Using taper jig

Just be mindful to cut the correct taper first. Think about how the leg will ride on the sled or fence after the first cut. As long as you cut the right one first you won’t have a problem.The alternative is to tape the cutoff back on, or use a little block that holds the foot of the leg in the correct position. Good luck.

-- She was only a rancher's daughter, but all of the horsemen knew her.

Are you taping the cut-off back on the leg after you cut a taper?

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

Not taping it back on. Should I be? Why?

To maintain the same degree of taper, the stock needs to be approximately the same size on each cut. You can accomplish that by taping the cut-off back on. When I tape the cut-off back on, I adjust it to account for the material lost in the kerf.

If you cut a taper, then rotate the stock so the taper you just cut is either against the base of the jig or the fence, the angle of the first cut will effect the second cut and so on. Judging from your drawing, that is what appears to be happening to the rear leg.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

Gerry, thanks, although I don’t think that is what is happening. When I cut one face only, the top of the taper is not square to the edge of the stock. I’ll take a photo of a single taper tonight to show here.

Wow … that almost sounds like either the bed of the jig isn’t flat, or the blade isn’t true 90-degrees to the table.

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

...or the leg stock is not perfectly flat/square to begin with.

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

IF you want to make two tapers on the same leg I suggest you build and use the jig referred to in your link as an “adjustable taper jig” instad of the “Smple Jig”. I made one and it works well for me.

-- In God We Trust

I’ll check all of these things tonight and report back!
Thanks

That jig should work just fine if everything else is adjusted correctly, as long as your only doing a taper on 2 sides of the leg and not putting the 1st tapered side against the fence when you cut the 2nd one.

Here is a link to another adjustable jig here on LJ’s.

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/43377

If you plan on doing a lot of tapered cuts, I don’t think you can beat the jig designed by Charles Neil – http://charlesneilwoodworking.com/references/taperjig.pdf

—Gerry

-- Gerry -- "I don't plan to ever really grow up ... I'm just going to learn how to act in public!"

I have made a jig that has a nail point to insert at the center point of the small end of the leg to be tapered . It is at the push point. I put the center of the leg on that nail point, clamp tight,cut one taper, and spin it to make the second cut. Works like a charm. I got the idea form a wood working ” on line magazine” but I do not remember which one. It has been over a year ago now. There was a video showing its use.

-- In God We Trust

Here is the best way I’ve found to make tapered legs. Dead simple.

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/article/Tapered_Legs_On_A_Planer/

I have switched to the joiner method. I have found it to be a bit more accurate and no setup and less sanding.

-- Bill - "Freedon flies in your heart like an Eagle" Audie Murphy