Shaper Blog

The frame and panel box lid is a masterclass in elegance and wood movement. In this Session, we’re breaking down the joinery that makes these lids iconic. We’ll walk through cutting precise bridle joints for a rock-solid frame and milling the internal grooves for a perfectly floated panel. We’ll cover how to use Origin to dial in a "piston fit" and share tips for maintaining those clean, delicate proportions.

Sliding dovetails are a great way to add strength and a clean mechanical connection to a project. In this Session, we'll walk through how to design a tapered sliding dovetail and get a smooth, reliable fit without a lot of guesswork. We'll cover layout, cutting the joint with Origin, and a few simple tweaks that make the pieces slide together just right.

This week on Sessions, we walk through the core construction of a classic side table inspired by Erik Curtis. From the skirt and legs to the tabletop, we focus on clean joinery, smart layout, and the small details that make a simple piece feel refined.