Woodworking Jigs That Guide With Precision
The average do-it-yourself homeowner has only had to experience
once cutting or drilling without a jig to know the value of a
good woodworking jig. It makes for a frustrating experience
when holes get drilled too deeply or picture frame moulding
doesn’t square up during the final gluing and nailing stages.
Then, of course, there have been the disastrous routing or
dovetail cuts that just don’t measure up in the end. The
solution to this and any woodworking problem is to have the
right jig available.
Jigs do not need to be fancy or expensive. Often you can create
your own jig for smaller jobs. However, if you are a steady
hobbyist or use woodworking in your profession, it is well
worth investing in a good assortment of jigs. The time savings
alone is worth it, but you will also save countless dollars in
ruined wood.
The Short List of Jigs Long on Performance
If you only have a few basic items to add to your workshop this
year, consider the following short list of must-have jigs.
A dowel jig, for example, allows you to cut dowel holes to
precision diameters and widths. This is ideal in furniture
making where dowels can hold together drawer fronts to the
frame or for inserting tight-fitting legs into tables and
chairs.
Another furniture making jig you must have is the dovetail jig.
Dovetail jigs give drawers the professional touch. If you have
ever looked at a bureau that is at least 50 or more years old,
you will see that the old way of doing things was to dovetail
drawers. These fine pieces of furniture are around today for a
reason! Dovetailing drawers makes them durable and keeps them
functioning for decades, even centuries. Couple your dovetail
jig with a dovetail job, and you can create furniture like the
masters of long ago.
Router jigs can support wood as it passes through the saw
creating the fine, even ornate detailing of truly professional
woodworking projects. The bevelled edges of table tops and
drawer faces are created accurately for each side of the wood
using a router jig.
Kreg – The Leader in Jig Creations
The Kreg jig is a fine example of form meeting function.
The Kreg set usually come with face clamps to support these
precision drill jigs. With the Kreg jig you can drill to
specific depths and hole sizes for perfectly fitting matches.
One trick to use if you don’t have a jig on hand in the middle
of a drilling job is functional, if not fancy. Try taping a
thick band of masking tape around the drill bit at the desired
depth. Then as you are drilling you will be able to see where
to stop putting on the pressure. It works, even though it isn’t
quite as precise! That kind of quick solution is fine if you are
just doing the occasional woodworking job, but for less
frustration (it can be hard to get the gooey tape off the drill
bit) and more precision, professional grade jigs are the only
way to go.
About The Author: Johnathan Bakers repeatedly makes detailed
reports on news related to dovetail jig and dovetail jigs. You
can learn about his articles over at
http://www.insidewoodworking.com/jigs/index.html and many
different sources for woodworking jigs news.
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