Tapering Jig (on the cheap)

Great Jig! Thanks!!

But better yet is the tip about the source for hold down clamps. I just bought 2 from Woodcraft. Costs almost 3 times that amount with shipping. Harbor Freight here I come!!

Lew

Ya know Lew, Lots of people here don’t care for H.F. saying everything there is junk, when in reality, there are some decent things there. These clamps are very comparable to any other ones I’ve seen for far more. These really not anything to them, so why pay a truckload of money for them?

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Looks great!

I find it that the “Ultimate” Jigs take too long to design, and in the mean time – you don’t a jig to use. While on the other hand the “on the cheap side” jigs are those that you can setup in a matter of minutes from roughly $0 investment – and those are the ones that you use the most.

a Jig doesn’t need to be “expensive” it needs to help you make expensive stuff!

Thanks for the post!

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Very nice and practical jig. Thanks for sharing.
One suggestion: you could slot the holes in the hold down base and easily use it on other jigs as well.

Purp, if I may call you that… It took me longer cutting the tapers than it did to put this jig together. Of course I already had the hold down clamps on hand, but 10 minutes to make a jig that will make you money most likely is hardly any investment at all.

Ratchet, you’re absolutely right. Some that I’ve seen online have those slots, I didn’t want to spend the time doing that, but maybe if I make another one.

BTW, there’s screws holding that adjustable piece in place underneath, not just the luan on top.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Nice jig, but why didn’t you tag it as “tapering jig”?

-- JJ...... I guess you could say I'm a 54 year old "juniorjock". — Make things with wood.

done, thanks for the reminder.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Great job. I am needing one and now I may get it. Thanks for the post.

-- Jerry--A man can never have enough tools or clamps

PHEW !!! I thought the middle clamp was about to meet an untimely death in picture #2 ! Nice , inexpensive jig…I hate to tell you how much money I wasted on a tapering jig to make it look “purdy” : (

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

Ha ha ha… The second one isn’t a problem but the third one would have been, it would have actually ended up with a cut through the rubber, if I’d have latched it down. I did keep it up during the cutting of the wood so I could get an idea of how close things really were. All in all, it was worth the small effort. I may make another one out of some black walnut sapwood later this week, that’s the more conventional type taper jig, just to have a pretty one.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Cheap jig if you get the hold downs cheap.. not here in OZ .. dearest part of any jig.,.$25 each and more\

:larry

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

I picked up some excellent hold downs from Harbor Freight for a great price . So far they have performed flawlessly : ) They go on sale once in a while and I’m going to stock up now that I know their quality is good. They have an online catalog to check out.
HarborFreightTools.com
type Toggle Clamp in the keyword box.
Have a great day , Larry ….Len

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

Link for HF toggle clamps – http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96235
$3.99 ea.

-- Chris

Thanks Len and Chris but the exchange rate and postage makes them a lot dearer than that.

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

Rockler just made a jig like yours with built in clamps and built in angles.

-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au

I think you will be surprised at how much you use this jig. I have a large one and a small one with the hold downs closer together for shorter pieces. This is the best way to make tapered legs, and is a must have for any type of interior finish work ie.. caseing in a window or door which are almost always askew.

-- There's many a slip betwixt a cup and a lip.--Scott

Thanks guys. I have only used it a few times, but then again, I’ve not had a lot of shop time this summer due to a few family issues. Not to mention my “real” job is not leaving a lot of time for it. I’d love to use it a lot more though.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Nice jig.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker