A

Shop Tested

Tablesaw Jigs
For example, after you take an evening or two to build the sled on page 6, we predict that youll constantly use the crosscut sled for repetitive cuts. The four-sided tapering jig and splinecutting jig provide you with more specialized techniques. We constructed most of these shop helpers from Baltic birch plywood and hard maple. If you prefer, you can substitute medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for plywood and another dense hardwood for maple. See Sources on page 7 for help in buying the inexpensive hardware items youll need for the jigs in this plan.

sk seasoned woodworkers about the benefits of stocking a shop with a variety of hardworking jigs. Theyll likely tell you that some jigs get used again and again, while others gather dust. We guarantee that these eight jigs will be worth your investment in time and materials.

Thin-Strip Ripping Jig page 2

Four-Sided Tapering Jig page 4

Dead-On 90 Crosscut Sled page 6

Raised-Panel Jig page 8

Corner-Rabbeting Jig page 12

Spline-Cutting Jig page 14

Straight Edge Cutting Jig page 15

Blade Rack page 16

DP-00508a

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tablesaw jigs

ThinStrip Ripping Jig

Heres a safetyminded jig that will make you feel more comfortable ripping tiny pieces.

ometimes you need to rip several thin strips of wood to equal thickness to serve as edging, veneer, or bending stock. Slicing off thin stock on the fence side of the blade, however, could prove unsafe. Thats because it becomes awkward to use your blade guard and pushstick when you cut close to the fence. The solution: Run the wide portion of your workpiece between the fence and blade, cutting the strips on the side of the blade opposite the fence. You could accomplish this by measuring for each cut, but thats tedious and inaccurate. This thin-strip ripping jig does the job safely, accurately, and quickly.

Refer to Sources on page 7 for hardware for this project.

First, build the jig

1 2

Cut a piece of " plywood to the dimensions shown for the base on page 3. Cut a dado on the bottom side of the base for the guide bar, where shown. Now, cut the " dado on the top side of the base for the sliding bar. Cut two pieces of maple to size for the miter-slot guide bar (adjust the dimensions shown if necessary to fit your tablesaws slots) and the sliding

bar. Center the miter-slot guide bar in the bottom dado, and glue it in place. Drill a pair of " holes in the sliding bar, where shown, scrollsaw the material between them, and smooth the inside of the slot with a file. Set the jig in your tablesaws left miter-gauge slot. Place the sliding bar in the dado with its left end flush with the base. Slide the jig forward, and mark the point where a left-leaning sawblade tooth touches the bar. Make a second mark " closer to the base. Remove the bar, and crosscut it at the second mark.

A
To make a cursor, scribe a line across the acrylic indicator with a sharp knife and a square. Color the scribed line with a permanent marker. Wipe off the excess ink with a cloth, leaving a fine line.

B
Size your thin-strip ripping jig to suit your tablesaw, so that a 1" screw in the guide bar can contact the blade. Install a zeroclearance throat plate to prevent the sawn strip from falling into the saw.

C
Remove the jig before making the cut so the workpiece doesnt bind between the rip fence and the screw head. Replace the jig in the slot without making any adjustments to set up the next cut.
8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs 2006

Four-arm knob with " insert

EXPLODED VIEW

#8 x 1" brass F.H. wood screw

" flat washer #8 x " F.H. wood screw " shank hole, countersunk on top " 1" 1"

" slot

1"

INDICATOR

2"

9" Cursor line x 1 x 2" clear acrylic " 2" " dado 1732" deep

SLIDING BAR

1" section of steel rule "

6" " BASE 3" 4" 4" " pilot hole " deep
7 64

" dado " deep

x x 9"

" hole, countersunk on bottom side

" MITER-SLOT GUIDE BAR

-20 x 1" F.H. machine screw

Drill a 7 64" pilot hole in the sliding bar, centered on the end you just cut. Drive a brass screw halfway into the wood. (We used brass to avoid any chance of damaging a tablesaw blade.) Youll turn this screw in or out to finetune your jigs basic zero setting, or to adjust it for a blade of different thickFILENAME:151TablesawJig1.eps ness or with a different tooth set. Date: 6-03 Lorna J. From the bottom side of the assembly, drill and countersink a " hole through the miter-slot guide bar and base for the machine screw that holds the plastic knob. Sand all of the wood parts to 180 grit, and apply three coats of clear finish. Make a mark 1" from the left end of the sliding bar. Cut the first 1" from an inexpensive steel rule, align its left end with the mark, and attach it with epoxy.

Cut a piece of " acrylic to the dimensions shown for the indicator. Drill and countersink the two mounting holes, and scribe and mark a cursor line, as shown in Photo A . Attach the indicator to the base, and add the knob.

