I'm working on a piece for my father - a display case for a hand-built
model train. This is my first "real" woodworking piece (other than
shelves).

I'm working with 1" thick walnut. The case has a solid bottom, front,
and back, with a carrying handle across the top. I'm mitering the joint
between bottom/front and bottom/back - so a 8" long miter across 1" stock.
I'm worried that it won't have enough strength, and so I'd like to put
a spline in along the miter joint. The jigs, etc. that I've seen work with
a miter across the material rather than along it, and I'm trying to figure
out how to cut the groove in the pieces. They're not glued, so can be
cut individually.

I have a tablesaw and a router table. Cutting the groove on the TS would
be straightforward - crank it over to 45 degrees and cut into the side of
the miter. I'm worried about how much the piece would kick, though, since
it seems like that's a really dangerous way to cut wood.

Any advice?

Also... I'm not very familiar with woods other than walnut and oak. For
a contrasting look, would light-colored maple complement well? Any other
suggestions?

Thanks!

Drew Bernat
abernat at zathras dot net