A router jig is a versatile woodworking tool that can be used for a wide variety of tasks. Whether you’re making custom mouldings or a table base, these handy jigs are an invaluable tool in any woodworker’s tool box.
The circle-cutting jig pictured here is an excellent choice for cutting circles from 1″ to 24″ in diameter. It features a straightedge clamp and is made to fit many routers on the market.
Circle Cutting
If you’re looking for a fast and efficient way to cut circles, consider using a router jig. These jigs are easy to use and work with a wide variety of routers.
They’re a great addition to any woodworking shop, and they’re very handy for making inlays, tabletops, and elliptical picture frames. Some jigs also allow you to cut square circles and ovals.
To make one, start by cutting a piece of wood that’s 1-2 inches longer than your router plate plus the radius (about 1/8th of the diameter) of the largest circle you want to cut. You can use a 1/4’’ MDF or plywood.
Next, drill holes in your piece of wood to accommodate the screws you will use to attach your jig to your router. These screws need to be deep enough that they’re below the surface of your board so they won’t scratch the material you’re cutting.
Now, add a 1/4’’ straight bit to your router and insert it into your jig’s center hole. Line it up so that it just barely clears the jig’s top face, which is a distance of about 1/16’’ from the front edge.
Mortise and Tenon
The mortise and tenon joint is one of the most important joints in woodworking. It’s the cornerstone of a wide variety of construction projects, including cabinetry, furniture, tables, and more. It requires clean layout, accurate cutting, and precise shaping to be effective.
Whether you’re using the table saw, bandsaw, or handsaw to cut the mortise, it’s crucial to lay out the joint on the wood surface before cutting. This ensures that the mortise is accurately sized, that any waste will be chopped out, and that you’re getting the right fit.
It’s also important to make sure the tenon is precisely shaped so that it fits into the mortise with piston-like precision. This means the tenon should be about 1/16 “ shorter than the depth of the mortise, and the width of the tenon’s cheek should be at least a third of the thickness of the material.
A router jig, such as the Festool Domino, is an invaluable tool for accurately cutting both a mortise and a tenon. The sturdy jig, combined with a plunge router and edge guide, allows you to get better results than you would with just a fixed router.
Box Joints
A box joint is a type of interlocking joint that interlocks two boards at a corner. It is similar to a dovetail, but it lacks the angled tails and pins of a dovetail.
A common way to make box joints is with a router jig, which is either on a router table or on a table saw. It typically consists of 2 main parts: the sliding base and the back fence.
To make the back fence you’ll need two HDF boards, one flat and the other perpendicular to the base making a fence that is a little shorter than the router bit you are using for cutting box joints.
When gluing the fence use a machinist square to make sure it’s perpendicular to the base.
The easiest method for cutting box joints is by a router jig. The jig can be used on a router table with a straight bit or a table saw with a dado stack.
Dovetails
Dovetails are a type of joint that can be used to create beautiful, strong and highly visible woodwork. They are a great choice for any project that requires a strong, clean-looking connection that also displays quality craftsmanship.
Traditionally, dovetails were crafted by hand with a jig and chisel. But today, many woodworkers use a router to cut these joints.
A router jig makes it easy to produce a range of dovetail patterns, from through to half-blind. These jigs have one template, which cuts the tails of the joint with a router bit, and another, interchangeable template for cutting the pins of the joint with a straight router bit.
A jig can help you make dovetails faster and with more consistency than hand-cutting the joints. A jig can also help you ensure that the finished product looks exactly as you planned it to.
