CUTTING JIGS

From the time you cut rough lumber to length at the start of a project or miter trim to finish it, your power saws and handsaws are likely to be your most – used tools. Although many cutting tasks can be accomplished without them, the jigs shown in this chapter will make these operations easier—particularly when the same cut must be repeated on several workpieces.

With its intersecting arms, a table saw miter jig (page 50) guarantees miter joints that form perfect 90° angles. The tenoning jigs shown on pages 57 and 58 allow you to cut both parts of open mor – tise-and-tenon joints on the table saw.

Some jigs facilitate cutting tasks that are tough to perform freehand. The cir­cle-cutting jigs for the saber saw (page 43) and band saw (page 44) help make quick work of circular tabletops. In tan­dem with your table saw, the raised pan­el jig (page 52) can produce beveled panels for frames.

These jigs will save you time in the shop. An added benefit is that most can be built from scrap wood, making them considerably less costly than store – bought counterparts.

Saber saw circle­cutting jig (page 43)

Attaches to saber saw and pivots around center of workpiece to cut cir­cles; pivot point can be located at any point

Sizing board for crosscuts (jpage 40)

Used with a back – saw for crosscut­ting-, stop block is adjustable

Sand saw circle­cutting jig (page 44)

Adjustable jig for cutting circles on the band saw; jig is damped to saw table and work­piece is screwed to sliding bar and rotated into blade

The crosscut jig shown at left provides a safe and accurate way to cut long, wide, or heavy stock on the table saw. Because it slides in the saw table’s miter slots, this sturdy, adjustable jig makes it easy to hold workpieces square to the blade.