Note: This list contains links to photos of woodworking jigs I have made. Additional information, and in some cases, additional photos can be found on the appropriate page for each tool. These jigs were made, as needed, over a 40 year time span, which explains the large number and different construction techniques. They were made to fit the machines in my shop, often while in the midst of another project, and I do not have measured drawings for any of these jigs.
Jigs vs Fixtures -- what's the difference?
A jig guides the tool to the work, for example, a dovetail jig. A fixture guides the work to the tool, for example, a table saw sled. Most woodworkers make no such distinction and call everything a jig, and so do I.
Table Saw Jigs (from Table Saws page)
- Large Sled which will handle stock 20" from front to back and 2 1/2" thick.
- Medium Sled which will handle stock 13" and 2" respectively.
- Hold downs used with sleds to hold thin stock or large panels
- Small Sled is useful for narrow stock and has only a rear fence.
- T-track allows the use of sliding stops and various hold-downs
- Stock miter gauge improved with sliding stop blocks
- Cross Cut Jig has a zero clearance edge
- Traditional taper jig hinged at rear
- Taper sled is made from 1/2" MDF with toilet T-bolts and fixture knobs
- Taper sled hold downs used to secure stock during cut
- Sled which pivots in center used while making wooden planes
- Pivot sled modified for miter cuts which are set with drafting triangles
- Simple wedge jig was made to cut wooden plane wedge blanks
- Depth Gauge uses old forms ruler to set saw blade height
- Dial indicator and carrier used to check alignment and blade run out
- Outfeed Table supported by the rear rail with round head bolts
- Large Sliding Panel Sled used for cutting large panels
- Work supports are sawhorses with waxed MDF strip or roller bearings
- Box Joint Jig with carrier base to fit table saw or router table
- Panel Jig supports panels in a vertical orientation for rabbet cuts
- Tenon Jig with simple clamp mechanism and carrier which moves in or out
Table Saw Safety Devices (from Shop Safety page)
- Push blocks which hold the stock down as well as pushing it forward
- Small pusher block used when cutting small or thin stock
- Knee operated kill switch mounts between stock switch and mounting bracket
- Zero clearance insert with an aluminum splitter blade used with rip blade
- Zero clearance insert blanks made from UHMW plastic and pecan
- Feather boards used to prevent kick back are held down with T-nuts
- T-nuts and wood strips hold zero clearance blanks while blade is raised
- Stand off block used to prevent kickback of small cutoffs
- Piece of soft pine with a slot in it used when changing blades
Radial Arm Saw Jigs (from Radial Arm page)
- Shop made base with storage constructed to same height as old table saw
- Adjustable Height Roller Stand used to support long stock
- Dust Collection Hood connects to a 4" dust port
- Depth Stop prevents lowering blade too far
- Stop Block clamps to the fence to aid in repetitive cuts
- Miter Jig used for 45 degree miter cuts
Bandsaw Jigs (from Other Saws page)
- Circle Jig used for cutting circles on the bandsaw
- Fence for new 14" BS uses two rails with heavy duty T-track to which a
- T-Square Bracket is clamped and this supports a rip fence, a resaw fence
- for resawing lumber, and a knife edge curved fence
- Bandsaw sled used with fence and support when used to left of blade
- Work supports such as chocks and end points assist in squaring log ends,
- halving the log section, and further trimming
- Overhead trammel point used when cutting cylindrical or cone shaped bowl blanks
- Simple Cross Cut Gauge used for cutting pen blanks
- Crank which slips over tension knob makes changing blades faster and easier
- Brush to clean tires mounted in wheel covers to prevent sawdust build up on tires
Routers and Router Tables (from Routers and Router Tables page)
- New router table sits on top of air filtration unit
- A horizontal joint making jig is used with vertical panel raising bits
- My old router table and fence can also sit on top of 8" table saw
- Router accessories including dovetail jigs, circle jigs, and square offset bases
- Router rest used to park a router without waiting for bit to stop spinning
- Precision fence used to trim hardwood bands on veneer faced sheet goods
Drill Press Jigs (from Drill Press page)
- Table lift with maple extensions is clamped to central support column
- (replaced) counter weight suspended from pulley on the back of the drill
- Accessory tray made from unused column mounted hold down
- Drill Press Table adapts drill press for woodworking operations
