How do i fix tiny gaps in miter joints when using hand tools?

[MadisonW]

I’ve been trying to make a simple wooden keepsake box, but I keep messing up the miter joints on the corners. No matter how carefully I measure and set my saw, there’s always a tiny gap that throws everything off. Has anyone else struggled with getting these cuts perfect, especially when working with hand tools?

[Gary_G]

Yeah, I tried a simple keepsake box last year and the corners always looked off. Even when I measured twice, there was a tiny gap that drove me nuts. It felt like the wood moved as I cut, or the saw wasn’t tracking right.

[Michael.L]

One time I spent a whole evening re-cutting and chiseling to chase that perfect joint, and by the end I was too tired to trust it. The gaps kept shrinking a bit, then showing up in dry fit again.

[Charles61]

Maybe the real problem isn’t the cuts at all—could the stock be warped or not sitting flat on the bench? I’ve had boxes look square until I glued and the back edge pulled funny.

[Matthew35]

I tried labeling offcuts and making a small jig with a scrap to test fit, and I still saw a sliver. Not sure if I’m chasing the wrong thing or if hand tools just aren’t precise enough for tiny gaps.