Using the Finger Joint Bit

www.woodcademy.com
Finger Joint bits were designed to securely join boards end to end, but they can do so much more than that!
Rockler and Infinity Tools both sent me their version of this bit to make this video, so many thanks to them.
Using these affiliate links will help keep this channel free:
Infinity Tools #61-500 on Amazon: amzn.to/3JuRenJ
Rockler #22617 on Amazon: amzn.to/3sLSiwX

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Pretty interesting! Loved the woodturning application

[@Woodcademy]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. I agree, the turning application has some cool possibilities.

[@Yannis2022]

Could this finger-joining method be used to make longer stock from short scrap bits, or will the board be much weaker than a board in one piece? In that case, it would also be possible to quickly saw off knots in panels to make finger-joined boards free of knots.

[@Woodcademy]

Yannis, that is EXACTLY what this bit was designed to do. The finger joint is stronger than the wood stock alone if properly made. I show a small board glue up using the finger joints, but long stock is fully doable.
If you look at stain grade moldings (unprimed) you will see that they are often finger jointed together from shorter stock.

[@mehdimaaroufi3240]

Hi mister Ralph Bagnall thanks for the video. Do you have to cut the last teeth of each piece after you cut it with the fixed bit? I have a fix on and I'm not able to set it up on order to make the 2 pieces to fit only by flipping one of the 2. Am I doing something wrong?

[@Woodcademy]

Mehdi, it can be a bit of a challenge to set up the bit because the teeth are staggered. The teeth are made 5/32” apart, so most often you will not be cutting the entire tooth on top or bottom. But the top and bottom cut must be the same. I always recommend preparing some extra stock in the same size needed so you can make test cuts to set up.

[@btrswt35]

Any opinions on how this might work with plywood?

[@Woodcademy]

David, I have not tried it in plywood. I suspect it would be ok if you used good quality plywood and a tight backer to prevent tear out. The ply would need to be at least 11 layers I suspect. If you do try it, I would love to find out how it works.