Jimmy DiResta

Jointing a Box Top

Jimmy DiResta
Sign in or Become A Member to view full video!
Duration:   3  mins

Description

If you’ve ever built a wooden box, you know that getting the four sides to align perfectly along the top is nearly impossible, even with flawless joinery. It’s common to end up with small ridges at the corners where the pieces meet, and if left unaddressed, the box may look poorly constructed. There are several methods to fix this (hand plane, table saw, power sander, etc.), but each introduces its own challenges and risks. The renowned craftsman Jimmy DiResta shares a technique he developed to solve this problem. The steps are simple, and the results are consistent and effective.

Make a sanding sled: Start by using some scrap material to create a sanding sled, attaching sandpaper to it to flush the joints.

Mark the edges of the box: It’s crucial to track where you’ve removed material and which areas remain untouched. Mark the edges with a pencil, using double lines so that you can easily spot any areas still needing work after sanding.

Work the sled across the top of the box: Use slow, deliberate movements to sand down the high spots on the box’s top. Be patient and let the sandpaper do the work—it might seem slow, but the process will go quickly. Continue until all pencil marks are gone. To check your progress, feel the joints rather than relying on visual inspection, as appearances can be misleading.

This technique for flushing a wooden box top offers a simple, reliable way to achieve a perfectly flat top on your next box project.

Get exclusive premium content! Sign up for a membership now!