Love / Hate relationship with finger joints

[statorvane]

Maple- used porter-cable jig- did have to use a hammer to put joints together.

Outstanding. Really exceptional woodwork there!

[ER]

I use dados on a table saw, test on scrap wood, if your joints are too tight add thicker spacers between the blades and chippers until it fits how you want it. I like em snug to where they just need a tap to get them glued. should be able to put them together by hand when dry.

I also like to cut common corners clamped together so they're exactly the same; figure out which piece you want in front and cut the other one clamped to your sled using a spacer so it removes just the corner, then butt it up and over against the indexing "cog" and add your "front " piece so it butts against the side of the index cog. Clamp the two pieces together with smaller clamps and use a large clamp to hold it to the back of the sled, goes pretty quick after that.

I try and glue it all at once, and clamp with ratchet straps. an acid brush helps get the glue in the notches quickly.

I like fingers a little skinnier than the thickness of the wood, usually 1/2" on 3/4" boards.