Custom Miter Box

For large projects a miter box or miter saw is good enough, but for small projects, you may want to make your own custom miter box. This instructable shows how to make such a miter box and is intended to be used for one-off projects. The miter box pictured was used to cut 1/4" wide brass strips with a hack saw. For this, you will need:

• Base: A piece of wood as a foundation for the miter box.
• Guides: Two long pieces of wood as sides for the miter box.
• Glue: Wood glue.
• Saw: Hacksaw blade.
• Alignment: Miscellaneous square pieces of wood for alignment.

You may want to plane the pieces before you glue for better accuracy.

In this step, glue the other sides of the miter box to the foundation. Use other pieces of wood to align:

• Glue one side, align to edge of the box's foundation.
• Wipe excess glue.
• Place work piece (what you'll cut) into the miter box.
• Glue down the other side of the miter box, with work piece in the middle.
• Remove work piece.
• Wipe excess glue.

Use additional pieces of wood to align a saw blade to the miter box and make a groove for the blade.