Uploaded August 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
The easiest joints to put together can be the most frustrating to hold when it’s time to glue them. Box joints, dovetail? Simple. The edges practically clamp themselves. But edge or miter joints…that’s where the pressure’s on to keep both boards from skating.
That’s where spline joints come in. Spline joints are just as accurate and iron tough as tongue and groove joints, except you don’t need to create a tongue on the mating piece.
The entire thing can be made on the table saw in seconds—by running each part of the joint vertically against the fence.
Use the cut–flip–cut technique to center your slot perfectly on both pieces.
When it’s time to cut the spline, slice a thin strip of stock—anywhere from 1/16" to 1/8". Go thinner if you’re just helping with alignment, thicker if you want real reinforcement. Whatever thickness you choose, just make sure the width is slightly less than the combined slot depth—so it seats fully without bottoming out.
With this joint-within-a-joint, you get better alignment, more glue surface, and zero slippage when the clamps go on. Unlike splines that just skim the tips of a miter, this one adds serious strength where it matters. Honestly? It kind of makes spline jigs feel obsolete.
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
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
The easiest joints to put together can be the most frustrating to hold when it’s time to glue them. Box joints, dovetail? Simple. The edges practically clamp themselves. But edge or miter joints…that’s where the pressure’s on to keep both boards from skating.
That’s where spline joints come in. Spline joints are just as accurate and iron tough as tongue and groove joints, except you don’t need to create a tongue on the mating piece.
The entire thing can be made on the table saw in seconds—by running each part of the joint vertically against the fence.
Use the cut–flip–cut technique to center your slot perfectly on both pieces.
When it’s time to cut the spline, slice a thin strip of stock—anywhere from 1/16" to 1/8". Go thinner if you’re just helping with alignment, thicker if you want real reinforcement. Whatever thickness you choose, just make sure the width is slightly less than the combined slot depth—so it seats fully without bottoming out.
With this joint-within-a-joint, you get better alignment, more glue surface, and zero slippage when the clamps go on. Unlike splines that just skim the tips of a miter, this one adds serious strength where it matters. Honestly? It kind of makes spline jigs feel obsolete.
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
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
