Assembling a finger-joint box

Your package's assembly guide shows the numbered panels, an exploded diagram and the steps for your exact design. This page explains the general method.

Steps

1. Lay out the parts using the numbers in the assembly guide: base, front, back, left and right walls, plus dividers, lid top and lid lip if your design has them.
2. Dry-fit the walls. The front and back walls carry the corner columns; their tabs fill the notches on the left and right walls.
3. Add the base from below so its tabs fill the wall notches. The base corners are open by design — a wall tab sits there.
4. Check squareness with a square or by measuring both diagonals.
5. Glue the joints with wood glue and clamp lightly. Wipe off excess glue.
6. Lid (if chosen): centre the lip under the lid top with the stated clearance and glue it; the lip registers inside the box.
7. Organizer dividers: drop them into the matching slots from above. Glue them only after checking that your items fit.

Fit problems

• Too tight — check the measured thickness; sand the tabs lightly or add joint fit clearance and cut again.
• Too loose — measure your kerf and thickness and regenerate with kerf compensation.