Jigs Part 3
Jigs Part 3
Box Joint, Gluing and Assembly, Clamp Rack, Router, Box Joint, Magnetic Table Saw stop-block, and Band Saw Circle Jig.
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.
Gluing and Assembly Jigs and Helpers
Because many corner clamps fail to provide adequate pressure, you can improve the strength of mitered corners by constructing one or more pairs of the clamping jigs shown at right. Use 4"- 5" lengths of 1/4" plywood cut 3/4" wide. With your table saw miter gauge set to 45°, cut triangular blocks from 3/4" stock.
Where's the best place to hang your clamps? Right where you use them--at the clamping bench. The overhead rack easily holds several dozen small clamps of any type. You can hang your longer bar clamps and pipe clamps directly on the bench itself for convenient, easy access.
No doubt you've seen similar versions of this box joint jig (often called a finger joint jig) in your travels around the internet. It's pretty easy to construct, but many woodworkers have a hard time getting it to work properly without fiddling with it for hours at a time. Some never get it to work at all, and just give up in frustration.
With this simple magnetic stop block, there's no need to fiddle with clamps or bolts, just stick it on the table surface and start cutting. I came across this magnetic table saw stop block made by Ted Raife, editor of Woodsmith Tips and thought it was such a good idea that I wanted to make one just to try it out. Okay, it's not an earth shattering, life changing invention that's going to change the way you do things — but it's this kind of innovative thinking that speeds up many operations in the workshop.
Here's a simple jig to cut circles on a band saw that's quite effective. A slot runner to fit in the miter gauge slot on your band saw table. I use a piece of aluminum 3/4" x 3/8" x 20". A piece of plywood about 12" wide by at least an inch more than half the diameter of the circle you are cutting. Example: 19" for a 36" circle.A nail to act as a pivot point. A stop block to attach to the runner. A small clamp will do.
