LumberJocks

Rockler Thin Rip Tablesaw Jig

Review by Tim Dorcas posted 129 days ago 802 views 0 times favorited 13 comments Add to Favorites
View Tim Dorcas's profile

Tim Dorcas

80 posts in 398 days


Rockler Thin Rip Tablesaw Jig Rockler Thin Rip Tablesaw Jig No-picture-s Click the pictures to enlarge them

In the past one of the things I hated to was rip thin pieces of wood. Typically this is done to create keys for mitered joints. Last December I was going to build a one of the many jigs that you can find online when Rockler came out with their Thin Rip Tablesaw Jig. For $20 I thought, “Why not?” It arrived about three weeks later (They were sold old initially and everything takes longer in Canada.) and I was surprised at the quality of it’s construction. If anything the fit is a bit tight. After fitting everything together I immediately gave it a workout. I already had a box made that I needed keys for. The first cut was a little too thin. After struggling with the tight fit to slide it back, I finally got what I needed. There is a ball bearing at the tip which makes the wood flow nicely.

Most of the woodworkers I know are a frugal bunch but for $20 bucks I think it more than pays for itself. The only thing I wish it had was a numerical system for ease of setup. That and the fact that it is bit hard to move at first knocks off a half of a star. I would rate this 4.5 stars. If you need to rip thin strips I would recommend getting one.

-- www.responsetolight.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog & www.craftedbytim.com - I make. You buy.


13 comments so far

View Scott Bryan's profile (online now)

Scott Bryan

9950 posts in 362 days


posted 129 days ago

Nice review, Tim. I have looked at one of these and been debating whether to get one or not. It is nice to hear from someone who has used one.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View Bob N's profile

Bob N

41 posts in 467 days


posted 129 days ago

Tim,

Thanks for a very nice review. I am sure it is a great product, but to me it looks like a kickback just waiting to happen. I certainly hope I am wrong.

View Brad_Nailor's profile

Brad_Nailor

729 posts in 497 days


posted 128 days ago

I did a review on this item about a 1 1/2 months ago. I like it allot and think it is worth the money. Although in that first picture you have it set way too close to the blade. The directions said to position it at the bottom of the table saw insert. From my personal experience when I placed it any closer than that, I was getting burning on the keeper piece due to the jig pushing the piece back against the blade, and I think it drastically increases the chance of pinching the blade and kicking the piece back.

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

View Tim from Iowa City's profile

Tim from Iowa City

152 posts in 140 days


posted 128 days ago

Thanks for the review. Interesting jig.

-- Tim from Iowa City, IA

View marcb's profile

marcb

203 posts in 213 days


posted 128 days ago

Shopnotes had a jig like this in their magazine once. Setup right it shouldn’t kick back as the keeper piece is thin and should peel away from the saw. Its basically a really low friction (Ball bearing) single point feather board.

View motthunter's profile

motthunter

1234 posts in 339 days


posted 128 days ago

Interesting.. can you show more pics of it in use…

-- making sawdust....

View Tim Dorcas's profile

Tim Dorcas

80 posts in 398 days


posted 128 days ago

Thanks for the comments.

1) The bearing is actually touching the blade. I think I was more interested in getting a picture than anything else. In actual use it would be closer to the operator. I have never experienced anything close to kick back using this jig.

2) I usually make it a hair or two thicker than it needs to be and finish it with my Smoothing Plane. This also helps because it can be very difficult to move the blue adjusting piece.

-- www.responsetolight.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog & www.craftedbytim.com - I make. You buy.

View Bob O'Brien's profile

Bob O'Brien

11 posts in 154 days


posted 128 days ago

I have one of these, and I agree with your review comments: difficult to adjust and I wish it had some numbers (any sequential numbers) instead of just ticks on the slide. I lubricated it with a little Waxilit, and that has helped with the slide. I do not use it often, but when I have it did the job. I always have a riving knife in place when rip sawing, and I have had no problem with kickback.

-- Bob

View Brad_Nailor's profile

Brad_Nailor

729 posts in 497 days


posted 128 days ago

The increments on the unit are 1/16 and 1/32. The reason it doesn’t have any numbers is every saw and blade is different. To get an accurate measurement you touch the blade tooth with the bearing, and then use the marks to move the unit back the thickness of the piece. I like the fact that the jig was snug…it made it easier to hold my settings while i slid it down and tightened it up in position.

-- Women love me.....trees fear me

View teenagewoodworker's profile

teenagewoodworker

2143 posts in 308 days


posted 125 days ago

cool review, i’ve had my eye on this for awhile. looks like a cool little tool!

View gbvinc's profile

gbvinc

374 posts in 486 days


posted 125 days ago

Picked one up last week, ripped a bunch of strips for screen door screens. Worked great. A keeper.

View Paul 's profile

Paul

48 posts in 129 days


posted 125 days ago

I made one similar to this a few months ago, there was a pattern in one of the woodworking magazines. It does the same thing and is a very reliable way of reproducing thin strips. I think this one or the one I made are very worthwhile additions to the shop.

-- Paul, Washington State

View Don Newton's profile

Don Newton

160 posts in 158 days


posted 120 days ago

I’m not new to woodworking and have been staring at the pictures but haven’t a clue what this device does. Do you use it instead of a fence?

-- Don, Pittsburgh

You must be signed in to post the comments.

Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community

Woodworking StoreApparel StoreMake a Donation
Bookmark And Share This Page
  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: All views and comments posted by members are not necessarily those of LumberJocks.com or of those working on the site.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase