Uploaded February 2025 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
There’s an old apprentice joke that goes like this:“Hey, can you grab me the board stretcher?”The new greenhorn searches everywhere, only to get laughs—because it doesn’t exist.
Or does it?
Because if you take a biscuit jointer, cut a slot at the end of a board, and attach another board… haven’t you just stretched it? Technically, yes! Well, kind of. You wouldn’t want to put any weight on the center of the joint.
But Hermann Steiner, the creator of the biscuit joint, proved that biscuits can handle an astonishing amount of pulling force—almost half a ton before failure.
Let's forget about “stretching boards” and instead focus on miter joints. We'll first cut our miters...and no, you’re not limited to 90-degree angles.
Press the boards together on the workbench and draw a centerline.
Now, press the inside faces together and clamp them in place. Without the fence, position the first board and make the cut. Flip it, then cut the second piece on the opposite side.If your stock is too thin...that's okay, we'll cut a thicker piece of wood, like a 2x4, at the same angle, which will slide above your target pieces.
This might not make your boards longer, but it creates a strong joint that beats a butt joint every time.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
There’s an old apprentice joke that goes like this:“Hey, can you grab me the board stretcher?”The new greenhorn searches everywhere, only to get laughs—because it doesn’t exist.
Or does it?
Because if you take a biscuit jointer, cut a slot at the end of a board, and attach another board… haven’t you just stretched it? Technically, yes! Well, kind of. You wouldn’t want to put any weight on the center of the joint.
But Hermann Steiner, the creator of the biscuit joint, proved that biscuits can handle an astonishing amount of pulling force—almost half a ton before failure.
Let's forget about “stretching boards” and instead focus on miter joints. We'll first cut our miters...and no, you’re not limited to 90-degree angles.
Press the boards together on the workbench and draw a centerline.
Now, press the inside faces together and clamp them in place. Without the fence, position the first board and make the cut. Flip it, then cut the second piece on the opposite side.If your stock is too thin...that's okay, we'll cut a thicker piece of wood, like a 2x4, at the same angle, which will slide above your target pieces.
This might not make your boards longer, but it creates a strong joint that beats a butt joint every time.
Check out my other channel! → @makethingswithrob
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
William L McNally
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Les N.
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