5 6

Now, cut some strips

To cut a thin strip with the jig, place its guide bar in the left-hand miter gauge slot on your tablesaw. Loosen the knob, set the cursor to zero (the bottom end of the rule), and retighten the knob. Slide the jig so that the brass screw head is beside the saw blade. Turn the screw in or out with a screwdriver until the head lightly contacts a left-leaning tooth. Pull the jig toward you, loosen the knob, set the cursor

for the desired strip thickness, and retighten the knob. Position your workpiece against the rip fence, and move the fence to bring the left edge of the workpiece against the screw head, as shown in Photo B. Lock the fence, set the jig out of the way, and youre ready to cut a strip, as shown in Photo C. After completing the cut, clean up the workpiece on the jointer. Replace the jig in the slot. Then unlock the rip fence, move it to bring the jointed edge against the screw head, lock the rip fence, remove the jig, and saw another strip. Repeat the process as many times as necessary to produce all of the strips that you need for your project.
Written by Jim Pollock with Jeff Mertz and Kevin Boyle Illustrations: Roxanne LeMoine; Lorna Johnson

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tablesaw jigs

Four-Sided Tapering Jig

Heres a slick way to taper four sides of a table legall with one simple jig.

Y
1 2

ou can taper one side of a table leg without much head-scratching, but tapering all four sides equally presents more of a challenge. With this jig, however, you can cut all four tapers without changing your setup. You simply rotate your workpiece between cuts. Locate the hold-downs to suit the length of your workpiece. (The pivot block can sit at either end of the jig.) If your tablesaw has a 10" blade, you can handle workpieces up to 2" thick. Refer to Sources on page 7 for hardware for this project.

Build the jig

For the base, cut a piece of " plywood to the size shown on Drawing 1, then cut a piece of " hardboard to the same dimensions. Cut " dadoes " deep in one face of the plywood, where dimensioned. Glue the hardboard to the dadoed face with yellow glue. Now, clamp the assembly between two scraps of plywood to ensure even pressure. After the glue dries, remove the clamps, set your dado blade for a "-wide cut, put an auxiliary fence on your miter gauge, and cut a slot through the hardboard, centered over each plywood dado, as shown in Photo A. Cut a piece of maple to 12", then cut two 3" pieces and one 3" piece from this blank for the guide bars. For the hold-down bases, cut a piece of " plywood to 112". Cut a " groove down the center of one face of this plywood, where dimensioned on the drawing. Drill two " holes near opposite ends of

the groove, with each hole centered in the groove and " from the end. Cut a 3" piece from each end to make two hold-down bases. Next, glue one guide bar piece in the groove on each hold-down base. After the glue dries, drill a " hole through each assembly, using the previously drilled holes as guides. Cut a maple blank to 212" to make the pivot block. (We begin with an oversized piece to assure safety during the cutting process.) Cut a rabbet on one end of the blank, where shown on Drawing 1a. Now, drill two holes to form the ends of the adjustment slot, remove the material between the holes with a coping saw or scrollsaw, and clean up the slot with a file. Cut a " groove centered on the

bottom edge of the blank. Next, drill a " hole centered in the groove 2" from the rabbeted end. Glue in the 3" guide bar piece, making it flush with the rabbeted end. After the glue dries, drill a " hole through the blank, using the previously drilled hole as a guide. Trim the blank to 3" in length. Sand and finish the assembly. Assemble the hold-downs as shown. For the pivot block, file or grind one edge of the washer flat, as shown on Drawing 1a, and then assemble the nut, screw, and washer as shown. Adjustable up or down in the slot, this screw serves as an indexing pin. Once set for a particular workpiece, it guarantees that every cut in the sequence is an equal distance from the center of the workpiece.

A
After cutting dadoes in the plywood base, glue the hardboard to the dadoed face. Mount the two outside blades of a dado set in your tablesaw, and cut slots through the hardboard centered over each dado.

B
Diagonal lines on the end of the workpiece locate the hole that fits onto the indexing pin. Draw the cutline for the final shape, and extend the lines to the edges to help you position the workpiece on the jig.
8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs 2006

1 EXPLODED VIEW
1" plastic knob " flat washer HOLD-DOWN " " groove " deep, centered x 3" panhead machine screw Clamp " nylon nut x 1 x 3" plywood x x 3" guide bar " holes " " 12" 11" 20" HOLD-DOWN " " groove " deep, centered

1" plastic knob " flat washer Four-arm knob with " insert

Clamp " flat washer " nylon nut x 1" brass roundhead PIVOT BLOCK machine screw, x 1 x 3" plywood nut, and washer " slot x x 3" guide bar 11" 20"

7"

" groove " " x 3" " deep, holes " centered x 7" 3" x panhead 34" GUIDE BAR machine screw 12" " slots " deep, centered over " dadoes " " 7" 11" " dadoes " deep

" " 7" A 11"B C D E F G N O P Q R S T U 3" V 20" "

x 3" panhead machine screw x 12 x20" 36" hardboard "

BASE

x 12 x 36" plywood

34

34"

