Jigs Part 4
Jigs Part 4
Table Saw Cross Cut Sled, Dado jig attachment, Table Saw Jointing, Sacrificial Fence, Box Joint, Squaring Blocks, and Router Planer Jigs
You might want to make this dedicated crosscut sled if you cut a lot of stock at 90 degrees to the blade. It's far more accurate than using a miter gauge, especially when cutting panels and longer boards. It's also easy to build. And you can add a few conveniences like an adjustable stop block for shorter pieces or toggle clamps for holding your workpiece to the sled. And when you're finished using it, simply take it off the saw and hang it on the wall, out of the way.
Dado jig attachment for the crosscut sled
This dado jig attachment will turn your crosscut sled into a dado sled, allowing you to safely cut dados and rabbets across longer boards like those on bookshelf sides with your table saw. I first came across this idea from an old Shop notes magazine article (#99) from a few years ago. Their version has the fence of the crosscut sled extending past the blade to the right, with the dado attachment sliding under the fence. My version has it's own fence, but otherwise works the same.
This easy to build table saw jointing jig makes it a snap to rip a straight edge on stock that is warped or bowed. Without that one straight edge, it's almost impossible to dimension your stock accurately on the table saw. The table saw jointer jig provides that edge, allowing you to square your workpiece and get on with the job. I normally use a sacrificial fence when I cut rabbets on the table saw with my dado stack. There are a couple of good reasons for this. The dado stack can be recessed into the fence, which makes it easy to cut different width rabbets without always having to readjust the width of the dado head.
A box joint jig is a vital part of equipment in any workshop. Woodworking box joints are box joints that are square interlocking fingers that join two pieces at a right angle. A jig does not only saves time and guarantees precision of your joints, a box jig makes the cutting of the connection an easy task.
Cabinet and Carcass Squaring Blocks
These little jigs can help you keep a box or cabinet square during construction. Have you have ever built a box or cabinet? Then you know how difficult it can be to square it up, and keep it that way while the glue dries. These blocks are simple to make and worth their weight in gold.
How often have you avoided projects that require "thin wood" because you don't have a planer to make it? Almost every plan for a jewelry box or cigar humidor needs 1/4" - 3/8" lumber. Until now, your options were limited. You could plane the lumber yourself or pay extra to have it done for you. This jig will allow you to reduce the thickness of your boards almost as easily as you could with an expensive shop planer. The principal behind the jig is relatively simple; the router is fitted with a straight flute bit and is held at a fixed distance above the workpiece by runners. As the router is moved over the board, it cuts away the surface and reduces the thickness of the board.
