What Is a Jig in Woodwork?
In simplest terms, a jig is any object that makes the basic tasks of woodworking easier. A jig is used in addition to the primary tool, be that a saw, router or other instrument. Using jigs provides a means of speeding up repetitive tasks, ensuring more accurate cutting or measuring, or repeating standard sizes and positions on work pieces. Learn about some of the basic types of jigs and what they are used for.
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Featherboards
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A featherboard is a small piece of wood that can be used to push a larger piece of wood, rather than using one's hands. It is typically used to make cutting with a table saw safer and easier, especially with narrow pieces.
Circular Cutting Jigs
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A circular cutting jig is used to ensure that pieces that need to be circular in shape are in fact evenly round.
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Framing Jigs
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Framing jigs, such as homemade miter clamps, are used to ensure that pieces of a frame are positioned appropriately at right angles when they are glued and dried or when they are joined in other ways.
Router Jigs
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Router jigs allow a woodworker to precisely position the router on the piece, or to cut the correct portion of a piece. They can also be used as templates to standardize routing of multiple pieces in identical fashion.
Circular Saw Jigs
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Circular saw jigs allow someone who does not have access to a table saw to use a handheld circular saw in the same way one would normally use a table saw.
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