenyTheZeitgeist]

I refuse to use a table saw, but I’m always jealous of how clean the cuts are.

[@kaladin783]

That’s some really solid advice damn

[@qlue7881]

Nice tip I don't have fancy power tools but I'll keep this in mind for when I do

[@SLGJerry]

seen wood get chucked at like 40 mph across a room before, I do believe I'll be using this method.

[@neilparkinson8024]

Yes good tip I usually get saw marks so I will try this instead of current method of wedging to prevent the dreaded pinching thanks

[@dallinhunter7385]

I've got some silver maple drying in the backyard, I've been looking for a good project and have never made a box before, I think I'm going to give this a try.

[@robertmckay694]

I’m a steel guy surrounded on all sides by cabinet makers. Best people you’ll ever meet. This is a smart cabinet maker making smart choices. I however always try to make them look silly. Best part of my day every time. They’re so smart, gotta take them down a rung or two any chance you get. They only get better at their craft and if the ever realize how easy welding is…. You do the math…

[@ashenmoonclash]

Defenitely safer for the operator, box, and lid. I like it and will use this tip!

[@SaucyOperator]

Or just put the larger side of the box against the fence...

[@davidhults2822]

Nice work! Thanks for sharing this awesome imfo

[@bluesman8349]

I always use a spacer that I’ll make but this is a great idea! 💡 ❤ I love seeing how other people do things.

[@f1rstclass366]

Wise Woodworking Wisdom.

[@xavier1964]

Never thought of this, this is real smart!

[@isaackimball6716]

That looks great but how do you get the lid to stay on? Is there a ridge on the inside somewhere?

[@Elsa.zoneNt]

That's not the point. He was making sure that the lid won't go flying and hurt himself when he cut the last side because of the spinning blade kick back and it will also ruin the box. it happens. that's why he said "here's how to do it safely"

[@arielusgrey1855]

This is a really good tip

[@TonkaCabinetMaker]

Nice. Same concept I just use a spindle moulder and don’t go all the way through all round then I cut off the top with my scalpel as I leave about 1mm of material. Easily sands off then. 🤘🏼

[@SaucyOperator]

Scalpel... Scalpel.

[@peterbarlow8912]

A decade or so ago I made a series of dovetailed boxes with captive panels. I still have one I haven’t cut the lid off yet. I had pretty good luck just sawing them off. Even it you bobble a little bit the lid will match up. Someone suggested temporary shims for a clean cut.

[@kevinjustice1765]

You sound like you did voiceover work for Skyrim. It's a compliment...

[@_P0tat07_]

Bandsaw works well too if it’s tuned well enough to compensate for blade drift. And if you have a bandsaw with enough resaw capacity

[@yonderhornet]

Thats a good idea. But I also like the thought of turning my table saw into a motorized ballista

[@geraldmorgan6906]

Remember doing this in shop class back in highschool. We just clamped a shim in the middle of each end before ripping the last side. Easy peasy and no jamming or kickback.

[@SaucyOperator]

Yep yep!

[@donwyates]

I've done a slight variation on this, that worked well for the boxes I made. I noticed my saw blade (ATB I think?) left a high point in the middle of the kerf so i offset the outer cut from the inner to get a slight bump that acts as a "gasket", of sorts. Just a little resistance to the lid going on or coming off. I'd think it would probably work best on smaller boxes w/o hinges. BUT, technique could apply to front edges of box & lid. Obviously, the resistance has to be just right, and a nice wax finish doesn't hurt. No doubt, after hundreds(?) of opening/closing, this feature will not function as well or at all. 🤔 Though, I imagine using lignum vitae would extend the usage. 😊

[@nope2075]

Wow! Thanks for this tip!

[@justininabinette6752]

In the wood shop I work at, we make spacers the width of the saw blade with block handles to allow you to grip the box while maintaining a steady even hold of the box. Great work here though and best of luck!

[@JackmanWorks]

That sounds awesome

[@java21jv]

Nice. You avoided chucking a wooden square across the shop. Osha approves.

[@quentesgreyling6877]

I did hear you say y for the blade hight but realized y when you turned it around. Nice tip

[@LarryTait1]

That’s a smart safe technique

[@Wotsit9000]

My table saw rarely gets uses because I'm so scared of kickback 😅 Great tip!

[@heretoserve5023]

YEAH right! NICE tip! THANK YOU! looking forward to trying that 😊

[@JackmanWorks]

You're welcome!

[@mrbigstufable]

Really good tip!

[@MandMandCandJ]

Could you put the main part of the box toward the fence and have the lid on the cutoff side and make all 4 cuts full thickness? Would that be a risk for kickback? If so, why? Thank you for the information.

[@JackmanWorks]

That definitely reduces the risk of kickback, but not entirely

[@h4rry4x44]

In grade school, we made toolboxes like this. I still have it like 45 years later.

[@NoBonesPressed]

Thanks for this explanation, sir...

[@willtube61]

Great technique!

[@Twizzlahs]

I'll never forget HS shop seeing the table saw kickback. We had literally just used it for the first time. It was horrifying, but hilarious. Nobody was hurt, it was a purposeful demonstration. Our diabolical teacher cackled for a long time.

[@bryancoombesart]

I was looking for this, thanks!

[@sergeykazantsev1]

Thank you. This is an amazing tip.

[@zakspill3064]

I miss having a wood shop type class in highschool. I loved wood working but I haven’t been able so do it since i graduated a couple years ago

[@msmith3537]

Love this tip! I’ve had it go badly…

[@JackmanWorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@thomasholmes7069]

Good tip, i like it!

[@asdf09er]

I needed to see this a month ago! I know for the next one. Good tip.

[@roBLINDhood]

Cool trick. What about using the bandsaw?

[@therealdonchelios]

It would still pinch on one side.

[@JackmanWorks]

You won't get as reliable or straight of a cut and it will take more sanding afterwards, so I still prefer this method

[@G-ro4is]

If you have the bottom of the box against the fence instead of the lid then there would be no kick back right?

[@JackmanWorks]

Not necessarily, that reduces the chance but doesn’t eliminate it.

[@nyogtheeldritchgentleman]

I’m assuming you’re going to add wooden cubes a couple inches tall to the inside corners of the lid to help it stay on?

[@DrLFV]

Fantastic idea

[@MadMax00215]

Always wondered how that was done. Cool!

[@Astronomator]

Great tip! Thank you.

[@JackmanWorks]

Glad it was helpful!

[@kds471]

Nice tip. I always just lived dangerously lol.