Music Box joint question

[Chris Fairbanks]

Hi, I am working on a Music Box for my Fiance as a wedding gift. I would like to 45 degree miter joint the corners of the box. My question is what is the best bet to use to reinforce the joint. I was thinking a few small biscuits or a spline joint. Any opinions on this? Thanks!

[Joe Jensen]

Hi, I am working on a Music Box for my Fiance as a wedding gift. I would like to 45 degree miter joint the corners of the box. My question is what is the best bet to use to reinforce the joint. I was thinking a few small biscuits or a spline joint. Any opinions on this? Thanks!

I used dovetail splines on the corners. I was very happy with the result. I posted pics in this thread;
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=57041

This pic should show what I mean.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=63786&d=1178082387
...joe

[Art Mann]

I have used both splines and lock miter router bit joints on jewelry boxes. I prefer the lock miter joint, but it is difficult to adjust perfectly. You need a good set of instructions on how to do it and several scrap pieces for trial cuts that are exactly the same thickness.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

How thick is the wood?

I work thin usually a quarter inch and I prefer box joints because of their strength. Thicker wood lets you have more options with joinery. You can do DTs, DT keys, finger (box) joints, lock miter, splines, splines at angles, Etc.. You can even combine joints such as lock miters and splines or DT keys.

Almost universally with a little bit of judicial thought about wood colors and geometry you will get a lovely box irrespective of the join method.