1a PIVOT BLOCK
3" " rabbet " deep "

Tap into tapering

To taper a leg, cut your workpiece Ito its deep clockwise (as viewed from the pivotturn " " rabbet " finished length, then rip it to the square ing end), reclamp, and cut. J W " " dimensions that you want for the untaThis jig also serves another purpose, as 2" " X pered section at the upper end. DrawK line a shown in Photo D. When you need to cut a " hole Y2" single taper, mark its start and stop points " on all four faces to mark where the taper 2" " L " Z hole on the end and edge of your workpiece. will begin. Drill a " centering hole " M 2" " deep at the center of the bottom end, and Remove the indexing pin from the end " slot add cut lines to show the final dimenblock, and nest the end of the workpiece in " washer, sions of that end, as shown in Photo B. the notch." slot the marks with the edge Align " " groove filed to allow Draw cut lines on the face connecting of the jig, and clamp. Place your hold-downs x x 3" " deep, nut to engage " washer, the leg-bottom marks " the taperwith against the allow workpiece. Tighten the pivot GUIDE BAR centered the rabbet " groove filed to start marks. This helps x x 3" " deep,block in place, and make the cut. you visualize the nut to engage the rabbet final shape, and serves asGUIDE BAR centered a safety reminder as you push the jig across the saw. Mount the leg-centering hole on the indexing pin. Slide the pivot block until the planned outside face of the leg aligns with the edge of the jig. Turn the knob to lock the pivot block in place. Now, near the upper end of the leg, align the taperstart cutline with the edge of the jig. Slide 3a PIVOT BLOCK the hold-down blocks against the leg, and FILENAME:151TablesawJig2.eps Date: 6-03 tighten the nylon nut on each one to set the Lorna J. FILENAME:151TablesawJig2.eps blocks position. Tighten the top knob on Date: 6-03 each hold-down to clamp the leg in place. Lorna J. Raise the saw blade " above the leg. Butt the jig to the fence, move the fence until the saw blade just clears the left side of the jig, and then make the cut, as C D Hold the taper jig tightly against the The width and adjustability of the taper shown in Photo C. To make each of the tablesaw rip fence as you cut. Before jig allow you to handle a wide range of three remaining cuts, loosen the holdstarting each pass, make certain that angle cuts. Here, with the jig flipped enddown knobs, rotate the leg one-quarter your left hand is well away from the line. for-end, were shaping a simple leg.
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tablesaw jigs

Dead-On 90

Crosscut Sled
When you build this sled, your accuracy and efficiency at the tablesaw will soar.

A
1 2

reliable tablesaw miter gauge handles a lot of crosscutting tasks, but not all. It rides in just one slot, and supports the workpiece on just one side of the blade, allowing for slop. This problem disappears, however, with an accurate crosscut sled. Our design is both inexpensive and simple to build. Plus, it includes reliable, adjustable stops for repeatable cuts. From the moment you put this jig to use at your tablesaw, youll discover that making right-angle cuts is easier and safer.

Build a real workhorse

Select a flat piece of " plywood, and cut the platform to the dimensions shown on Drawing 1. Cut two 330" maple pieces for the fence, and cut a " groove " deep in the face of one piece, where shown on Drawing 1a. Glue the two blanks together, keeping the edges flush and the

groove on the interior of the lamination. After the glue dries, cut a " groove centered on the " groove. Then, cut a rabbet along the front of the bottom edge and a " groove centered along the top edge. From " maple, cut the blade guard sides and end. Glue and screw the end to the sides. Now, screw the blade guard to the fence, where shown on Drawing 1. Cut the front rail from " maple. Use a jigsaw to cut a notch, where shown, for the blade to pass through. Attach the front rail and the fence to the platform with screws. Cut, sand, and finish two top blade guard supports. Using a fine-toothed tablesaw blade, cut a piece of " clear acrylic to size for the blade guard cover. Attach the cover to the supports and the front rail. From " maple stock, cut two strips to serve as miter-slot guide bars. Set your tablesaw rip fence 8" to the right

4 5 6

of the blade, and lower the blade below the tables surface. (Note: Make sure your fence is parallel to the miter gauge slot before proceeding.) Apply double-faced tape to the top of each guide bar, and attach the bars to the platform, as shown in Photos A and B. Remove the assembly from the saw, and permanently attach the bars with screws. Cut a piece for the stopblock, and cut a dado in the back, where shown. Cut a guide bar, and glue it into the dado. Drill a shank hole through the block and bar, where shown. Now, cut a piece of " acrylic plastic to size for the stopblock indicator. See Drawing 1b. Drill, saw, and file smooth the slot, where shown. Make a cursor line, as shown. Remove the top blade guard, sand the jig, and apply three coats of finish. Reattach the blade guard, assemble and install the stopblock, place the crosscut sled on your tablesaw, and make a cut from

A
Two pennies shim the miter-slot guide bars slightly above the tablesaw surface. Place a couple of these stacks in each miter-gauge slot, and set the bars on top.

