
Jointing a Box Top
Jimmy DiRestaDescription
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.