Dovetail Jig Fixture

[X_Digger]

I do a fair amount of box joints and dovetails using my porter cable jig. It's great, but there are a few problems.

Because you have to get down and check the depth of the router bit multiple times during set-up, it can be a pain in the neck if you mount it to a regular height table or workbench. The second problem is all the little bits and bobs that it comes with- storing it away in one place is a mess.

So here's what I did. I designed a box that could be clamped to a work surface that raises up the jig to a more comfortable height, but also provides storage for all the templates, bits, and tools used with the jig.



The box has threaded inserts to accept hand turned walnut knobs for mounting the fixture as well as risers that keep a workpiece square. The tails on the bottom edge accommodate clamps to keep the fixture stable.



With everything tucked away, it's just a box. Rabbets and dados along with screws and glue hold it together.



Here's everything put away. I still need to make either a drawer box or a door for this side, along with some handles to carry it.

[Jesus Malverde]

1. Very Cool...nt

[liberal N proud]

2. Dual purpose

always helpful in the shop

Good job

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. I like this. n/t

[lumberjack_jeff]

4. Speaking of jigs

I built one of these and love it.

[X_Digger]

5. Wow, really? I've seen his stuff, and find it fascinating, but..

I just can't get over the inherent wobbliness of wood.

[lumberjack_jeff]

6. it takes some care to build it right, and cognizance of how wood changes due to weather.

The problem isn't really "wobbliness" but dimensional change. A square block cut in December is a rectangle in August.

I do have a cnc machine so making the gears is trivial.

[X_Digger]

7. *drool* no wonder. :)

I bet you could knock up the box in the OP on a CNC router with baltic birch plywood and box joints in no time. Tab A fits into Slot B, et voila. Heck, you could even do the holes for the threaded inserts at the same time.

(If you can't tell, I'm totally green with envy.)

[bettyellen]

10. Wood skews also? Seriously? I never knew this, it happens in some fabrics when they are framed

improperly or stripe set (tubular knits that are actually spiral knit get split and pulled till stipes are horizontal)

Once I was at a table drinking with tourists from all over the world, explaining what we do for work. As soon as I explained I was a tech specialist in apparel, three people asked simultaneously- "Why do my T-shirt side seams twist?". LOL.

Can you predict which way it will skew?

[lumberjack_jeff]

11. boards shrink a lot perpendicular to growth rings.

It shrinks somewhat tangentially to those rings and very little in length.

[bettyellen]

12. So, it baisically gets skinnier (if it were a tree still) as it dries? Interesting!

I have a very difficult time explaining the fabric skew to some people, but that is more like a rectangle becomes a skewed parallelogram because it used to be one. Going back to its roots, so to speak.

[X_Digger]

13. Yes, you can. Wood expands and contracts seasonally with humidity perpendicular to the grain.

That's why when you attach a table top to a base, you have to account for movement- either a slot allowing the screw to move, or specialized fasteners that can move.

When you do a breadboard edge like this-



You can't just glue the end piece of wood on- the field, the main part of the table, wants to get wider and shrink with humidity, at an angle different than the piece that's perpendicular on the end.

So only the center peg and groove is glued tight- the ones on the end are in an elongated slot to allow movement.

[bettyellen]

14. Fascinating! Thanks for this.

[mopinko]

8. nice.

i bolted mine to an old army footlocker.
only used it to make a couple dozen drawers.

really nice little set up. ergonomics are so important.

[X_Digger]

9. Thanks. Ergonomics was primary, storage was a close second.

My shop is 75% packed, anything I can do to organize better is a bonus.