Wood – How to join two pieces of wood at 90 degrees

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I'm trying to make myself a wooden CNC machine. I haven't started on the woodworking yet, as I'm still planning on the easiest way I can construct the machine (newbie here).

I'm planning to use 1' x 4' wood as the frame for the X-axis, since that's the only material I can get my hands on. How do I connect them together at 90 degrees while maintaining a solid connection? I don't have any fancy tools; at best I can get a hand drill, a jigsaw and some vices.

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This is just the simplified view of the X-axis frame. It's just a normal rectangular frame..

Best Answer

How do I connect [1x4 wood] together at 90 degrees while maintaining a solid connection?

If you can obtain a hand-saw (e.g. tenon-saw/back-saw), some sandpaper and some wood glue, you can make lap-joints. I find they are the easiest way for me to make rigid joints in wood.

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To join wood the other way, for a strong joint I'd try a simple finger joint (box joint)

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at best I can get a hand drill, a jigsaw and some vices

I find jigsaws are a good way to make wobbly uneven cuts in sheets of wood. Maybe that's just me. Chewing through wood with your bare teeth is not much worse. A back-saw and a miter-box might be more useful to you if you can obtain them.

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