Multi Function Alignment JIG

I want one!

-- Daniel - http://theloveofwood.blogspot.com/

very nice, i want one too. The 90 deg. square u got in the pics where dd u get it from? it’s the second time i seen one like that but can’t seem to find one for sale.

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://[email protected]

Make that three, I can think of alot of uses for this. Where can we find the 90 deg. in pics?Good work.

-- Bill Merritt -Augusta Ga. woodworker

Very cool, you should patent this, if it’s not already patented..

-- Jason, Central Virginia

You can get a square like that at the Edward J Bennet Co.

-- Joe

Several commercial versions of these are available made in USA and made in china. You can spend between 60-450 + or make your own for price of aluminum bar.
MasterGage Pro, ts-aligner jr., A-Line-It, Red-Line X Point, Digi-Align just to name a few.
Squares at EJB under accessories.

-- Router è ancora il mio nome.

Nice design. And very useful.

-- ~Jason~ , Albuquerque NM

Thanks for comments.
If I were to buy a commercial jig, I would go with TS-A. but I enjoy making jigs so just few hours and anyone can make these. As long as a jig is solid and there’s no play, your accuracy becomes dial dependent. I will be adding another function to it as soon as I get my hands on impossible to find 4-48.

-- Router è ancora il mio nome.

Pretty cool looking gizmo you have there. How do you use the indicator with dual points to set the fence and blade? What are the advantages over a square? I guess it applies pressure while you are adjusting the jointer fence so that one of the points are always touching the fence then when they both touch (and the indicator is at the same measurement?) it is correctly positioned? Forgive me for all the dumb questions, I haven’t seen one like this, I just want to understand how it works…

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

The Dual point is used to align the squareness. It uses the zero reference technique. That means the jig and the reference square are placed on a flat surface.
The two dial points are pushed until making a contact with the square, then zero out the dial and remove the square.
Now when you push the jig against the saw blade or jointer fence the dial should read zero if they are perfect square with reference to the surface.
The advantage is, this is the most accurate way of aligning blades or fences. But there are those that will tell you this kind of accuracy is not necessary in wood working. you could just use a wixey or something but that would get you to within 0.1 and leave you guessing. Me, If I don’t see 0.0001 or better, it will ruin my week ;-)

-- Router è ancora il mio nome.

I see; that is an interesting technique.Sounds like you sleep better now, knowing your fence is set perfectly :-)

-- A thing of beauty is a joy forever...

Well, the point of all this alignment and accuracy obsession and jigs madness is simple.
If you try to make a simple frame, you have to have a perfect 45-degree angle. 0.1 or 0.01 or even 0.001 will not cut it. Unless you’re content to use wood putty.
So it all starts with the saw blade, which has to be perfectly aligned to miter track and at a perfect 90 degree with respect to the top. Then you have to have a miter gauge that is perfectly aligned to track. Only then you can get perfect cuts. And a jointer is the same story, if your jointed side is on an angle and you try gluing up the boards, you will have a nice cup so there’s no point having a jointer.
At the end of the day, statement as in “ this kind of accuracy is not necessary in woodworking” just doesn’t cut it.

-- Router è ancora il mio nome.

I love this jig. I will be making one just like it.

-- Scott, Kentucky ----- "Let us so live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry" Mark Twain