D. McDaniels wrote:
Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.

You could get a miter saw (the box type with the handsaw) for under
$30. Glue it up, and maybe put some of those corrugated staples on the
back of it for a little extra stability.

That's probably what I'll be doing when I have to do the same thing in
the near future (assuming another, better, idea doesn't show up here!
:-) )

-Nathan

Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.

D. McDaniels wrote:
Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.

why not just glue (with a few brads until the glue dries) the 1x4s to
3/4 (23/32) plywood. The plywood will be on the attic side so edging
isn't necessary. or:
half lap miter
spline the miter joint

The way mine are done is the casing is nailed to the framing of the
port overhanging the hole by about 1/2 inch all the way around. The
plywood then just sits on the overhang. To get up there you just push
the plywood up into the attic and out of the way.

"D. McDaniels" wrote in message
...
Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.


If you're already routing or making a dado to insert the panel into the
frame, then just continue that into the mitered ends and use splines. If
your groove is 1/4" deep, then the spline should be the same thickness as
the panel insert, a tad longer than the length of the miter cut and a tad
under 1/2" in width to allow for glue. Use some spare pieces of the ply
to make the 4 splines. After the glue dries, trim the ends of the
splines.

Bob S.

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 12:53:48 +0000, BobS wrote:



If you're already routing or making a dado to insert the panel into the
frame, then just continue that into the mitered ends and use splines. If
your groove is 1/4" deep, then the spline should be the same thickness as
the panel insert, a tad longer than the length of the miter cut and a tad
under 1/2" in width to allow for glue. Use some spare pieces of the ply
to make the 4 splines. After the glue dries, trim the ends of the
splines.

Bob S.



Bob,

Any chance you have a link to a picture or illustration showing this? I'm
being a bit of a dummy this morning -- can't quite wrap my haed around it.



David

I to was looking at biscuit joiners and decided to go cheap and found
that cheap fitted my purpose better that the biscuit joiner.

I found that I could cut biscuit on my router and router table, using a
slot cutter bit. Using the router for corners is actually easier
because you do you can firmly place the piece on the table and get very
accurate slots. Using two fences one behind locating the slot and the
other in front (45"s)to prevent the piece from flying out, you can cut
the slots faster than with a jointer.

You can get the slot cutter and biscuits at Lee Valley

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...50,43217,43231

for less about 30




D. McDaniels wrote:d

Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.

On Thu, 17 Aug 2006 07:41:25 -0500, "D. McDaniels"
wrote:

Hi All,

I need to make several "door" panels for access ports to the attic.
Basically, I need a 1x4 routed frame with a plywood insert.

What's the best fasteners/method to join boards with a 45 degree miter? I
can't afford a biscuit joiner for this tiny amount of work.

Sure appreciate any suggestions.



Mitered joints are bit trickier to make than other types of corner
joints. You could use a spline where the slots are made with a table
saw. For safety, make a jig that holds the piece securely in place
during the cut. The spline should be cut such that the grain crosses
the miter. If the edges of the panels will not be seen you could use
wood screws near the corners, although that's not my personal choice.