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When I started thinking about designing a spline jig, I knew I wanted a handle to hold it tight to the fence & table, & maybe a handle to push forward, & I didn't want a bridge over the fence ( don't like those). So after some time, this is what I came up with. I know some will think it's overkill for such a small cut. But this way, I can secure even a good size frame & have my hands free to apply pressure where needed As I get older, I try to get safer. The left side face has oversized holes that fit over the 5/16" x 6" carriage bolts. An old rubber pad,( in a previous life it was under a scroll saw) protects the workpiece. I like the versatility the clamp slots give me. I used bolts to attach the arms, with 2 thoughts in mind. I could remove the front fence if I wanted to make a spline miter joint, & when the bottom got chewed up, I could remove the arms, rip off the hardboard face & replace the faces. Easier to do with bolts instead of screws I think. I think with smaller frames, I probably won't need the knobs tightened, just apply pressure. Made this from a piece of Birch (not Baltic) plywood from Lowes. Lot's of plies but lots of voids & a bit of warping. Veneer was really brittle & unforgiving. It was an interesting jig to design & build. Good therapy for a guy getting hammered by the recession, especially the architectural industry.

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119 Posts
dnick I really like the jig you built….by and change do you have a blog on building this or any plans you drew up? I am much better at using jigs than I am building them..
 

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*LIKE IT look good and it looks like it works good and Now some day I will have to make me one lol keep up the good work nice
 

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That is a clever albeit relatively complex jig. Whilst I'm a great believer in jigs, I first look for an easier and faster method. This is how I've been cutting slots for splines for many years.



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Great spline jig. Thanks for posting.
 

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WOW. That is one fine looking jig. You should be proud!
 

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Cool design, well thought out and fine execution. Bravo.

always,
J.C.
 

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That makes the two pieces of crap plywood and the 2×6 I've been using look like….. firewood!
 

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Great jig.
 

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Great jig, thanks for sharing. Now if we can only do something about our hurting architecural/construction industry. Hope more work finds you if you are looking…
 

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Very good job. Nice details. A #1 all the way.
 

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Thanks for the kind comments. My friend says I always find the most complicated way to make anything. I'm sure the jigs that Harry1 & Danpaddles made, do the same job as mine. Lets face it, if I was still getting work, I wouldn't have had the time or energy to design this, much less build it. Lately I design everyhing with the idea that I want it to have every feature I could ever want. That way I won't have build a new improved version in the future. I hope.
 

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I do hope that my post didn't in any way come over as if I was claiming that my method was better or safer than yours. Every hobbyist wood and metalworker that I've come across over the years, myself included, have gone through periods of making tools and jigs and have derived great pleasure from doing so. After selling our last home of 35 years, as I was packing my shed, a MAJOR job, I came across several incredibly complex jigs made from wood and metal and for the life of me I couldn't remember what they were made for, but I'm certain that I derived great pleasure from making them and am certain that they were for a specific purpose and were successful, otherwise they would have gone into a junk box for re-cycling the material.
 

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Yep, making one of those for sure. Thanks for posting it.
 

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Now THAT's handy dandy! Much nicer than the crude one I threw together! Excellent work and thank you for sharing it.
 

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Very nice! My spline jig didn't come out nearly as nice as this one. Very well thought out. Is the material that comes in direct contact with the project in the V cork or MDF? Can't tell for sure from the pictures but it looks like MDF
 

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It"s actually a dense foam. in it's previous life it was a pad under my scroll saw to limit vibration.
 
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