Subject: Re: Wood for basic jigs

From: "Bear" <[email-masked]>
Date: 27 Mar 1997 06:58:53 GMT

Frank,
Go buy a sheet of 1/4" tempered both sides masonite.  If 
you don't have access to a table saw to make a couple of 
rips then make sure the masonite has clean factory edges. Rip a 6" & 12"
wide strip of the masonite with your circular saw ( the 6" wide strip has
the straight factory edge.  Now using contact cement, glue the two strips
together with the
factory edge of the 6" strip in the middle of the 12" strip. Make sure you
align the two pieces relatively well and allow
the 6" strip to fall into place (don't try to align the edges of 
the two strips). If you don't have a roller, use a piece of 2X4 and a
hammer to marry the two pieces together.  Now take 
you circular saw and using the factory edge of the 6" piece 
of masonite cut the 12" piece.  The edge you just cut is the
edge you will use to align your new guide for ripping or 
cross cutting any material up to 8' long.  This guide will last 
for many years ( my 4' & 8' have lasted for over 15 years) as
long as you keep them dry.  As a bonus, with this type of 
guide you will get less edge tear out because your guide 
goes to the inside edge of the saw blade.  Works great on 
doors.  I use two clamps and align to my cut marks. You 
need to make sure that the 12" width will be wide enough for
the base of your circular saw and adjust as necessary to 
assure that you will have enough material to cut your
alignment edge.

Frank O'Donnell <[email-masked]> wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...
> I'm trying to get started in woodworking with a limited
> set of tools.  Recently I invested in a router, but until
> I can afford a table saw I'll have to get by doing cuts
> with handsaws or a circular saw.  I was hoping to make a
> few basic jigs out of wood stock to help make straight
> cuts -- for example, use the circular saw with a guide
> attachment along a 1x4 clamped alongside the project.
> Or do an initial cut on the wide side with the circular
> saw, then use the router with a straight bit to trim in
> to the desired cut line (again using something like a 
> 1x4 as a jig).
> 
> I called a local lumber company that deals in hardwoods
> to ask them what they'd suggest to make a few basic jigs
> out of.  The fellow said I could use maple, although
> he said its straightness may be affected by water
> absorption.  He suggested maybe using 1/2" birch
> plywood ripped into lengths.  Since I don't have a
> jointer or a planer I asked if he could mill whatever
> I buy to get it straight.  He indicated he could, although
> he noted you wouldn't want to run plywood through a planer
> because you'd lose the veneer surface.
> 
> How does all that sound?  Any recommendations on how to
> go about getting some basic straight, stable stock to
> use as jigs?  Thanks in advance for any ideas.
> 
> Frank O'Donnell
> South Pasadena, CA
> [email-masked]
>

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From: [email-masked] (LEE WARD)
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 97 19:39:00 -0600

First off lemme suggest usin the best wood there is-FREE WOOD! yessiree!
Oak,Maple,etc can all be found languishing at the curbside waitin for
Mr Trashman to take it away; If you cant find This free wood source then
yer not lookin hard enuff!!hhehe..Hardwood like OAK would work-and jigs
aint that critical due to stacked tolerances thatll throw you off
anyway. You can buy Surfaced Hrdwd to build

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From: Barb Siddiqui <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 27 Mar 1997 07:01:24 -0800

Frank-

You've had good suggestions for a saw guide; but if you need thicker
stock for various jigs in hardwood, consider old furniture throw-aways
and cheap garage sale purchases...stools, broken dressers, half a bunk
bed often show up as garbage, and with very little work yield solid
maple or other hardwood to be redesigned as you wish.

-Barb Siddiqui