Jig Woodworking

Pre-Fabricated Options

While nearly any jig that you can imagine is available in a pre-fabricated version, two of the most popular and useful are the dovetail jig and the tenon jig.  Let’s look at these jigs up close to see what they can offer you.

One great option for a dovetail jigs is the Porter Cable dovetail.  This is a template dovetail jig that is in an immovable template.  This jig can allow you to cut both pin board and tail board with a machined appeal and is easy to use. Another great jig for woodworking is the Leigh D4R dovetail jig - a versatile use jig that allows for variable spacing of tails and pins without the need for adapting the board with and spacing.

As far as tenon jigs go, the Delta Tenon jig for the table saw will allow you to cut tenons with a great level of precision with angels from forty-five to ninety degrees.  The less expensive tenon jig from Rockler also provides a great cut and fits 3/8” x ¾” table saw grooves.

Build Your Own!

While there are many different jigs that you might build yourself in your own shop, one of the most useful is the panel cutting and ripping jig.  Let’s look at how you can build this jig for woodworking easily. This jig is for use on a circular saw, and can allow you to use your circular saw in much the same way that you do a table saw (cutting large panels) or a miter saw (making cross cuts on planks).

• Using melamine or MDF cut a 1’ by 2’ section.  Use a straight edge to cute a 12” long by 2” wide plywood strip.  Using a square, mark a line six inches in from the right end of the 1’ by 2’ section.
• Attach the plywood strip to the board on the left side of the line that you drew – you can use a drill for this part.  Place your circular saw blade against the right side of the plywood strip directly on the pencil line and cut the 1’ by 2’ section, using this plywood strip as an edge.

You’re finished.  To use this woodworking jig for your circular saw, you will:

• Mark the wood stocks that you plan to cut and position the jig on top, lining the edge of the jig with the marks on your stock.  Clamp the jig into place on the left of the edge and cut the stock as you did above.
• You can build this same jig in different sizes to accommodate small boards, panels, or even plywood.