Steve Rowe
03-13-2007, 9:18 PM
I recently built this tapering jig to make 2 or 4 sided leg tapers on my Felder. This could easily be adapted to work on any slider. The jig is flexible and adjustable for stock of different sizes. The jig has a wooden strip where it mounts to the slider for to minimize future setup and alignment. The jig uses a dowel center as a pivot point for the leg bottom to ensure equal tapers on all sides. The bottom slides and clamps to tweak on the final leg taper and bottom dimension. It is also replaceable if you need to use larger stock. A Destaco clamp is mounted to an adjustable stop so the end of the taper at the leg top can be established.
To use, mark the center of the leg on the bottom and dimple with either a center punch or awl to position on the dowel center. Make the first taper cut and rotate for the desired number of tapers. In a couple of minutes, you will have perfect tapered legs. I used a rip blade so had to clean the leg up on the jointer. Note that the bottom of the leg is suspended above the base of the jig after the cut since it is mounted on the dowel center. I highly recommend using a zero clearance insert when using this jig to prevent the cutoff from, well - let's not go there, I am sure you can figure out what happened when the cutoff went you know where:( .
It does need some improvements:
1. Make the bottom end shorter to clear the guard and minimize the
height of the blade. This should improve dust collection which is
somewhat lacking as evidenced in the pictures.
2. Mount the Destaco clamp further away from the blade to clear the
guard.
3. The clamp to hold the leg laterally needs significant improvement
although I haven't noodled this one through yet. I am thinking of using a push style Destaco clamp instead.
60196
60197
60199
60200
60201
Steve
To use, mark the center of the leg on the bottom and dimple with either a center punch or awl to position on the dowel center. Make the first taper cut and rotate for the desired number of tapers. In a couple of minutes, you will have perfect tapered legs. I used a rip blade so had to clean the leg up on the jointer. Note that the bottom of the leg is suspended above the base of the jig after the cut since it is mounted on the dowel center. I highly recommend using a zero clearance insert when using this jig to prevent the cutoff from, well - let's not go there, I am sure you can figure out what happened when the cutoff went you know where:( .
It does need some improvements:
1. Make the bottom end shorter to clear the guard and minimize the
height of the blade. This should improve dust collection which is
somewhat lacking as evidenced in the pictures.
2. Mount the Destaco clamp further away from the blade to clear the
guard.
3. The clamp to hold the leg laterally needs significant improvement
although I haven't noodled this one through yet. I am thinking of using a push style Destaco clamp instead.
60196
60197
60199
60200
60201
Steve