Essential guides/templates/fixtures - whats your top 3

[Carl Beckett]

If you could only keep three of your guides/templates/fixtures that you have made, what are your top 3?

The only three I have made that I keep are:

Table saw cutoff sled
Dado guide for router
Shooting board

(I have attempted a couple 45 degree edge miter sleds for cutting spline slots on the table saw, but have never been satisfied enough with them to keep them)

[Jamie Buxton]

Shop-built:
Cut-off sled. (Actually, I have two. One's a ninety degree. The second cuts miters: left and right 45 degree on the same sled.)
Giant speed square to assure the track saw crosscuts at exactly 90 degrees.
Router template to cut the back of a drawer for undermount slides. It cuts the notch and bores the hole.

Commercial:
Keller jig for through dovetails.
Woodhaven jig (the 32" one) for boring shelf pin holes with a plunge router.

[pat warner]

My Drill Press Fence (http://ttp://patwarner.com/images/dpfence.jpg), X-cut work holder/fence (http://patwarner.com/images/tswebb4759.jpg) Combo and my Router Table Fence (http://patwarner.com/images/rtf_opener.jpg).
Given a fourth: My morticer. (http://patwarner.com/images/morticing_jig.jpg)

[Todd Burch]

Cross cut sled for tablesaw
box joint jig for the tablesaw
hinge mortising jig for the router

Todd

[Jay Maiers]

My Drill Press Fence (http://ttp://patwarner.com/images/dpfence.jpg),
Corrected link:
http://patwarner.com/images/dpfence.jpg
:)

[Jason Adkins]

My Drill Press Fence (http://ttp://patwarner.com/images/dpfence.jpg), X-cut work holder/fence (http://patwarner.com/images/tswebb4759.jpg) Combo and my Router Table Fence (http://patwarner.com/images/rtf_opener.jpg).
Given a fourth: My morticer. (http://patwarner.com/images/morticing_jig.jpg)That drill press fence is ridiculous

[glenn bradley]

That drill press fence is ridiculous

Thanks goodness it is. Pat makes some truly fine accessories and I wouldn't have it any other way. Now for me the following get used on nearly any project;

- Tablesaw sleds
- Template routing jig
- Mortise Pal

[Andrew Joiner]

I make all my jigs/fixtures and have a form of all that have been mentioned here. Mine perform as needed but don't look as good as Pat's (wow).

One of my favorite things is designing and building jigs and fixtures. Every time I do a job that needs it I label and store all the jigs and patterns. I just made a set of 6 dining chairs that all our friends like. If they want chairs the jigs and patterns are ready to go. I kinda think of my jigs as an investment that could pay off in the future.

[Jerome Hanby]

At the moment, would have to be

The Festool Track saw (it's guide qualifies I think <g>)
The PSI Portable Panel Saw
Incra miter 1000se

When I get a longer Festool rail,the PSI PPS will drop off the list

I started to include the Incra build a jig system, but I use it for 3 or 4 different jigs...

[Alan Lightstone]

Pat:

Wow!!!!!!!! Truly jaw-dropping.

[Ole Anderson]

Corrected link:
http://patwarner.com/images/dpfence.jpg
:)

Ah, aluminum is fun to work with if you have a mini mill.

[pat warner]

"Ah, aluminum is fun to work with if you have a mini mill. "
******************************************

This stuff is all routed with ordinary 110vac routers, no mill, no heroics.
Moreover, pretty much done with ordinary cutters at top speed and no lubrication.

[Bruce Wrenn]

Shop made shelf pin jig, micro adjustable router trammel / edge guide, and shop made straight edge cutting guide for circular saw.

[Ole Anderson]

"Ah, aluminum is fun to work with if you have a mini mill. "
******************************************

This stuff is all routed with ordinary 110vac routers, no mill, no heroics.
Moreover, pretty much done with ordinary cutters at top speed and no lubrication.

Pat, you work is now even more impressive. I should have said it is even MORE fun if you have a minimill. As you know, ordinary carbide tooling works great dry on aluminum. Chop saw, table saw, router table for me.

[Rod Sheridan]

Bench hook

Shooting board

Leg template for the shaper.

I don't own any tablesaw jigs, they went to a new home along with the cabinet saw.........................Rod.