I’m always looking for ways to streamline my woodworking. Thrifty (read cheap) woodworker that I am my preference is to problem solve with shop-made woodworking jigs rather than commercially produced jigs. Here are my three favorite shop-made woodworking jigs for cabinetmaking: Dado Sizer For years I used the T and E method (Trial and Error)…
I recently received a request from a co-worker to supply 30 log slices – about 8″ in diameter and 1-1/2″ thick. Her plan was to use them as a base for candles on the dining tables at her wedding reception. I have to say, the concept went past me until we attended her wedding. The…
Ripping thin strips of wood on a table saw can be a hair-raising activity, and doing so without a sound approach can lead to, well, really bad things. The goal in setting up for ripping strips is to ensure safe operations while maintaining efficiency. The challenge is that there is dangerously little space between the…
The problem – a poorly framed hole. I’m sure most of us have seen or used a router mounted on a pivoting board or arm to cut circles. This past spring I was handed a difficult assignment. Some one needed to mount five, 20″ diameter Tiffany glass circles in the walls of a new restaurant.…
Many times I need to rip some pieces, and may need to rip the same size pieces later, after moving the fence. I came up with the setup in the picture. Just slide the setup jig against the fence, and tighten the knob enough to lock the sliding arm to the piece in the miter…
European hinges must be mounted so their arms are 90 degrees perpendicular to the edge of their door. If they are not, then the hinges will bind and wear excessively over time. I struggled for a long time trying to use a combination square to make the alignment. Then I devised this simple jig. Here’s…
The Leigh D4R and D4R Pro dovetail jigs have received a lot of press as great dovetail jigs. Justifiably so. One complaint users have had is that, until now, half-blind dovetails were cut one board at a time, where other jigs allow the tail and socket boards to be cut at the same time.The new…
The new Router Table Box Joint Jig from Rockler, $79.99, looks easy to use. Once it’s secured on your router table (the table must have a 3/4″ miter slot), an aluminum index key is used for positioning. The right angle backer acts like a miter gauge to guide the material past the router bit. The…