ampage Tube Amps / Music Electronics	For current discussions, please visit Music Electronics Forum.

ampage archive

Vintage threads from the first ten years

Re: begginer finger joints/ picture

:

8/12/2000 7:44 AM

Re: begginer finger joints/ picture

Bruce,
This is how I've built ALL my amps up till now. I used the box joint with a 1"x1" mahogany cleat on the inside and doweled the whole mess together at opposing alernate 90 degree angles. I've never had a problem with strength. Now that I've got the dovetail jig, I'm just going to continue to use it. I like the look of the dovetails and I'm a sucker for Nitrocellulose lacquer finishes.
My leather supplier seems to have vanished too. It was time for a facelift anyway,so I guess this was just the catalyst I needed.

Peter S

8/13/2000 3:31 AM

Dovetailing is superior for sure but sometimes a bit over the top for neophyte homebrew cabinet builders.
Try straight ahead 1/4" to 5/16" box jointer like Jeffery has on his site (he's being shy for some reason) and it's pretty good too.

The good old T&G is simple, pretty strong when backed up with a few fluted dowels punched in and just about anyone can do it if they have a table saw.
I haven't done a hardwood cabinet in quite a while.
The last one was brownface Deluxe amp in a solid dovetailed cherry cabinet (catalized lacquer) and it didn't sound good at all! Ha ha.
Something about the lumber being to hard I guess.

Bruce

8/13/2000 3:29 PM
Peter S	I've tried Cherry too. I've also used Mahogany which does sound really good. The best sounding wood I've found so far is poplar. It's not the prettiest, but it does look good if you stain it. Peter S

8/10/2000 4:27 PM

Re: begginer finger joints

Rich,
I just reread your first post, and can infer from your questions that you're asking for trouble (As Bruce pointed out!)

quote:
"below it says you can do finger joints w/ a table saw, how do you do this? it would be alot easier then haveing to get a jig since im not making many cabs."

If you don't know, don't even think about it. It's not easier, requires jigs, and is DANGEROUS.
I'm not being condescending Rich, but Bruce, Peter and myself have years of woodworking experience, and I would suggest either having these joints made (dovetails) or working with someone that already knows how how to do these thing safely. Dovetail and finger joints (using power tools)aren't beginner projects that can be explained in a couple of paragraphs on Ampage. Get a couple of good woodworking books from the library, and if you choose to continue, get some good help, you wouldn't believe how fast a router goes out of control and does major damage (to you).

I still have ten fingers, and want you to, also

-Eric

8/13/2000 5:24 PM

I saw a very cool tool at: www.woodrat.com, which is a router table/jig designed for finger and dovetail joints, that is absolutely fantastic ! The site pics don't do it justice, the video they sell does. Now the total cost is like a grand (with bits etc.), but when you see what it does, and how well it does it, you'll want one too. I'm contemplating purchase to speed up cabinet production, and maybe reduce production costs as well. Check it out !

Page 3 of 3