The table saw is one of the most versatile tools in the workshop. From cutting plywood to making decorative cuts, they are indispensable for DIYers and professionals alike.
What is a jointer jig?
If you’ve ever tried to cut wood using a table saw or circular saw, then you’ll know that they don’t always produce straight cuts. This is because the blade tends to wander from side to side as it moves along the material. The result is often crooked or uneven edges.
A jointer jig is a device that helps you get perfectly straight cuts every time. It does this by holding the material firmly against the blade, ensuring that it stays flat and steady.
Jointer jigs come in two main types: fixed and adjustable. Fixed jointer jigs are designed to fit only one size of material. Adjustable ones allow you to change their position depending on the thickness of the material.
Building a table saw jointer jig is a pretty straightforward process. In fact, it’s easier than you might think. All you need is a router and a piece of plywood. And once you’ve built one, you can easily replicate it over and over again.
Building a Jointer Jig for Your Table Saw
Step 1: Build the Guide Block
First, build the guide block that holds the fence against the fence. Start by cutting four pieces of 3⁄4″-thick plywood to 12″ long. Next, draw a line at 2″ from both ends of each piece.
Then, mark the center of each end with a dot. Finally, cut out the dots with a compass.
Now, lay the blocks flat on a workbench. Align them so they form a rectangle. Glue them together using wood glue. Let dry overnight.
Step 2: Make the Fence
Now, make the fence. First, cut two pieces of 3⁄8″-diameter dowel rod to 10″. Lay them side by side and slide them onto the guide block. Drill a hole through the middle of each dowel rod.
Next, cut a 7″ long piece of 1⁄2″-wide steel fencing wire. Slide it through each hole.
Attach the fence to the guide block using wood glue. Let the glue dry overnight.
Step 3: Assemble the Joiner Jig
Attach the fence to the guide bar using wood glue. Then, attach the fence to the base using wood glue. Let all the glue dry overnight. Now, assemble the rest of the parts.
First, mount the fence on the guide block. Then, attach the guide bar to the base using wood screws.
Next, attach the fence to both sides of the guide bar using wood screws.
Finally, attach the fence to each end of the guide bar using more wood screws.
You’re done! You’ve just built a jointer jig.
A Video Guide On How To Make A Jointer Jig For A Table Saw?
Types of Jointer Jigs
A jointer jig is an essential tool for creating straight edges on boards. You’ll use it to make two parallel cuts across the width of each board. These cuts create the kerf for the blade of your planer.
Jointer jigs come in different sizes and shapes, depending on what size jointer you have. For example, there are smaller jointer jigs designed specifically for small jointers, and larger jointer jigs designed for large jointers.
There are three main types of jointer jigs:
- A single-cut jointer jig
- A double-cut jointer jigs
- A cross-cut jointer jigs
To make a single-cut jig, first, measure the distance between the blades of your jointer. Then cut the length of wood needed to fit inside the space between the blades. Sand the surface smooth and apply glue to the ends of the strips. When the glue dries, attach the strips together using screws.
Next, set up your jointer and position the jig over the blade. Use your hand to guide the jig into place. The jig must be positioned perfectly perpendicular to the blade. Once the jig is correctly aligned, clamp the jig down firmly.
Finally, run your jointer along the edge of the board. This will remove material from the top and bottom surfaces of the board.
If you don’t own a jointer, you can use this method to make a jig for one. Simply follow these steps:
- Measure the distance between the blades.
- Cut the length of wood needed.
- Sand the surface smooth.
- Apply glue to the ends of each strip.
- Attach the strips together using screws or nails.
Once the glue has dried, clamp the jig in place and run your jointer along its edge.
Start making your own jointer jigs today!
Equipment Tools
Here’s what you need to build a joiner jig:
- A table saw
- A router table
- A drill press
- A miter saw
- A circular saw
- An electric screwdriver
- A hand sander
- A belt sander
- Sandpaper
- Wood glue
- Screws
- Washers
- Nails
- Pliers
- A hammer
- A level
- A tape measure
- A pencil
- A ruler
- A clamp
- A vise
- A woodblock
- A drill bit
Safety tips for making a jointer jig for the table saw
- Use only power tools that are rated at least as powerful as the ones used in your shop.
- Never work alone when using power tools. Always wear safety glasses, hearing protection, long sleeves, pants, and gloves.
- Always keep children away from power tools.
- Keep all sharp objects out of reach of young children.
- Always read and understand the instructions before operating any power tool.
- Make sure that no part of your body touches the moving parts of your machine.
- Do not operate your machine if it is plugged in unless you know how to unplug it safely.
- Do not attempt to repair or modify your machine yourself. If you do so, you could seriously injure yourself.
- Avoid working near overhead lights or other bright light sources. They may cause eye strain or damage to your vision.
- Never leave a powered tool unattended.
- Do not use a power tool without taking proper precautions.
- Keep all cords and cables away from moving parts of your machine and out of the way.
- Never insert anything metal, such as a screwdriver handle, into a slot on your machine. Metal can jam the mechanism.
- Do not use sandpaper on your cutting wheel. It may scratch the teeth.
- Avoid using abrasive materials like emery paper or steel wool. These materials can dull the cutting edges of your blades.
- Never use an oil-based lubricant with a cutting wheel. Oils can clog the wheels’ bearings.
FAQs:
How to Use Your Table Saw Safely?
You might be wondering why we didn’t provide a video tutorial for this project. The reason is that this guide is meant to serve as a complete step-by-step DIY instruction manual, which means there isn’t really a right or wrong way to go about doing things.
If you follow the steps in this guide exactly, then you shouldn’t encounter any problems while building this table saw jig. However, if you want to cut down on construction time, feel free to improvise and come up with your own ideas. With that said, good luck with your new table saw jig!
What does a jointer do to wood?
A jointer smooths and flattens aboard. This allows you to get a perfect edge on both sides of the board.
It has two main functions:
1. Make straight cuts along the length of the board
2. Reduce the thickness of the boards
What kind of material will I need for my table saw jig?
For this project, you’ll need a piece of 1/4″ plywood (or MDF). We recommend that you buy a sheet of 12×12″.You’ll also need a router bit, either a 3/8″ or 5/16″, depending on what size you’d like to make your table saw jig. For this project, we used a Ryobi Router Kit. You can purchase one online here. This kit includes everything you need to build a table saw jig. There are also many other options available.
How much material should I use?
We recommend using a carbide-tipped blade. Carbide-tipped blades are safe and durable. They won’t dull easily and are also easy to sharpen. Apart from that, you should use at least 2 sheets of plywood. And use enough material to cover the entire surface area of the base plate. Last but not least you should also add a little extra underneath the top part of the base to allow for expansion.
Conclusion:
The table saw is a very useful tool, but it also poses some risks. In order to minimize those risks, you should take certain precautions. To help you protect yourself and others around you, we have provided a few simple guidelines. You can find more information about them by reading our article.
