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By the time I'm ready to cut splines, I have a lot of time and effort in a project and hate to ruin it at this late stage. This is my last (final) version. I just added the fence saddle after I let it wander off the fence thus wallowing out a spline cut. The big plusses of this jig are: it is very stable, the window allows you to see the blade when setting your cut up, and it allows you to clamp your box to the jig rather than trying to hold it in place. When cutting tear out prone wood I tape a 1/8" thick backer board behind the back edge of the box. I hope this helps others. As you can probably tell it is made completely of repurposed scraps. The blue tape tag says "fill miter slots to keep the sides of the jig from hanging up on a miter slot.This step is not always needed but when the sides are close to a slot I just lay a strip of scrap in the miter slots.

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Great Idea! Thanks for sharing!
 

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SWEET!!! Love the no blade contact and the window at the side. It allows you to keep an eye on things. Heading out to the WoodShack now to give it a spin…..
 

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That's probably the best design I've seen yet. Added to my Fav's and gonna make one.
 

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I have been trying to come up with a design that allows easy view of were the blade is. The toughest part these is getting the set up exactly right. I think I will take a look at mine and see if I can modify it to achieve what you have here. If not, it's getting cold again and the old one will add a little warmth to the house and I will start over using your design. I always tape my corners, which helps with blow outs. Since I started doing this I haven't had any major blow outs.
 

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I like this design much better than what I am using now, I'll have to try this. it looks like more support, and better visual of the project.
 

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I like everything about it!!!! Another project for my "todo" list!!! thanks for sharing!!!

john
 

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Nice jig. One suggestion, if the angled pieces were run all the way to the end of the slots (against the saw top), it would provide a back up and help prevent tear out. If you make different heights of slots, you could have extra pieces to install. Thanks for the post.
 

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That's very clever. Another one added to the faves and to-do-list, thanks for sharing.
And hey, Merry Christmas! :)
 

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I was concerned about tear-out after seeing the pics before reading your post , but
if you only add the 1/8" ply to one side , doesn't it throw off the spline on the other side ?
 

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I never needed on , most likely i shall never need one yet I like it very much
 

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I've always like the window type jigs so you can see your blade height. Nice job on this one. I also recommend using your backer board on ALL cuts, not just the ones you suspect will give you tearout.
 

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Dusty, tape the backer board below the 'window' and its not a problem. Don't remember who asked for this last night but I hope it helps. Rance, I usually tape the back side as I get very little tear out using the Freud box cutter set but your recommendation is right on. I just get lazy.
 

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Thanks for sharing ! Good ideas deserve to be used and spread around !
 

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Just thinking out loud….I like to cut splines on a 10 degree angle 1" from the top and turning the jig around cut a 10 degree spline in the opposite direction and put one centered between the two….I think that could be accomplished if I alter your design and widen the body to span the two miter slots and not use the fence…. I'm just thinking out loud….do you have any thoughts on the idea ? I used the two miter slots when I built by finger (box) joint jig and the stability is "gooder" than I had hoped for…. I'm thinking this would work …might need a clamp from the sides as well as front to back ? love bouncing ideas around ! Oh and if you added a 1/8" piece of scrap for tear out prevention in the back, you could add the same in the front to balance the size of spline cut ? 'whatcha' think ?
 

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Thinking out loud too… Wouldn't it work better (a relative term!) if the back angled piece went all the way down and the front was open so you could see? I, like Len, worry about tear out and changing angles. Just a thought…I like the design, it is far superior to my flimsy one!
 

· In Loving Memory
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Porchfish and Ellen, I think either or both of your mods would work. I like the no wobble aspect of the fence saddle and tear out has not been an issue the way I use it. I didn't like it near as well before I added the fence saddle. I couldn't come up with a plan for a sacrificial backer board on the back side like I originally envisioned so I just use the 1/8" ply strip taped to the back side of the box. I'm always open to suggestions. Thats the value of this site with all the good thinkers on it.
 

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Great jig, Andy, but what I like the best is that is made entirely in America and by an American using American material ! ! !
 

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I like the fence saddle too! After looking at mine that has oak miter tracks that always either are too tight or loose I may want to make a saddle for it. Mine has a 3/4 ply flat bottom so the miter tracks would be ok. Like the way you can see the cut what with the windows, but I like a solid back to hold steady a piece of wood or box. I use a pc of 1/4 ply at the back for tear out control and can use it in different thicknesses for deeper or lesser splines. I have learned so much here at LJs, always worth the time to be here! This site makes me smartter :)
 

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Looks like a great jig.
 
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