Why not use plywood runners for jigs?

I never thought about using plywood. Maybe the real good stuff- Baltic birch with no voids.

Also, thin plywood may be difficult to get a smooth enough “finish” so as to reduce friction to slide in the miter slot.

Lew

i thought the stability is lost when cut to small pieces.

That’s what I do sometimes. Works fine. A lot of my jigs are one-time use so I make them quick, dirty and cheap.

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

I would think that it might work well to begin with, but the lateral stresses over the long haul woul cause the runner to fall apart.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

I am on Blake’s team for this one.

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

I’ve used Baltic birch for runners with no issues.

-- Betsy - GO BUCKS!

It seems like a good use for leftover plywood pieces, put them to work.

-- -** 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

On a jig that would get 100’s of hours use, I’d go with aluminum. Most things I use plywood or even oak or maple.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

I’m with Dennis, but if you’re just gonna use it a couple times use the scraps.

-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com

I agree with Todd and Dnnis as well. If it’s a jig for cutting miters or say a crosscut sled that you are going to use day in and day out, then it pays to use aluminum or UHMW. But for a single use throw away, scraps “Rule”.

-- Ed Collinge- Edmonds, WA.

I basically agree with the others – if you’re only going to use the jigs once or twice, scraps are fine.

But if you’re going to use it hundreds of times, UHMW will not only last longer, but it will reduce the friction ( which will save you having to put your arm in a cast from the overwork ;-) )

Instead of using aluminum, though, I’d use delrin – it’s a plastic with a lot more rigidity than UHMW and it’s much more slippery – it makes UHMW look like sandpaper as far as slippery goes.

-- surplusdealdude

While you certainly could, I made a giant stack of runners at once out of some leftover cherry. I just planed it to be the perfect fit for my slots, then sliced off a big stack of runners. I only ended up using a few though. There just aren’t that many jigs I’ve needed (yet).