Making Finger Joints using a Radial Arm Saw

Recently I needed to fabricate a replacement tray for a Craftsman tool box that had an unfortunate encounter with car. I decided to make the tray out of oak and wanted strong joints therefore the finger joint was a good choice. Online search revealed that the most common finger joint fabrication techniques used either a table saw or router. The were no references to making the joint with a radial arm saw.

Setting Up the Saw
Making these cuts involves square, accurate end cuts so you will need to use an auxiliary table that raises the work to horizontal center line of the blade. You will need fences to square the cut both perpendicular to and with the blade. I made a slot in the auxiliary table for a speed square that I could adjust for each cut.

Lay Out the Cuts
My tray was to be made from 1/4 inch thick oak so I laid out 1/4 inch finger cuts on both ends the two longer sides. I set the depth of cut at 9/32 inch intending to sand away the overlap once the box was glued. Once the longer sides were cut, I used them to lay out the shorter side cuts, keeping the marks fat to insure a tight fit. Mark each joint for fitting.

Preparing to Cut
I scribed the two sides that had finger joint cuts on the top and bottom of the sides with an Exacto knife to prevent tear out. I also used scrap 1/4 inch plywood under the sides to prevent tear out.

Making the Cuts
Adjust the speed square to carefully position each cut and securely hold the wood to the auxiliary table for each cut.

Fitting each joint
Joints should be snug but not so tight that you squeeze the glue out of the joint. Trim each finger joint as necessary, one at a time, using either the saw or even an Exacto knife.

Gluing Up
Apply a thin coat of glue to every part of the joint then fit the sides together. Less is more when gluing! Clamp modestly to seat the sides together then check corner to corner for square. Adjust as necessary then let it dry. Wipe up any excess glue with a damp wipe.

Conclusion
The radial arm saw can be used as an alternative to the table saw and router for making finger joints. The required fixturing is probably no more complicated for the radial arm saw than either the table saw nor router.

There are finger joint bits for routers that take most of the layout chores out of the fabrication but require a router with a 1/2 inch collet and cost about $100. Fairly pricey for a seldom used joint.

Death of Marriage and Family

The basic building block of society is the family. Monogamous marriage establishes responsibility and obligation between a man and a woman which provides a stable environment to raise children. Marriage and family were the bedrock that Western civilization was built upon. I have watched the institution of marriage and family generally collapse during my lifetime. The result is a society that is coming apart at the seams.

In the past, marriage was a right of passage into adulthood. Young men would learn a trade so they could provide for a woman, marry and start a family. The fear of shame and ostrasization of unmarried young women was an effective method of preventing extramarital sex and the resulting birth of bastard children. Responsibility, obligation and fear of shame bound a man and woman together until death. Children were raised who learned responsibility, obligation and fear of shame. These children would marry, raise families, teach their children and take care of their obligations to their family, parents and communities.

Now, extramarital sex is the right of passage into adulthood. Young men drift between school, intoxication and sex often without acquiring a trade. Young women, girls really, have sex and babies without shame and present themselves to the community for sustenance. There is no shame, no sense of responsibility nor obligation for these young people. Many are incapable of taking care of themselves let alone their children. Too often, child rearing falls upon grandparents, draining them of vitality and resources.

Proto-Bolsheviks in Russia wanted to eliminate marriage in the late 19th century. Apparently they believed that marriage and family were oppressive. Women should mate like some beast of the field and deliver children to the herd to raise. The only responsibility or obligation is to the herd and the only shame is considering oneself to be more than a common beast of the field.

Western civilization seems to be adopting the proto-Bolshevik model. Almost all of the young people that I know are divorced or have children out of wedlock. Most are on state assistance and few have marketable resources. Rather than build a community, these youngsters drain communities. If the West continues down this path, civilization will collapse in just a few generations.