Reinforcing miter corners

[Brian Runau]

Building a corner computer desk. Pull out tray for the keyboard is @ 28 x 21 deep with 5/8" sides and undermount guides. I can't fit a domino mortise/tenon through the inside corner of the joint just not enough meat there. Without building another jig....I can only think of adding brads on both sides of each corner so they would be at 90 degrees to each other. No real load on this, so I'm not sure I even need this. Height of the side is 1-1/2.

Thanks.

Brian

[Larry Edgerton]

Finger joint.

[Brian Runau]

Finger joint.

Something like that, but no jig to hold the work at 45 on the table saw, i'm being lazy this morning. Brian

[Maurice Mcmurry]

Using mini biscuits in miters is helpful to me in similar situations.

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Before I had the little Ryobi I used the router table and a big holding block cut at a 45. Tiny biscuits can be made from 1/8 inch plywood from the craft store.

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[Frederick Skelly]

If it’s at the back of the drawer where no one will see it, you could use a small corner block. But that’s pretty much a last resort, half-### solution. I’d try to find a better way.

[Michael Burnside]

A 4mm domino is too big? Seems like a small miter if so. Without pictures splines would be my first choice then.

[Brian Runau]

A 4mm domino is too big? Seems like a small miter if so. Without pictures splines would be my first choice then.

5mm is smallest bit and tenon I have in my shop and is too big. thanks brian

[Brian Runau]

I found a sled hidden in a corner that I made from a previous project. I'll figure out a way to hold the frame at 45 and give it a couple passes over the table saw on each corner and add a couple splines for strength. thanks brian

[Richard Coers]

Add a vertical spline in the joint. All you have to do is place the drawer part flat on the table saw and cut a slot perpendicular to the mitered edge.
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[Michael Burnside]

5mm is smallest bit and tenon I have in my shop and is too big. thanks brian

So go buy a 4mm bit and set of dominos? I mean aren’t we all looking for the next new tool for the next new job?

[Jim Becker]

Add a vertical spline in the joint. All you have to do is place the drawer part flat on the table saw and cut a slot perpendicular to the mitered edge.
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^^ This is an excellent and strong solution that's easy to do, too

[John TenEyck]

Several options. Vertical splines like Richard showed, or horizontal slip splines, or simple dowels from the outside, like this, which are easy to do and look good in some situations.




John

[Warren Lake]

did 175 small boxes past and they were splined corners. Sides were only 1/2" as per past shop that built them. Old guys i knew used splines.

[Michael Burnside]

^^ This is an excellent and strong solution that's easy to do, too

Agreed. I mentioned this as well. Could even use exposed if strength isnt absolutely critical

[Lee Schierer]

A couple of things I have learned about miter joints. When you glue them place glue on both halves of the joint. To make the joint stronger you can add a spline all across the log side of the joint between the two faces as you glue it up. Or, you can make a box spline jig like you would use for putting splines in the corners of a box.box

If you look closely at the joints on this glass topped table I made 15 years ago you can see the splines in the angled joints. None of the joints have failed despite pretty heavy use. I used my tenoning jig to cut the slots for the splines.
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