For the typical do-it-yourself homeowner, all it takes is one time of cutting or drilling without a jig for them to see the importance of investing in a high-quality woodworking jig. When the holes are bored too deeply or the picture frame moulding isn't squared up during the final phases of gluing and nailing, it may be a very irritating experience for the person doing the work. Then, there have, of course, been the terrible routing or dovetail cuts that, in the end, just don't measure up. The availability of the appropriate jig is the key to solving this and any other difficulty that may arise while dealing with woodworking.
Jigs do not have to be elaborate or expensive to be enjoyable. When working on smaller projects, you can frequently make your own jig. If, on the other hand, you engage in woodworking on a regular basis as part of your job or as a hobby, purchasing a variety of jigs is an investment that will more than pay for itself. You will not only save a substantial amount of time, but also a lot of money that would have been spent on ruined wood.
The Condensed List of Jigs That Are Heavy on Performance
Consider adding one or two of the jigs on the following short list to your workshop if you are only able to purchase a few essential tools for it this year.
For instance, if you have a dowel jig, you'll be able to cut dowel holes with extremely accurate diameters and widths. In the construction of furniture, this is a perfect situation, as dowels can be used to attach drawer fronts to the frame or to put legs into tables and chairs in such a way that they fit snugly.
The dovetail jig is yet another indispensable piece of equipment for anyone building furniture. Dovetail jigs lend a polished and expert appearance to drawers. Dovetailing drawers was the traditional method of construction in the past, and if you have ever examined a bureau that is at least fifty years old or older, you will know that this. There's a good reason why we still see these exquisite pieces of furniture in use today! Dovetailing gives drawers increased longevity and ensures that they continue to function properly for decades or even centuries. If you use your dovetail jig in conjunction with a dovetail job, you will be able to build furniture at the level of the old masters.
The precise, even baroque detailing that distinguishes truly professional woodworking products can be achieved by using router jigs to support the wood as it travels through the saw. A router jig is used to generate beveled edges on table tops and drawer faces in a precise manner for each face of the wood.
Kreg: The Industry Standard for Jig Creations
The Kreg jig is a wonderful illustration of how form and function can harmoniously coexist.
These precise drill jigs are supported by the face clamps that are often included with a Kreg set. You are able to drill to precise depths and hole sizes when you use a Kreg jig, which results in flawlessly fitted matches.
In the middle of a drilling task, if you don't have a jig on hand, there is a trick that you can utilize that is effective, even if it isn't fancy. You might try wrapping a substantial strip of masking tape around the drill bit once it has reached the required depth. Then, as you are drilling, you will be able to observe where it is appropriate to reduce the amount of pressure that is being applied. It does the job, despite the fact that the precision isn't quite as good! However, if you want less irritation (it can be difficult to get the gooey tape off the drill bit) and more precision, professional grade jigs are the only way to go. This kind of quick solution is fine if you are simply performing the odd task of woodworking.