Mitering Decorative Strips of Wood

A little jig called a miter block is used to make tight butt or miter joints between decorative wood strips. This problem is particularly difficult when the wood is white. The miter block is a square of metal or dense hardwood, 2 in. by 2 in. by 6 in., with opposite faces parallel and all four faces square.

The block is placed on a flat base, and the decorative strip, rough-trimmed and marked for length, is placed against the block's side and the base. The strip is held securely in place with a straight caul. The left hand holds both block and caul, and the right hand holds a small, straight sanding stick against the end of the guide. The stick is worked to and fro, sanding the end of the strip until it is flush with the block's end and the length mark is reached.

Sandpaper glued to the caul grabs the strip, allowing the left hand to feed it into the moving sanding stick. The process is complicated to describe but easy to carry out. By changing the orientation of the block, both inside and outside miters can be obtained. The block can be used for pearl, ivory, and other inlay materials as well.

Miter Block Design

The miter block itself is a simple design. It is a square of metal or dense hardwood, 2 in. by 2 in. by 6 in., with opposite faces parallel and all four faces square. One end of the block is cut at 90° and the other at 45°. This allows the block to be used for both inside and outside miters.

Using the Miter Block

To use the miter block, the decorative strip is placed against the block's side and the base, and held securely in place with a straight caul. The left hand holds both block and caul, and the right hand holds a small, straight sanding stick against the end of the guide. The stick is worked to and fro, sanding the end of the strip until it is flush with the block's end and the length mark is reached.

Recommended Products

Fine Woodworking recommends the following products for use with the miter block: