A Place for Jigs at LumberJocks

I like the idea – I’m with you on keeping jigs separate from projects.

If Martin Sojka doesn’t pick this up in the next day or two (which he probably will), send him a PM. Or talk to him whenever you’d like! You’ll find his friendly face on the first “Jocks” page.

edit: Here's the link for him

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Blake, I think you’ve hit on a good idea. Lot of LJs do post jigs in their blog entries (Hail, Niki!), and if the author has tagged the entry with jigs they are cross-referenced in the tags link up top.
But a specific area would make them easier to find and encourage folks who wouldn’t consider their jigs to be project worthy to share them with the rest of us.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Sounds good to me.

Always looking for jigs when I get ready to do something new.

Gary

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Actually, Niki posts his in the forums and, I fear, they get lost. I wish Niki posted his in his Blog. Not as a detractor of the idea, but maybe pointing out something…if the project is tagged with jig, it will be lumped together in a search. Just a thought. Each way requires that the person correctly places the project. Anyway, I am all for better organization of any site, shop, garage, kitchen, desk…whatever. Let’s see what Martin thinks.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

there are getting to be a lot of buttons at the top of the page. You make a really good point about keeping the jigs out of the projects page – especially if someone is trying to use their projects as a way to promote their business.

Are there other ways to separate the jigs and not let them get lost?

what about putting them in the Technical Forum and tagging them with jig – the link to tagged items can be added to the stickies at top of page

or…?

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

The only problem with having it in the forums is you lose the connection to the LJ who created it. With Projects, if you like a project, it is very simple to jump to that LJ’s other projects. In the forums, it is more of a public service announcement, and a little more work to make the connections.

-- Dekker - http://www.WoodworkDetails.com/Blog/MNagy/

I agree Dekker…forums are for discussions. The blog and projects feature should be where personal stuff goes. However.

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

GREAT IDEA!!!!

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

I know that Martin wants to keep the toolbars “simple” and uncluttered. I think he has mentioned this before when a new button was suggested. I’m not saying that he wouldn’t do this, just thinking that there might be options and alternatives -if we put our creative thinking caps on

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Someone suggested a “special tag” or flag or some kind of marker for projects that included detailed plans. Maybe there could be special marker for projects that are jigs?

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Is this site excellent or what! Elegant redundancies and all the content. I forgot about stickies, too. Thanks, Martin

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Heck i been a member 5 months and just the other day figured out the shuffle button…Lol

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

I really believe that for woodworkers, Jigs are a significant enough part of the whole experience to have it’s own category. And we spend so much time inventing, designing, and building them just to complete one task. I would like a place to keep these jigs in an organized way and show them off to other people. But I would also like to be able to my fellow jock’s page and see the jigs that he made. It is so interesting to see which jigs people feel are important and how them make them. I think this concept is justs as interesting and important as projects.

To do a search for “tagged” items is just not the same. You get a jumble of listings in no particular order. You must specify whether you want to look in Forums, Blogs, Projects, etc. You don’t get pictures unless you open them individually. No thumbnails.

And maybe somebody forgot to tag something, or tagged it differently than how you are trying to look it up. Jiigs are anything that you make (or buy) just for the shop to help you make stuff. It could be a homemade disk sander, a mortising jig, or a very simply made marking gauge. What if I want to look at all the tools people have built for themselves? How would I search for that?

“homemade” “home made” “shop made” “shop built” “tools” “machine” “bandsaw circle cutter” “Thingy that I made for my table saw”

If I made a marking gauge like a piece of furniture, out of tiger maple and brass, I might think it was worthy of posting on my projects page. But what if someone came up with an ingenious way to make a great marking gauge out of two scraps. They might not decide to post it in their projects (though they certainly could…) but I would want to know about it. And a blog is not the right format.

I see what you are saying, but I don’t think one more button will kill us. This category is worthy of it’s own place on LJ’s

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Martin already has 8 categories in the forums, maybe he could just add a jig category.

I don’t know how you could get all of the previous jig entries transfered to this category, but maybe someone could figure it out.

That’s my 2 1/2 cents worth !!!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Im all for it. We all know that there are just as many jigs out there as projects if not more.

-- All donations should be made out to me and in the form of wood or tools ~Chris

so what I’m hearing is:

Jigs are a vital tool for woodworkers and are often handmade so the “how to” is a key component

And so, they need their own section in the LJ community
Options:
1) a section specifically for Jigs with a button in the top toolbar (preferred)
2) a forum section specifically for Jigs (next best thing)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That would be a great help to neophytes like me. Searchable by type or function. Even a one time use jig may be of use to someone else who needs to perform the same task.

-- North Texas

What about all of the blog-type entries that are going in the “Projects” section? While I agree that jigs are a different and special type of project, it seems like there is already some confusion about where things should go. Does adding another posting category add to the confusion?

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Peter, No, only make things more organized. If you create a specific place for it it won’t get misplaced with other things. Like adding a new cabinet to your shop. Should the “Projects” section be cluttered with jigs? I don’t think so. But if I post my jigs in the forum or blog section, I feel that they would get lost. They would be difficult to access. You would have to look them up individually, with no thumbnails.

Although we can talk about jigs in a general way, and ask what people have done with them, the jigs themselves are not each “topics” for a blog or forum.

I would really like to see all the jigs people have made and posted. Should I have to ask the question in a forum or blog and wait for replies? If I search for tags I don’t get everything I am looking for and I also get stuff that I don’t want. I should be able to see them as thumbnails all side by side on one page just like “Projects.”

Imagine if we didn’t have a “projects” section. That’s how I feel about “Jigs.” Again, I strongly believe that this is a significant enough component to woodworking that it is worthy of its own section.

On Peter’s topic, if need be, a little education should clear things up for newcomers.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Making a jig, template or/and constructed tooling icon sounds like a good idea to me.

-- ..... art for lifes sake ... danwalters@lumberjocks.com

I like the idea of a jigs catagory. Enough books are written about them that they seem to be important to the woodworking community.

It’s the least we can do to help this community along.

It would also be nice for us to be able to change a posting that we might have made in one category and move it to another.

I don’t know if Martin has the data in one big library or in smaller libraries. These items could just be pointers to where the actual data is stored.

-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com

I love Karson’s idea!

The ability to move postings to a more appropriate location would be the logical next step. That way, if you see something that seems to be in the wrong place, you could ask the jock if they wouldn’t mind moving it. That would really help organize the site. (Not sure how easy that would be, though.)

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

OK, again not sure how this whole database is set up, but maybe instead of moving them he could set up some kind of thumbnail page(s) which are pointers into the original posts. Maybe a section with only one button to enter, and then maybe like 10 categories to pick from:

Jigs – Homemade Tools
Boxes
House Projects
Turnings
Furniture
Crafts
Etc, etc

So a poster could link over to that thumbnail section. When a viewer clicked on the thumbnail, it would send you to the original post. Nothing would have to move.

There is a possible problem with offsite pictures and the speed that a thumbnail page could be built……

Then again, it is probably easier said than done.
Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Well, there is obviously positive interest in this. It’s been a good discussion. Thanks for bringing it up, Blake! It might spawn into a Tutorials Section maybe? Building and using the jig. Rather than just posting the completed project, more of a howto cut or do this, using this jig…construction and demonstration….part of the Lumberjocks Cyber Skill Share….hmmmmm

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

I’m for the jigs category button at the top, possibly crossed referenced to the type of tool. Band saw, table saw, router etc.
God bless

-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia

Tags would still be useful in this regard. For example, to narrow it down:

“search for items tagged with table saw in “Jigs.”

Just like you would “search for items tagged with box in “Projects.”

If we just add a “Jigs” area with the identical format to “Projects” all these other issues will fall into place.

Not to mention the fact that once posted as a Jig, you can always describe how you made it, how you use it, or add other photos of the process in it’s own thread. (Just like with “Projects”).

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Yeah I think this is a pretty good idea. I think jigs are an entity unto themselves.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Blake – I’m not saying I don’t like the idea – in fact I do – I’m just playing devil’s advocate. I think if you weigh the possible problems first, you can decide if they are worth it, or if they are really problems at all. If you don’t look for the possible problems, then you are surprised when they occur. If we explore the pros and cons, then it might (hopefully) help Martin make his decision. I just wanted to point out that posts aren’t always going in the correct spot as it is, and this would be one more spot for posts to go!

The other thing I’m thinking about is that there are some projects that aren’t really jigs, but they aren’t show pieces either, more like shop projects or tools. Would the location for those be user’s choice?

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Yes, of course, Peter…

I am just trying to stir the pot as well. You don’t have to defend or explain. I am glad someone is bouncing the ideas back at me. I just want to get as much input as possible. Doesn’t matter if you agree with me or not. No problem, and good points. Without a good argument/conversation, what have you, where would we get?

I thought maybe it would be up to the jock to decide if something in the “grey” area would be a jig or a project. Is that shop-made hand plane a show piece or a workhorse? That’s gotta be up to you. Or maybe we could rename the category to be all inclusive of stuff made just for the shop?

Thank you, everyone, for your comments. Please check back and keep them coming until we resolve the issue.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

By the way, I apologize if I sound grumpy or defensive. I have been home sick all day with a nasty stomach flue. Nothing to do but sit in front of a screen. Hence all of the posts.

A whole day off and I don’t even feel like woodworking! :(

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

You stayed home from work, and actually stayed in the house!? You must really feel miserable! I hope you kick it soon!

My last “real” job involved a lot of email communication, and a lot of the people in the company looked for reasons to take offense. So I’m always worried that people will take my comments or discussion as “fightin’ words”. It’s nice to be able to toss ideas around without anyone getting bent out of shape.

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

Absolutely.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

The problem as i see it is the intimidation factor of too complex a site navigation. I know when i run up on a new site and it strikes me as too much effort to figure out what the hell is going on, i generally lose interest and move on.

This site strikes me as the kind of place where a guy or gal spending 4 hours a weekend at woodworking, and about half that amount of internet surfing on the subject, might find a simple welcoming place to come learn something.

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""

And what about peoples ideas like building homemade shopsanders or dustcollectors stuff like that? Is that going in there? mike

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

-Jockmike2, a lot of people have been asking about those items which would be in the gray area as far as where to post them.

Here’s one idea: Maybe it would work well if we define a “Jig” as anything made exclusively for the shop, then it would be clear where stuff like that goes. But I am totally open to any ideas regarding that concept.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

-Miles, Good points and thank you for commenting!

For those who haven’t posted an opinion yet, please keep letting us know how you feel so we can have enough information to make a decision.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

and there will always be people posting things in “wrong” places….

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Right on Debbie!!

We’ll still be getting hanging chad’s the same as Election ballots. LOL

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

TrueDat, Deb.

In fact, I am actually still unclear on the difference between a post in the “Forum” area as opposed to just a “blog.”

Maybe someone should create a very well written blog which answers questions like this for new Jocks. Then when we welcome them into the club we could post a link to that blog? Also, they could always post questions on that thread and anybody could answer their question. Eventually there will be so many questions answered that any questions people have would have been answered in the thread and they won’t even have to ask.

I would propose that we treat the issue of postings in the wrong place as a separate issue from this “Jigs” issue. I hear what people are saying but in my opinion the difference between “Jigs” and “Projects” is clear.

But keep posting other opinions!!!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

when people sign up they get directed to the about us and the help files which explain the differences..
also when you post something a brief definition appears as well.

you’ve sold me on the “jigs”...
now we just have to find a way for it to fit into the site – effectively

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

http://lumberjocks.com/help/posting-content

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

How did I miss those help files? Oh well, I know where to find them now. Thanks!

Hey, I just checked out that link… Perfect! Exactly as I imagined it and described it!

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

you probably signed up before the Welcome letter was started :)

that and they say that men don’t like reading instructions .. lol ;)
teasing

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

That could be true, Debbie.

I’d like to get input from a few more Jocks if you all don’t mind posting, Please!

And thanks again everybody for your comments. I really appreciate it.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.theeasellife.com

Blake you got a good one going here. Hope we get the jig/shop aids section going.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

O.K. folks, I’ll take a stab at the idea.
Most of the projects of any depth at all involve some sort of jig.
At least that has been my experiience.
So for me the jigs become part of the “project”.

While I could post all my “projects” under the “Blog” section. They are not really part and parcel of a “personal Log”
I can see where jigs can be used fro several different projects and from that perspective could be filed separately.
There is of course, the meta keys ( keywords) and a pretty good search engine in here already so I am not sure if we are not convoluting a problem that may not exist.

I can manage either way but I remember joining here a few months ago and being quite overwhelmed with all the new bells and whistles.
I wonder if this dosen’t intimidate the less adept cyber-woodies?

Cheers
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

When you post to a Forum, you add keywords, but there is also a drop-down to select a forum topic. Could there be something like that for adding projects? Then when you went to the projects page, it could be like the forum page where recent entries in all categories are displayed, plus there are links to the individual categories if you only want to see those entries.

-- Coffee is best with a fine layer of sawdust on top. -- http://www.north40custom.com

What a great community! As a newcomer to both the Lumberjocks and the internet, I have found the site easy
to navigate and I feel that a Jig section like the project section would be a great asset to all of us. I agree that they should be separate from Projects. I don’t think it would clutter up the site at all. As far as how to do it, ya’ll know better than I.
Thanks for letting me put in my two cents.

-- http://dustynewt.com

Aye, for the jigs button. Great Idea.

-- http://dustynewt.com

Since i love jigs and fixtures, i naturally agree with this “GREAT” idea. If it is doable within the frame work of the site I am in favor.

-- Brad,--"The way to eat an eliphant is one bite at a time"

DITO!

-- Abe Low, Fine furniture, Sacramento, CA