Having lost faith in router tables, could the sauter lift and Suhner motor combination be the perfect and complete UK solution John Lloyd has been searching for?
In this video series Ron Fox walks you through some basic jigs for use with the router that can drastically increase your productivity. Ron Starts by outlining the use of each jig before showing you how to make them.
Following on from the first part of this new series Ron uses a set of 'shop made straightedges to make accurate cuts during the construction of a hinge jig.
After a few hours of using the new Bosch GKF 600 palm router, I began to think of all sorts of new ways this handy sized palm router could be used. Due to its size and weight it’s ideally suited to single handed use, or at least a combination of being held with one hand while being supported with an appropriate jig. It was an opportunity to explore what sorts of jigs would suit this machine and whether more routing could be done on the…
Making wooden boxes is always a rewarding task. There are so many different ways to make boxes and they all offer a chance to let your imagination do what it’s good at without spending huge amounts on materials. From the simple single compartment box with lift of lid to the ornate finely dovetailed jewelry box; all boxes present their own set of challenges and rewards.
One problem I have encountered on numerous box making projects is…
I like finger joints. I find their symmetry more attractive than through dovetails for the corners of boxes. Admittedly they don’t have the inherent strength of the locking pins and tails of a dovetail, but the castellations give a very long glue line that, with modern adhesives, is more than strong enough for boxes, chests, and carcases. Finger joints can be cut in various ways, including by hand. With a router, it isn’t too…
The mitre is one of woodworking's simplest joints. Being perfectly symmetrical it looks easy to produce, but it’s a joint that is hard to get right and make strong without using unsightly nails or brackets as reinforcement. There are many treatments that can be applied to the humble mitre to increase its strength but not many come close to the elegance of using veneer keys.
Mitre trimming jig
Click here for Part 1 – Making and using a mitre keying jig
Click here to watch a video of the mitre key jig in action
Here is another jig design which is useful for cleaning up the face sides of mitre joints. Again the emphasis is on reducing excess strain while working on the joint. As before this jig design can be scaled up or down according to your needs.