B
Keeping the right end of the platform against the rip fence, set the sled assembly on the guides. Press down firmly to stick the bars to the platform.

C
Hold the workpiece firmly against the fence as you make a cut. Keep your hands outside the blade guard, and dont cut through its end.
8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs 2006

1 EXPLODED VIEW
#8 x " F.H. wood screw

#8 x " F.H. wood screw TOP BLADE GUARD #8 x " F.H. wood screw

TOP BLADE GUARD " shank hole, countersunk TOP BLADE GUARD

" shank hole, countersunk " shank hole, countersunk

7 64

" pilot hole 30" FRONT RAIL

" pilot hole " 30" 6" 764" pilot hole

7 64

" 6" 2" 6" 2" 7" " x x 16" supports x 18 x 30" plywood 6"

FRONT RAIL FRONT RAIL 1" x 1 x 1" 3" clear acrylic

2" 7"

30"

x 3 x x x 16" clear ac x 3 x 22" supports clear acrylic x 3 x 22" x x 16" clear acrylic supports #8 x 1" F.H. wood screw 6"

8"

x 18 x 30" 1" plywood #8 x 1" x 18 7" 8" F.H. x 30" x 1 x 1" wood screw clear acrylic plywood 1"

3"

A B N C

N O P Q R S T U V W X

O D P Q E F

the rule to set the stopblock 4" from the kerf. Y Mark the center of the stopblock on its top W L X Z end, align the 4" line on the self-adhesive M measuring tape with that mark, and attach Y the tape in the fence groove. Use tin snips to cut off the portion of the groove " deep Z " tape extending beyond the left end of(to fit fence. Place the measuring rule) the indicator on the stopblock, align the cursor with the tapes 4" line, " attach and " the indicator to the block with a screw. "
V K

R G S H T I U J

BLADE 8" " holes #6 x 1" roundhead 3" " hexhead bolt wood screw " holes 1" long #6 x 1" roundhead " hexhead bolt wood screw 1" long " holes 3" 3" 3" " hexhead bolt 3" Four-arm knob 1" long Self-adhesive 3" with " insert 3" Four-arm knob Fence measuring rule 3" Self-adhesive STOPBLOCK with " insert 3" Fence measuring rule STOPBLOCK Four-arm knob 4" Self-adhesive with " insert 1 x 3 x 30" measuring rule x x 18" 3" Fence PLATFORM miter-slot guide bars STOPBLOCK 4" 1 x 3 x 30" x x 18" PLATFORM x 1 x 2" miter-slot guide bars stopblock x x 1" 1 x 3 x 30" x x 18" x 1 x 2" PLATFORM guide bar miter-slot guide bars stopblock x x 1" guide x 1 x 2" bar " dado " deep #8 x 1"stopblock F.H. x from top edge " x 1" wooddeep screw #8 x " F.H. wood screw " dado " guide bar #8 x 1" F.H. " from top edge wood screw #8 x " F.H. wood screw " dado " deep #8 x 1" F.H. " from top edge wood #8 x " F.H. wood screw front edge through the fence. Use a screw x 1 x 1" #6 x 1" roundhead wood clear acrylic screw

6" #8 x 1" F.H. BLADE GUARD wood screw " #8 x 1" F.H. wood screw "

"

1a FENCE SECTION VIEW

" groove " deep (to fit measuring rule) " " groove " deep " (to fit measuring rule) " " " " " 1"

1" 1b INDICATOR DETAIL " x " slot 1" " " " 1" x " slot 1"

x " slot " 1"

"" groove " " deep " If a workpiece fits " deep the fence groove "" rabbet between " " groove and the front rail, you can cut it on your" deep " deep " rabbet " deep " groove " crosscut sled, as shown in Photo C. Use " deep " deep the stopblock to cut multiple pieces" to " rabbet " deep the same length, provided that length falls Sources " within the stopblocks range. Remove the For the jigs on pages 28, we used these Sources: stopblock when cutting pieces that extend Stainless steel rule no. 06K20.06, 1" four-arm plastic beyond that range. When you install a knob no. 00M55.30. Call Lee Valley at 800/871-8158, or FILENAME:151TablesawJig3.eps blade of a different thickness or 6-03 go to leevalley.com. Date: with FILENAME:151TablesawJig3.epsLorna J. to a different tooth set than the one used Hold-down no. 142398 (bolt and knob); selfDate: 6-03 calibrate your stopblock, check the setadhesive rule, Lorna J. FILENAME:151TablesawJig3.eps no. 08Y42. Call Woodcraft at 800/225ting with a rule, and adjust the cursor. Date: 6-03 1153, or go to woodcraft.com. Lorna J.

Now, lets go sledding " groove

"

Score a line on the acrylic with a knife, and color it with a permanent marker. Score a line on the acrylic with a knife, " " color it and groove with a permanent marker. " deep Score a line on the acrylic with a knife, and color it with a permanent marker.

