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C-Clamps
Various different sizes.


Jeff Greef Woodworking

To see more Box Plans on this site, go to:
Printed Box Plans or Downloadable Box Plans or Box Plan Books


Finger Joint Jewelry Box

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Here's a jewelry box with a bit of a twist, a shelf that rises with the lid. I designed the shelf and lid this way because a removable shelf seemed clumsy since you have to find somewhere to set it down. Also, this design allowed me to locate the shelf so that it functions as a stop to hold the lid open. Making parts with the right geometry so that the shelf and lid work properly is really not that hard. It helps to have a drill press so that you can accurately locate the pivot holes that suspend the shelf, but you could align the holes by hand and get a working result.

Finger joints require careful attention but are not as difficult as you might think, and are very attractive when used with woods of contrasting colors. I used myrtle and acacia, but black walnut matched with bird's eye maple would be a good combination. Highly figured wood is put to best use in small boxes; it makes a visual jewel out of a container for jewels.




Cut out list- Finger Joint Jewelry Box

2- 1/2 x 3 5/8 x 12 lower front and rear
2- 1/2 x 3 5/8 x 8 lower sides
2- 1/2 x 1 7/8 x 12 lid front and rear
2- 1/2 x 1 7/8 x 8 lid sides
2- 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 11 1/4 top and bottom
2- 1/8 x 1 3/8 x 7 1/4 lower dividers
2- 1/2 x 7/8 x 10 1/2 shelf front and rear
2- 1/2 x 7/8 x 5 1/2 shelf sides
1- 1/8 x 5 1/2 x 10 1/2 shelf bottom
4- 1/8 x 7/8 x 4 3/4 shelf dividers
2- 1/8 x 7/8 x 7 5/8 shelf dividers
1- 1/2 x 2 x 4 1/2 ring insert
2- 1/4 x 1/2 x 1 shelf hinge spacers
2- 1/4 x 3/8 x 3 1/2 levers
Feet, at whatever chosen configuration
1/8" dowels, 1/4" dowels

Resources For Building A Finger Joint Jewelry Box

Lathes |  Clamps |  Drill Bits |  Drill Presses |  Glue |  Miter Gauges |  Routers |  Router Bits |  Router Tables |  Table Saws

The first step on this project, after cutting out all your parts according to the list, is to cut all the finger joints. See the article on this site titled Finger Joints for an explanation of this procedure. Note that you should begin cutting each joint for the outer sides (other than the shelf) on the edge where the lid and lower box meet. By so doing the finger joints at the meeting of box and lid will not have any half-fingers.


Straight Flute Bits
Individual bits in various sizes


Porter Cable 1-3/4 HP Lever Release 690 Router
The PC 690 line routers are standard woodshop workhorses.


Rockler Bench Top Router Table
Mount your router into this economical unit.

Photo 1- To cut grooves in the box sides for the top and bottom, set up on the router table with fence and stops as shown. Lower the part onto the bit, keeping your fingers away from the bit.

For router tables, click here.
For routers, click here.

After the finger joints, cut grooves into the box sides, fronts, and rears for the top and bottom. These grooves must be stopped at the finger joints or else there will be voids visible in the fingers from the outside. Set up on a router table with a fence and stop blocks located at either end of the fence to locate the ends of the grooves as in photos 1 and 2. Put a 3/16" diameter straight flute bit in the router and raise it to 1/8" above the table. Set the fence 1/2" from the outside of the bit. With the part butted against one of the stop blocks slowly drop the part down onto the cutter while holding the part against the fence. Push it along the fence to complete the cut, then lift it away from the cutter. Cut the dadoes for the partitions in the bottom of the box in a similar way. While making these cuts keep your fingers as far from the bit as you can, and never pass your fingers directly over the bit, even though it is covered by wood.

Photo 2- Push the part along the fence until it hits the opposite stop, then lift the part away from the bit, again, with your fingers away from the bit.

For router bits, click here.

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