Many woodworking plans call for pieces that can most easily (and safely) be formed by using a woodworking jig. Fortunately, many of these woodworking jigs can be made right in your wood shop. Learn how to build many typical woodworking jigs that you can use over and over again in your woodworking projects.
1. Table Saw Box Joint Jig
(c) 2009 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
Box joints are a simple, elegant alternative to dovetail joints. With this table saw jig, perfect box joints are easy to make in any size stock. Follow these step-by-step free woodworking plans to learn how to make perfectly fitting box joints for any application.
2. Cross-Cut and Panel Cutting Jigs
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
Woodworking Jigs are designed to make somewhat difficult tasks easier as well as consistently repeatable. Many woodworking jigs are (or can be) homemade. In this article, we describe two such homemade woodworking jigs: one cross-cut and panel cutting jig and another for ripping stock up to four feet in length, using only a circular saw. Learn how to make these simple and effective woodworking jigs.
3. How to Make Featherboards
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
A featherboard is a woodworking jig that makes working with smaller stock on your table saw or router table much safer and simpler. The idea is to use the fingers of the feather board to hold the stock being cut against the fence and/or table while cutting. While you can purchase commercial featherboards, you can also learn how to make them in your shop in these free woodworking plans.
4. Table Saw Jointer Jig
(c) 2009 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
The jointer is a very useful woodworking machine for straightening boards. Don't have a jointer? Try a table saw jointer jig. In this set of free woodworking plans, learn how to build a table saw jointer jig that will allow you to straighten the edges of various sizes of boards with only your table saw.
5. Band Saw Circle Cutting Jig
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
A number of different woodworking plans call for cutting pieces of wood into circular shapes. Woodworking projects such as round table tops, archways and many other circular forms need consistent, precisely-rounded cuts with a precision that can't be obtained cutting the circle by hand. Learn how to build a simple yet very effective circle cutting jig for the band saw in this set of free woodworking plans.
6. Louver Jig
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
Many closet and partition doors, plus many types of window shutters utilize louvers, as they allow considerable air flow through the louvers, yet offer visual privacy. Louvers aren't difficult to make, provided that you utilize a woodworking jig. Learn how to make louvers, plus how to make the louver jigs you'd need to make louvers in this set of free woodworking plans.
7. Circular Saw Measuring Jig
(c) 2008 Chris Baylor licensed to About.com, Inc.
What do you do when you find yourself in need of, but without a table saw? If you have a circular saw and a straight-edge, you may be able to make nearly any cut almost as quickly and accurately as if you had a table saw. How? With a circular saw measuring jig. Learn how to make and use this simple but extremely effective woodworking jig.