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tablesaw jigs

RaisedPanel Jig
With this one jig, you can build three popular styles of door panels for your next cabinet project.

aised panels have long been a sign of fine craftsmanshipperhaps because they appear difficult to make. But as youll see here, that need not be the case. On page 10, well show you a simple method for using this jig to cut panels with a tablesaw. Combine scrap material with a few hardware items and youll have a jig destined for a lifetime of service. See page 7, for a hardware source for the knobs.

2 3

Start with the basics

Cut two pieces of " MDF to the dimensions in the Materials List to make the upright (A) and base (B). Scrollsaw or bandsaw the 1" radii on the two corners of (B), cutting outside the line. Then sand to the line.

Using your dado blade, cut two " dadoes " deep in the top of the base, where shown on Drawing 1. After adding an auxiliary fence to your saw tablesaw rip fence, cut a rabbet " wide and " deep along the bottom edge of the upright (A), where shown on Drawing 1. Next, drill " holes in the upright (A) and at the ends of the slot locations in the base. Lay out the sides of the slots, and scrollsaw them to shape with a #12 blade. Cut two braces (C), as dimensioned on Drawing 2. Drill " pilot holes, and then glue and screw the jig together using #81" brass screws, where shown. Tip: Use brass screws anytime your jigs screw holes are close to the saw blade.

4 5

8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs

2006

Now, add the extras

Cut the clamping bar (F) to size, and Cut the guide strip (D) to fit your drill " holes, where shown. Lay " slot A miter-gauge slot in depth and width. N out and shape the clamping bar curve, as TrimO piece to 28" long, and drill counthe shown on Drawing 1, using a bandsaw. B 5" tersunk " holes centered on the strip 3" Sand smooth. C fromPeach end. Attach the PARTS VIEW Next, attach the 1" clamping bar to 2 SLED guide strip to the base using the hardware shown. the jig using the hardware shown. D Q 3" Cut the upright stops (E) to size, and Tip: If you have trouble finding extra-long 4" R E drill the hole and counterbore hole, machine screws, cut two pieces of all" hole 1" where shown on Drawing 2. Secure the thread. Then secure the four-arm knobs S 1" F CLAMPING BAR F 1" stops to the ends of upright (A). to the screws using 5-minute epoxy.

2 SLED PARTS VIEW

1 2
G H I J K

3 4

R=1"

5 6

28"

Remove the hardware and the clamping barBand guide strip, and sand all parts to 150 grit. Now apply two coats of BASE finish, sanding between coats11" 180with " dadoes grit abrasive. " deep Cut a piece of adhesive-backed 120-grit sandpaper, and apply it to 3" the jig face, as shown 4" Drawing 1. on Then, reassemble the jig.

T U V

29"

1" " hole 1" 1" 28" B BASE 4"

1 PARTS VIEW
W 1" X F CLAMPING BAR 29"

1"

" " hole

" dadoes " deep

Location of part E on front face

4"

"

Y L R=1" Z M " slot

3 PANEL CUTTING SLED EXPLODED VIEW 3"

" rabbet " deep 11"

A UPRIGHT (Back face shown) Location of 4 x 24" adhesivebacked 120-grit sandpaper on front face 28" "

8"

5" R=1" 1" " slot 3" 4" 5" 1" 2 EXPLODED VIEW

" dadoes " deep28" B BASE " dadoes " deep 3" 4"

11"

7"

C BRACE " 11" E " pilot hole " dado " deep

1" 3" 3" 4" 4" 1" " 4" " dadoesCurve on this edge E Location of part 4" " on front face -20 x 4" F.H. " deep 1" 4 x 24" adhesivemachine screw " " backed 120-grit hole hole sandpaper Four-arm "A 8" UPRIGHT knob 29" 1" (Back faceF shown) 3" #8 1" brass 4" " dadoes Location of part xE Panel 2.eps " FILENAME:164 4" " on of 4 x F.H. wood screw Date: face " rabbet " deep Location front 4-05 adhesive24" 3" Lorna J. " flat washer deep backed 120-grit sandpaper " " Compression on front face hole 1" 28" A spring E 8" " UPRIGHT flat washer (Back face shown) " counterbore " deep with a 3" " " hole centered inside " rabbet Location of 4 x 24" adhesive" -20 knife " deep backed 120-grit sandpaper thread insert slot FINISHED SIZE on front face " rabbet " deep Part T W L 28"Matl. Qty.

#8 x 1" brass F.H. wood screw

A UPRIGHT Four-arm knob B BASE

" pilot hole

Materials List
A B C D E F upright base braces guide strip upright stops clamping bar
" " " " "

" D

28" " holes, countersunk on bottom face

8" 7" " " 1"

28" 28" 11" 28" 8" 29"

MDF MDF MDF M M M

1 1 2 1 2 1

" 11"

3" " -20 x 2" F.H. machine screw

Materials key: MDFmedium-density fiberboard, Mmaple. Supplies: #81", #81" brass flathead wood screws; anel 2.eps -202" (2), -204" flathead machine screws (2); -20 four-arm knobs (4); " flat washers (8); 1" compression springs (2); -20 knife thread insert (2); 4" adhesive-backed 120-grit sandpaper.
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Panel 2.eps

How to Cut

Custom Raised Panels

Cut raised panels with a tablesaw
THREE POPULAR PANEL STYLES
PLAIN-BEVEL PANEL A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

1 PANEL STYLES

For the woodworker who doesnt have a router table or the budget for expensive raised-panel bits, cutting raised panels on the tablesaw is an effective alternative. This method does have one drawback: Youll need to invest time and elbow grease into finish-sanding the panel bevels. To solve the challenge of supporting panels safely while cutting bevels, build the panel-cutting jig shown on page 8.

BACK-CUT PANEL

PROUD PANEL

" frame

" frame

" frame

Prepare the panels

Before cutting the door panels to size, match the wood tones and arrange the grain patterns for best appearance. For example, center the cathedral (inverse V) pattern on narrow, single-board panels. When gluing up wider panels, use pieces cut from the same board for consistent grain and color. Next, decide which style of panel you want. The drawing at right shows three popular styles: a plain-bevel panel, one thats flush with the frame (called a backcut panel), or a proud panel (with the panel raised above the frame). All will give panels a custom look. Glue up the stock needed to make your panel blanks. Then, cut your panels to finished size. Note: To minimize wood movement, we suggest using boards no wider than 5" when gluing up your panels.

" rabbets " deep

" rabbet " deep Shoulder 1" 1" Shoulder

"

"

" " raised panels

PROS contemporary look easy-to-sand bevels CONS no panel detail to catch the eye

PROS shoulder detail catches the eye CONS bevels are a bit more difficult to sand

PROS can decorate shoulder with profile router bits CONS bevels are a bit more difficult to sand

Mark the bevels

Looking at the end of the panel blank, lay out the desired bevel using a sliding bevel square. Also, if your panel needs a tongue and rabbet lay them out, at this time. To cut a raised panel with shoulders (the square lip on the face of the panel), first adjust the tablesaws fence 1" from the blade. Cut a saw kerf " deep (" deep if making proud panels) and 1" from all four edges and ends of the panels face, as shown in Drawing 3. This kerf will determine the shoulder location.

The following set-up procedure assumes that your miter-gauge slot aligns parallel with your saw blade. If not, make that adjustment. With a steel rule, measure the distance from the saw blade to the jigs upright. Move the jig side to side as needed so the distance between the saw blade and the jig is the same as the panels tongue (and rabbet) thickness. When the upright is the correct distance from the blade, and FILENAME:164 Panel1.eps parallel to the blade, tighten down the knobs Date: 4-05 Set up the jig for Lorna J. in the guide strip. Now, adjust the blade smooth, accurate cuts bevel, as shown in the photo page 11, at top. For your jig to function well, it must slide parallel to the saw blade with its upright Lets cut a raised panel at a right angle to the saws tabletop. With Clamp your panel into the jig, exterior either blade or upright out of alignment, face out, and cut the bevels. Panels can be scoring and burning will occur. cut in four passes through the saw. First,
10

cut across the end grain to reduce chip-out. Then cut the bevels on the panel edges. Move through the blade at a consistent speed, slowing down only if the saw strains. Note: If your saw bogs down in the cut, you may need to use a thin-kerf blade or make the cut in successively deeper passes.

Sand the panel bevels

Remove any saw marks with 100-grit sandpaper and a hardwood block. Then finish-sand the bevels with 150- and 220grit sandpaper. Take care when sanding not to remove the ridge at the intersection of the bevels. Stain the panels before you assemble the door.
Written by Pat Lowry Illustrations: Roxanne LeMoine; Lorna Johnson

8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs

2006

5 SHOULDER PANEL

3 PANEL KERFS DEFINE SHOULDERS

1"

1" " saw kerfs " deep Adjust the saw blade angle to match the desired panel angle.

PANEL FACE

4 DETAILING A PANEL 4 DETAILING A PANEL

To adjust the blade to match your bevel, place the panel into the jig with the exterior face out. To adjust the angle and height of the saw blade, sight down the blade, and align it with the layout marks, as shown above. Clamp a test piece into the jig and run it through. Readjust the settings until the angle and bevel thickness are accurate.

Add detail to your raised panels

After raising the panel on your tablesaw, use a " round-nose bit in your router table to detail the square shoulder on the face of the panel. Set the bit 1" from the fence, as shown below. Then rout the detail, starting with the end grain first, followed by the edge grain.
" rabbet " deep " rabbet " deep Waste Waste 1" " round-nose router bit set to " round-nose 1" cut " deep router bit set to cut " deep " round-nose detail

FINISHED CONTOUR FINISHED CONTOUR A " round-nose bit creates a distinct panel.

