Mortising Jig

[Bruce Cohen]

I just finished building a mortising jig (full plans in April 2005 issue Workbench #288.

Works fine, although the instructions could have been a bit clearer.

Here's my quandry. Never used a jig like this, what is the proper dircetion of cut, left-to-right, or right-to left, or either. I tried both and left to right seems slightly easier, although cut quality was same.

If any or you are thinking about building this, PM me and I'll share all my mistakes with you (mostly the instructions fault, (not).

Bruce

[LCHIEN]

It probably makes no difference IF you are cutting the full width of the bit in one pass, you are cutting on both sides of the bit.

If you are cutting a wider mortise than the bit and you have to go at least twice to cut the full width you want to go clockwise around an interior opening - just consider the mortise as an interior opening.

[ChrisD]

Bruce, I guess another point to consider is that some bits have a tendency to push the stock away from the straight guide as you rout, messing up your mortise width. You want to rout in the direction that pulls the stock against your guide.

How 'bout a pic of the baby?

[bmyers]

without a picture, it never happened




waiting,
Bill

[Bruce Cohen]

Thanks Loring,

I never thought of that (single width pass). Thanks.

As soon as the final poly coat dries, I'll post photos of what the final result is.

Bruce

[Pappy]

With the stock clamped solidly to the jig, direction doesn't matter. On something like an edge guide, you would route left to right with the guide between you and the router.

[Wood_workur]

hmm. kind of reminds me of the shopnotes one I've been considering making.