|
Mortise Jig Details
(Back
to Jigs page)
This jig is simply a wonder! It is the most useful jig I have
ever built for the shop. The jig takes about 1/3 of the amount
of time it takes to set up my Delta mortise machine. And the
mortises are identical and have perfectly smooth side walls. A
REAL time saver.
The left stop is set first. It does not matter how far over
it is set. I usually set it about 1/3 of the travel. I set the
right stop to the length of the mortise.
The right stop determines the length of the mortise. In this
case, I need 1 inch mortise, so the amount of travel on the
table slides one inch.
(Back to Top)
The third set-up task is to determine the how far the mortise
is set back off the end of the stile. Here, I place a rule on
the flute of the bit and line up the top of the stile with the
desired distance. 3/8 of an inch in this case.
Now all that needs to happen is clamp a stop block to the
table. Both ends of the stile will have identical 1 inch long
mortises, 3/8 of an inch from the top of the stile (or bottom).
Making the mortise for the center rail is done in a similar
way. Just clamp the stop block and both stiles will have
identical mortises cut in the same place on the stiles.
The width of the mortise is determined by the size of the
router bit. Up-cut solid carbide spiral bits work best. In this
4/4 stock I am using a 1/4 inch bit.
(Back to Top)
The depth of the mortise is simply set by screwing the router
motor in or out of the base. In this case, I needed 1 inch
mortises and I added 1/16 for glue.
Cutting the mortises could not be more simple once you have
the stock clamped to the table, the bit depth set and the
table stops set to determine the length of the mortise. You can
take up to a 1/4 inch per pass, but I find is saves the cutters
by taking about 1/8 inch depth cut per pass. The motor assembly
slides forward with the handle and a perfect mortise is cut in
seconds.
That’s it! Perfect and identical mortises cut in seconds.
This jig is not as versatile as the Multi-router and does not
cut tenons like the Leigh jig but this simple project costs a
fraction of the other machines.
Please free to contact me if you
have questions.
(Back
to Jigs page)
(Back to Top)
|
