The simple L-shaped jig shown at right will enable you to cut tapers on the band saw. Mark the desired taper on the workpiece and place it on a board with a perfectly square edge, aligning the marked line with the board’s edge. Use the long edge and the end of the workpiece as a straightedge to mark an angled cutting line and the lip on the board. Saw along the cutting line, stopping 2 inches from the end of the cut at the bottom end of the board. Turn the board 90° to cut out the lip. To use the board as a jig, set up the band saw’s rip fence to the right of the blade and hold the jig flush against the fence. Align the edge of the jig’s lip with the saw blade and lock the fence in position. Seat the workpiece against the jig. Turn on the saw and slide the workpiece and the jig together across the table into the blade (right), keeping both hands clear of the cutting edge.
Use the jig shown at left to miter trim on the band saw without angling the miter gauge. Form the jig body by face-gluing two square pieces of %-inch plywood together. Once the adhesive has dried, cut a 45° miter from corner to corner across the body, forming a ledge on which the workpiece will sit. Cut two slots into the face of the body / inch below the angled ledge to accommodate spring clamp jaws. Next, cut the fence from solid stock, notch it for the clamps, and attach it to the jig body so that its top edge extends / inch above the ledge. Screw the jig to the miter gauge and feed the jig into the blade to trim the lower end. To cut a miter, clamp the workpiece face-down on the ledge and flush against the fence, and feed the jig toward with the miter gauge (left)- Be sure to raise the saw’s guide assembly high enough to avoid hitting the jig or workpiece.
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For accurate taper cuts on the table saw, build this jig (inset) from %-inch plywood. Refer to the illustration for suggested dimensions. To assemble the jig, set the saw blade to its maximum cutting height, butt one side of the jig base against the blade and position the rip fence flush against the other side of the base. Lower the blade and mark a cutting line for the taper on the workpiece, then set it on the base, aligning the line with the edge
of the jig base nearest the blade. Holding the workpiece securely, position the guide bar against it, with the lip snugly against the end of the workpiece. Screw the guide bar to the base and press the toggle clamps down to secure the workpiece to the jig. To make the cut, set the blade height and slide the jig and workpiece across the table, making sure that neither hand is in line with the blade (above). (Caution: Blade guard removed for clarity.)