- Metal rods facilitate drilling long boards
- Inserts are easily reversed or replaced
- For small bits, 1/4" plywood used for inserts
- A hold down slips over one of two bolt heads on the rear of the fence
- Table often used with 2 axis machinst vise
- Anodized aluminum fence accepts 1/4" bolts which hold
- sliding stop blocks and sliding hold down
- When required, a longer fence segment can be installed
- The fence clamps to the table with fixture knobs
- V-Block centers and holds round stock to be drilled
- Drill bits are stored in a shop made bit caddy or bit carrier
Lathe Jigs (from Lathes page)
- Tool Tray rests on end of lathe bed to hold tools in use
- Power sanding disks made from Roloc grinding disks and disk holders
- Simple passive sander holder is a block of rosewood with 1/4" hole
- Adjustable angle head disk holder with ball bearing in head turned from rosewood
- Scrapers made from very thick old files properly tempered
- Tool Bit Holders used to hold HSS lathe tool bits
- Pyramid point turning tools made from old HSS twist drill shanks
- Round Skew chisel made from 1/2" long shank HSS drill
- Multiple tip hollowing and scraping tool made from baseball bat and steel rod
- Beading scraper made from square shank screwdriver and molding cutters
- Center Hole Drills used to provide chip relief and gauge bowl depth
- Tailstock centering cones fit over revolving cone on live center
- Bowl depth gauge made from scrap of wood and dowel
- Hardwood cylinder with steel point used to center faceplates
- Mandrels made from hardware store all-thread and nuts
- Tapered drive centers and stub tenon jigs turned from old maple rolling pins
- Steady rest used to support thin walled vessels and long pieces to be hollowed out
- Another steady rest made from channel iron, inline skate wheels and threaded rod
- Screw chuck made from Baltic Birch plywood and MDF screws
- Large screw chuck uses commercial screw which can be adjusted for length
- Faceplate system with faceplate chuck holds 3" and 4" faceplates
- Ring collar chuck used when turning off pine glue block on bottom of bowl
- Jam chuck carrier holds items with friction from the inside or with a groove in a disk
- Cup shaped jam chucks tapped with shop made tapping guide to fit faceplate chuck
- Centering plate assists in centering stock and other lathe operations
- Hollow tailstock used with lamp base auger to drill lamp base for cord
Jet Mini Lathe Jigs (from Other Lathes page)
- Semi-mobile stand with lifting levelers
- Screw chucks made for Jet mini lathe
- Faceplate carrier made for Jet mini lathe to hold jam chuck blanks
- Ring collar chuck made for Jet mini lathe uses same rings as above
- Toolpost holder for metal lathe tool post -- described on Other Lathes page
- Independent 4-jaw mini chuck used to hold small square stock
Circular Saw Guides (shown on Other Saws page)
- Zero clearance saw guides used to cut sheet goods to final dimension outside
Chop Saw Station (shown on Other Saws page)
- Chop saw station with fence extension on roll about base
Reciprocating Power Hacksaw (shown on Other Saws page)
- Power Hacksaw uses a counter shaft to drive hacksaw frame on steel bar
Sharpening Guides (from Sharpening page)
- Simple supports assist in sharpening lathe tools
- Fingernail profile grinding jigs used with adapter made for Veritas tool rests
- Bevel gauge made from two protractors used to check included angle of tool bevel
- Sharpening Guides used with Scary Sharp system to sharpen
- chisels, plane irons, and scraper plane irons
- Angle guides made from aluminum are used for setting bevel angles
- 2 x 48" belt sharpener uses cheap lathe head stock and bottom wheel
- to sharpen chisels, gouges,
- plane irons, and even jointer knives
Assembly Aids (from Assembly Aids page)
- Plate joiner more accurate with simple plywood base
- Kreg Jig attached to plywood base and used with bench hooks
- Clamping squares and clamp pads assist in assembling frames
- Through dovetail jigs made using the Stots Dovetail Template
- Hand screws with Jorgensen style double threaded steel rods made from hardware kits
- Hand screws made from hardware store all-thread and T-nuts in a push-pull configuration
Sanding Aids (from Sanding page)
- Random orbit disk guide assists in lining up holes in disk and sander
- Shop made sanding table with pegboard top also used when free hand routing
- Tear guide for PSA roll paper and for standard sheet paper
- Sanding blocks made from two hardwood blocks and a square drive screw
Dust Filtration Unit (described on Dust Control page)
- My dust filtration unit is located in the base of my router table
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