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tablesaw jigs

CornerRabbeting Jig

Variations on a Theme
Experiment with different combinations of species for frames, keys, and decorative pins, or try some of the looks shown below. Potential key combinations include: 1 Walnut and mahogany keys on mahogany

Dress up mitered picture frames with face keys, and youll open up a world of creative possibilities.

nce you master the precision needed to make tight miter joints, youre ready to explore ways to embellish them with face keys of contrasting woods that break up the predictable appearance of a standard frame. This sophisticated look is simple to create. For starters, you can make both the key stock and corner rabbets on the tablesaw where you cut the miters. For an easy-to-make jig that steadies a mitered frame at the correct angle for cutting corner rabbets on both faces, see the drawing below. The sample frame corners, shown at right, use readily available " stock cut 2" wide.

2 Walnut keys and cherry pins on cherry

EXPLODED VIEW
16"

3 Oak keys and cherry pins on cherry

1"

Backing

11" 11" 90
" shank hole, countersunk 45 support bevels Place lower screws above maximum height of tablesaw blade. #8 x 2" brass F.H. wood screw

4 Cherry keys and maple pins on maple

5 Mahogany keys on maple

Assemble the corner rabbeting jig so the support bevels and the bottom edge of the backing rest flat on your tablesaw. Place the lower pair of screws at least 3" above the lower edge of the backing and base to avoid accidental contact with the tablesaw blade.

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8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs

2006

Lets make a facekeyed miter joint

In preparation, build a corner rabbeting jig using 1" supports and a piece of MDF overlay plywood, " Baltic birch plywood, or MDF. Youll also need assembled frames plus scrapwood frame corners for practice. To make key stock that works with the 2"-wide frame parts shown, resaw a piece of " stock thats 4" wide by roughly 8" long to create two 2"-wide pieces of key stock. The blank can be a single piece of wood or an edge-glued combination of woods. Raise your saw blade to 2" and set your fence to

cut a slot the distance from the face of the blank slightly thicker than your saw kerf will cut in your frames. Use a feather board and pushstick for added control. Flip the piece end for end and cut a second slot, as shown in Photo A, leaving a " bridge in the middle to connect the key stock to the blank. Then, by hand or on a bandsaw, cut the key stock free from the blank.

workpiece corner, as shown page 12, at top. By cutting the rabbet on the frame face pressed tight against the jig, youll minimize tear-out. For keys on both sides of the frame, rotate the workpiece and make a second cut.

Attach the keys

Cut the corner rabbets

Set your tablesaw blade height to 2" for corners on 2"-wide stock. Make test cuts in scrap miters to fine-tune your cutting depth and position. Secure the mitered frame in the jig, and set the fence so the blade will cut a kerf-deep rabbet into the

If necessary after sawing the keys, plane them to just thicker than the depth of your rabbet. Glue and clamp the key stock to the corners on the front, back, or both faces of the frame, as shown in Photo B. Bandsaw the excess key stock from the edges of the frame, as shown in Photo C. Flush-sand the edges and faces of the keys with the edges and faces of the frame.

Pushstick

Bridge

Feather board

B
Before gluing and clamping, plane the face keys to about " thicker than the depth of the key rabbets in the frame stock. Then, glue and clamp.

C
To saw keys flush with the frame, remove excess key stock with a bandsaw. Then, sand the face and edges flush using a random-orbit sander.

To cut the key stock, leave a bridge about " wide between the saw kerfs. Later, you can remove the bridge with a bandsaw or handsaw.

How to further decorate this joint

Face keys alone offer you dozens of wood combinations, but your imagination neednt stop there. Adding dowels or plugs to the keys, as shown at right, gives them even more character. Begin by marking the locations of the plugs on the keys, as shown in Photo D. We placed these " plugs " from the long edge of the key, spacing them 1" apart and equal distances from the shorter edges of the keys. For your plugs, use either the frame wood species or introduce a third species to the joints. These plugs extend through the key and into the frame without emerging through the face on the other side. Orient the grain of the plugs with that of the keys to allow for wood
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movement. Glue and seat the plugs, leaving about " above the surface. Remove the excess with a flush-cutting saw, as shown in Photo E. Finish

by sanding the plugs flush with the frames face.

Written by Bob Wilson

D
Space the plugs an equal distance from the miter joint line. Plug locations can be adjusted to suit your key and frame sizes.

E
When using a flush-cutting saw to remove plug stock above the key, cut parallel to the direction of the key grain.

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tablesaw jigs

SplineCutting Jig
A slight tilt of a saw blade gives your corner splines a whole new look.
16"

EXPLODED VIEW

4"

9"

#8 x 2" F.H. wood screws

11"

90 " shank hole, countersunk on back face 45 bevels

t doesnt take much work to put a new spin on traditional splined miter joints. Just install the splines at an angle, as we did above on a maple-and-walnut letter tray, and you get eye-catching results. First, make the simple spline-cutting jig for your tablesaw shown above. Then, mark three evenly spaced spline locations on a piece of scrap the same width as the tray side. Install a blade in your tablesaw that produces the flattest possible kerf bottom. (We used an outside blade from our dado set.) Tilt the blade to 15, and raise it so it extends about halfway into the mitered corner. Set your jig against the tablesaw rip fence, place your marked scrap in the jig, and adjust the fence to cut a test slot. Now make the other slots, readjusting the fence between cuts. When youre satisfied with the design, place clear packing tape around the workpiece corners to reduce chip-out. Hold the workpiece firmly in the jig, and cut as shown in Photo A. Cut the top slot in each corner, adjust the fence, cut all four middle slots, adjust again, and cut the bottom slots. Remove the tape.
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Rip spline stock from the edge of a board of contrasting stock, as shown in Photo B. Match its thickness to the kerfusually ". Then, cut individual splines from the strips, making them slightly longer than the slots. Spread yellow glue on the splines, slip them into place, and let the glue dry. Trim them off at the surface with a flush-

cutting saw, or use a dovetail saw followed by a chisel. Sand flush. By varying the number and placement of the corner splines, you can come up with other designs. You might try different saw blade angles, too.
Photographs: Hetherington Photography Illustration: Roxanne LeMoine; Lorna Johnson

A
Double-check the orientation of your workpiece before cutting. Here were holding the bottom of the tray to the left, so the slots will point downward.

B
To cut spline stock, use the thin-strip ripping jig (see the how-to details, beginning on page 2) to cut spline stock. Reposition the fence between cuts.
8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs 2006

tablesaw jigs

Straight Edge Cutting Jig

Heres a reliable way to rip straight edges onto ragged-edge boards.

ttempting to rip a straight edge along a board with irregular edges can be dangerous or downright impossible. One solution is to tack a straight board to the irregular board with finishing nails. But unfortunately, this method leaves small nail marks in the top surface of the workpiece. So try this method: Construct a carrier board from " plywood to a width and length to accommodate most of your boards (14"7' works fine in most cases). As shown at right, you can quickly clamp the workpiece to this carrier board, then rip one edge. Remove the workpiece from the carrier board, place the jig aside, and position the just-ripped edge along the fence to straighten the other edge.
Project Design: Thomas Bruzan, Des Plaines, Ill. Illustrations: Lorna Johnson

HOMEMADE HOLD-DOWN

SECTION VI

Hold-down Stock

Plywood carrier

HOMEMADE HOLD-DOWN

SECTION VIEW

Hold-down Stock

Plywood carrier

Fence

Bowed edge Stock Stock hold-down

Wing nut Plywood carrier

Fence

Groove cut for bolt heads

Holes for hold-down adjustment

Bowed edge
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Wing nut Stock Plywood carrier

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tablesaw jigs

Protect-and Serve Blade Rack

Keep your blades sharp, safe, and ready for action with this wall-mounted system.

his accommodating holder keeps saw blades easily accessible, separated, and protected from damage. In addition to storage slots for standard blades, it also makes room for a complete 8" stacked-dado set. Dowel pins provide a place for dado shims, a blade stabilizer, wrenches, and throat plates. The rack handles blades from 7" to 10" in diameter. Start by cutting the 729" back to size. (If you want to store more blades, add 2" to the length for each additional slot.) Now drill the screw and dowel holes. Next, cut the 329" sides. Using double-faced tape, temporarily join them together face-to-face. This lets you lay out and machine both pieces identically. Drill a " hole through both sides to hold the dowels youll add later. Lay out and cut the radiused corners. Mark the locations of the " starter holes for the slots, and then mark the slot locations. Drill the starter holes, and cut the slots using a bandsaw or jigsaw. Cut just inside the lines, and then sand the slots smooth #8 x 1" F.H. wood screw using a piece of " hard7" " shank hole, board wrapped in 100-grit countersunk sandpaper. Also sand off #8 x 3" F.H. wood screw, the sharp points on each centered over a wall stud slot, where shown. 1" 3" To complete the rack, R=" screw the sides to the back, 1" and glue in the dowels. Add a coat of clear fin9" 3" Sand off ish, and mount the holder sharp 60 to the wall by driving 3" points. 2" screws into a stud.
2"

29" BACK

" shank hole, countersunk on back face, " from edge, with a mating " pilot hole in side SIDE 29" " hole " dowel 2" long

" hole

9" 2"

1" SIDE

Note: Back and Sides are made from " birch plywood.

1" 3"

" dowel 1" long

" hole

" dowel 2" long "

3"
Copyright Meredith Corporation 2006 8 Shop Tested Tablesaw Jigs 2006

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