| Project by ratchet | posted 595 days ago | 2163 views | 40 times favorited | 22 comments | ![]() |
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I was tired of picture frames and boxes having small gaps at the 45’s. Makes me crazy. So I decided it was time for a jig that has adjustable wings on both sides. I can now dial in 45’s with very tight joints. The new jig is safer than my old one as the blade gets buried in the center rail. The hold downs are adjustable in and out to accomodate varied stock width and height.
I may change out the SS 1/4×20 adjustment bolts for machine screws at some point and make a stop block and extensions for the wings to handle longer stock cuts. The entire carriage assembly dismounts for maintenance/upgrade.
Thought this might help somebody out there (as you all have helped me). Many thanks.





























22 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
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2470 posts in 647 days
posted 595 days ago
thats cool. it looks like the one i saw someone online make on some website (not really sure which one). yours is much better though as you can dial in a perfect 45, have the hold downs, and its good that you took safety into consideration and buried the blade. great job!
Scott Bryan
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20080 posts in 700 days
posted 595 days ago
Hi rachet,
I have been thinking about making one of these. I have favorited it so I can use it as a guide when I get around to construction. Very nice idea.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
tenontim
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1319 posts in 623 days
posted 595 days ago
Good idea, Ratchet. The gaps happen to me all the time. What causes that, anyway? Maybe it’s time for a new eyeglass prescription. Sometimes I think I do better with my glasses off. I’ll put this one in my favorites.
-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com
jcees
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548 posts in 678 days
posted 595 days ago
Nice job. I built one awhile back that’s similar but didn’t have the “tweakability” of yours. However, I did create interchangeable backer boards for the different spring angles on certain moldings I was using at the time. That worked well and will be a feature on the next one I build. I say that because I loaned mine to a bud and he hasn’t returned it. He knows I’ll make a new and better one when I get around to it. He gets most of my prototypes anyway.
I’m going to have to consider your setup, looks like it works like a charm.
Always,
J.C.
-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein
Grant Davis
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481 posts in 787 days
posted 595 days ago
This is on the list of to do’s
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
poopiekat
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210 posts in 613 days
posted 595 days ago
I like your idea of adjustable stops! Makes it dead-on accurate!
-- If Stradivarius was alive today, he'd be using Gorilla Glue.
Tom Adamski
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309 posts in 649 days
posted 595 days ago
Ratchet,
Very cool… That 45 degree angle is elusive. Looks like you have the tool to chase it down and nail it.
Tom
-- Anybody can become a woodworker, but only a Craftsman can hide his mistakes.
juniorjock
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788 posts in 644 days
posted 595 days ago
Great jig Ratchet…..... and this would be a good jig to start that “tips and jigs” tab on the LJ home page we talked about a while back. I’ve got a woodworking buddy that’s on me all the time about building too many jigs….. but I have to listen to him, he gives me lots of good lumber. The last time I went to his house he gave me some cherry and said “son, try to build something besides a jig”........ he’s pretty straight forward like that.
-- JJ...... I guess you could say I'm a 54 year old "juniorjock". — Make things with wood.
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 841 days
posted 594 days ago
I like this adjustable rig better than the slider I have. I have to adjust mine with playing cards. I works but I think this one is better.
-- Thos. Angle
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 594 days ago
Nothing like a good jig!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Hawgnutz
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522 posts in 955 days
posted 594 days ago
looks like a great jig to get those elusive 45 degree joints just right! Gonna have ito make one for myself for those picture frames. (One nice thing about working with almost hundred year old barnwood is that perfect miters sre not relly neccessary like on frame and panel construction.
I am designing one in my head and hopefully will get to it this summer.
God Bless,
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
Joel Tille
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214 posts in 1123 days
posted 594 days ago
Rachet – Thanks for posting. I have one very similar to this one. except I loosen screws through the top to adjust. I will have to modify it to use the adjusting screws, this would reduce the time it takes to sneek up on that perfect 45.
-- Joel Tille
Bradford
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783 posts in 701 days
posted 594 days ago
Great jig!
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford.
Kevin
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294 posts in 837 days
posted 594 days ago
great idea
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
Yettiman
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153 posts in 616 days
posted 594 days ago
Many thanks for sharing.
I think your ajustments will also solve my crosscut sledge problem. I can make one of 89.x degrees or 90.x but never 90.
This way I can tweak it, and once right, super glue the nut, with locktight (can be removed if needed to reweek later).
Love the safety centre rail.
-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot
Blake
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2715 posts in 753 days
posted 594 days ago
I love how this is adjustable. Excellent idea.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
ratchet
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285 posts in 665 days
posted 594 days ago
Thanks all. Now its time to actually post some projects…well soon anyway.
Yettiman; Loctiting the nut once its dialed in to 45.001 is a great idea. I think I’ll do that. Appreciate the tip.
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 594 days ago
Great bit of innovation Ratchet.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
Waldschrat
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338 posts in 314 days
posted 297 days ago
Ratchet, that is one of greatest ideas i have seen in a while! I like do you mind if I borrow the idea? I think its a great idea because if your saw guides are not accurate, its hard to get 45 to match up correctly and with this jig I can see it is adjustable to make up for the difference! Genius!
-- Nicholas, Journeyman Cabinetmaker, Partenkirchen, Germany
ratchet
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285 posts in 665 days
posted 297 days ago
Yes; feel free to copy if it helps!
POPSHOP
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127 posts in 130 days
posted 126 days ago
Well done !!!!!
-- POPSHOP ,
degoose
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1858 posts in 233 days
posted 95 days ago
The best Idea I see is the adjustable holddowns… just great..
:Larry
-- Drink once, cut twice. New website up.... lazylarrywoodworks.com.au