| Project by ratchet | posted 1882 days ago | 9721 views | 111 times favorited | 26 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.
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26 comments so far
teenagewoodworker
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2727 posts in 1934 days
#1 posted 1882 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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27262 posts in 1988 days
#2 posted 1882 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.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
tenontim
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2129 posts in 1911 days
#3 posted 1882 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://www.tmuli.com
jcees
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911 posts in 1965 days
#4 posted 1882 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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594 posts in 2074 days
#5 posted 1882 days ago
This is on the list of to do’s
-- Grant...."GO BUCKEYES"
poopiekat
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2816 posts in 1901 days
#6 posted 1882 days ago
I like your idea of adjustable stops! Makes it dead-on accurate!
-- Einstein: "The intuitive mind is a sacred gift, and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift." I'm Poopiekat!!
Tom Adamski
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306 posts in 1937 days
#7 posted 1882 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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1774 posts in 1932 days
#8 posted 1882 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.
Thos. Angle
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4400 posts in 2129 days
#9 posted 1882 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, Jordan Valley, Oregon
GaryK
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10263 posts in 2155 days
#10 posted 1882 days ago
Nothing like a good jig!
-- Gary - Never pass up the opportunity to make a mistake look like you planned it that way - Tyler, TX
Hawgnutz
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526 posts in 2243 days
#11 posted 1882 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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213 posts in 2410 days
#12 posted 1882 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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1421 posts in 1989 days
#13 posted 1882 days ago
Great jig!
-- so much wood, so little time. Bradford. Wood-a-holics unanimous president
Kevin
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293 posts in 2124 days
#14 posted 1882 days ago
great idea
-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas
Yettiman
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160 posts in 1904 days
#15 posted 1882 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
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