| Project by Sawdust2 | posted 1183 days ago | 2913 views | 27 times favorited | 20 comments | ![]() |
![]() |
on rare earth magnets. I think 10 for $8. So a friend bought a pack.
You see, last week we changed out the knives on my jointer but we only used a straight edge to align the knives.
Not very precise. And as I have two friends who are pretty anal about precision it was not good enough.
I had some spare polycarbonate pieces.
We resawed a few 3/8 pieces off the slab and then drilled 1/2” holes just deep enough to recess the magnets. Three on the end that would hold the knives and two on the end that would stay on the outfeed table.
When we changed the knives last week it made for a square, even cut but we knew we were just a smidge off on uniformity.
After we made these jigs we put the knife at top dead center, loosened the bolts and the knife just jumped to the magnets. The piece is narrow enough that we could then tighten the two outside bolts in place and then remove the jig and tighten the two inside bolts. Did that three times. Now when I flatten a board it is not only square it is as smooth as a baby’s butt. I’ve never had the blades that uniform before even using the expensive blade guides.
Rare earth magnets $8.00
Polycarbonate scrap FREE
2 knife setting jigs.
Can’t hardly beat that!
Lee
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
| Pin It |

























20 comments so far
bigike
home | projects | blog
4023 posts in 1457 days
#1 posted 1183 days ago
how did u resaw polycarb? i would have never thought u could. very nice job.
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
mancave
home | projects | blog
114 posts in 1233 days
#2 posted 1183 days ago
sweet!
Routerisstillmyname
home | projects | blog
591 posts in 1678 days
#3 posted 1183 days ago
seems faster than my dial jig. THX
-- Router è ancora il mio nome.
AngelofDeath
home | projects | blog
116 posts in 1245 days
#4 posted 1183 days ago
great idea…..
Sawdust2
home | projects | blog
1467 posts in 2256 days
#5 posted 1183 days ago
This is scrap from a company that puts up those thick bullet proof shields you see in banks and check cashing stores. I used a 1/2” 3TPI blade from Morse.
It cuts just like wood because you are feeding it slow.
You could use plexi but I guess it would have to be a little thicker. This does not bend at all.
The larger hole is to hang it on the wall.
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
Dave Owen
home | projects | blog
225 posts in 1242 days
#6 posted 1183 days ago
Excellent idea, and thanks for the answer to the cutting question asked by bigike.
-- Dave O.
jm82435
home | projects | blog
1217 posts in 1911 days
#7 posted 1183 days ago
Sweet “jointer pal”. Do the knives touch the magnets, or do they rest on the polycarbonate?
Hmmm, Now all I need is to find a company giving away free polycarbonate…
Oh, I suppose I could use something else…
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
john200
home | projects | blog
25 posts in 1218 days
#8 posted 1183 days ago
Great and inexpensive idea. A lot cheaper than my Adjust-O magnet squares I purchased from CyberWeld.
If only your idea would have come a couple of months earlier.
Thanks,
John
-- John200, Vancouver, WA
RexMcKinnon
home | projects | blog
2590 posts in 1364 days
#9 posted 1183 days ago
Cool jig.
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
Sawdust2
home | projects | blog
1467 posts in 2256 days
#10 posted 1183 days ago
We set the magnets just a skosh (RCH) deeper than the poly. We also drilled center holes all the way through. Putting a 1/2” magnet in a 1/2” hole is really a tight fit so we figured the air would need to escape. And if it was the other way around, a little loose, there would have been room for the glue to escape.
Your finger can just tell that there is a gap.
We knew the poly was uniform across its width. That way the blade is guaranteed to be level. The magnets are strong enough.
Glad you like it.
Lee
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
Tribalwind
home | projects | blog
69 posts in 1329 days
#11 posted 1183 days ago
thanks for posting this, i need to remake mine!
i saw this trick in wood or woodsmith mag a while ago so got a few magnets at radioshak .
those junky things BARELY held up a frikkin paper-clip! literally.
harbor freight’s got 10 RE mags for $2 . 5/16x1/8
the RE magnets are real handy for jigs n things anyway,good thing to keep a bunch on hand.
also found 1/2”x1/8” (same as rockler) on ebay, 50-pack for $13 .
-- Matthew,Long island ny. www.tribalwind.com
SgtSnafu
home | projects | blog
956 posts in 1440 days
#12 posted 1183 days ago
Great jig – Believe I will need to make me one….
Thanks for sharing
-- Scotty - aka... SgtSnafu - Randleman NC
Karson
home | projects | blog
34370 posts in 2569 days
#13 posted 1183 days ago
Lee: Great project.
Nice looking jig.
-- I've been blessed with a father who liked to tinker in wood, and a wife who lets me tinker in wood. Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
jm82435
home | projects | blog
1217 posts in 1911 days
#14 posted 1182 days ago
If you are like me you have probably scavenged a few old hard drives for magnets like this:
http://lumberjocks.com/projects/22266
they are ridiculously strong so be careful…
-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...
Routerisstillmyname
home | projects | blog
591 posts in 1678 days
#15 posted 1177 days ago
Here’s another Variation tutorial.
http://www.finewoodworking.com/ToolGuide/ToolGuideArticle.aspx?id=5294
-- Router è ancora il mio nome.
View all comments »
showing 1 through 15 of 20 comments
Have your say...