Rockler Rail Coping Jig

[Mark Rios]

Has anyone used this? Is there an easy-to-make alternative? Seems like a neat and simple idea. Any opinions?


Thanks very much.

[Robert Mayer]

I was interested in that thing since im just about to start making my first set of doors. Its a bit pricey though for something I can probably just make, $49.

[frank shic]

mark, you can either gang clamp a bunch of similar length rails together with a bessey clamp (don't you just LOVE these things?) and run them through with a backer piece to prevent blowout (cut the same width as the rails) or you can run them through one at a time with a backer piece of MDF or plywood. however, if you enjoy spending time building jigs, it looks like you can easily build it with some plywood scraps and a toggle clamp. BTW, you may want to check out udo schmidt's book on building kitchen cabinets, jim tolpin's book on building traditional kitchen cabinets or even danny proulx's book on build your own kitchen cabinets. good luck!

[Ken Garlock]

Mark, if you build your own coping jig, take a look at the various models at Eagle America (http://eagleamerica.com/product.asp?pn=400-1235)for ideas. $50 and up seems like a lot of money for something that is that straight forward.

[Mark Rios]

What I would normally do is take a 12" x 12" piece of, say.... MDF and double check it's squareness and run it along the router fence, pushing the piece to be coped ahead of it. This keeps my hands away from the bits and helps to prevent tearout, as you folks know well. I didn't know if a sled/jig would be somehow more benificial or give me a better cut. It just seemed neat and interesting but I'm not sure if it is actuyally any better.

If there isn't any real advantage to one of these jig, either from Rockler, Eagle America, or whomever then I agree, it's alot of money to just look neato. :D

[Larry Fox]

I looked at those as well but ended up building my own in a very short amount of time. I used as 1/2" thick piece of MDF as the base, some of those nifty toggle clamps from Woodcraft and some scrap wood. I have run about 100 cope-cuts of varying width through it and it holds the piece well. I built mine to ride in the miter slot of my router table so it is very safe to operate as it keeps your fingers well away from the business end of things. I will be more than happy to post pics or provide any info if you think you will find it useful.

It also includes a sacraficial backer block which can easily be replaced.

[Jeff Singleton]

I use a Weaver 226 and it will do up to a 10" rail. Solid, all steel except the wood backup and rubber clamp pad. Weighs maybe 8 pounds, slides nice and is the quickest there is. Not the cheapest either, over $125.

Jeff Singleton:)

[Brent Harral]

Yea, any sled would be easy to make, but I bought one of those Eagle America sleds a while back and modified it to my liking. The little thumbscrews on the forward block HURT the fingers if you did any large number of rails, plus I didn't find that front block necessary if you had a little better hold down. Here's my final version that I use all the time...

<img src="http://pic14.picturetrail.com/VOL563/2750473/9448194/133731107.jpg">