tools

Woodworking jigs are an essential part of any woodworking shop. They are great for repetitive tasks in many projects and make the more difficult much easier and faster to complete. Jigs are not expensive, but making them from scrap wood is even cheaper. There are a variety of jigs available, and the type you need depends on the projects you like to do.

Dovetail jigs help make dovetail joints accurately and can be purchased fairly inexpensively. Of course, you can make your own dovetail jig. Templates are available on the internet or in most stores selling woodworking supplies. If you plan to make your own jigs, you will want to pick up a dovetail saw or a dovetail bit for your router. Many templates allow you to make up to twelve different sizes of jigs. Templates also allow you to make a variety of spaced or fixed dovetails for a wide range of products, such as cabinets and drawers. Some kits come with bits and templates which can save you money as compared to purchasing them separately.

Dovetail saws are great tools for cutting dovetails and fine joints for other projects. Blades on dovetail saws are thicker than on others and provide greater accuracy when cutting joints. It is important to purchase quality tools for cutting tight joints. Fourteen to seventeen points per inch is a good guideline to look for in quality saws.

Another type is the dowel jig which is used to make consistent, quality dowels. A self centering jig provides better accuracy for those times when you are using thick wood. Sizes of dowel jigs vary from one-quarter to one-half inch. Especially if you are not sure what size you need, purchasing a complete kit with several hundred dowels in a variety of sizes might be a good choice.

Kreg jigs are a great jig for cabinet making. Accurately positioned slides are necessary for the drawer to move smoothly. A benefit of kreg jigs is that you do not need to measure and mark the spaces for the drawer slides. Kreg jigs make it much easier to mount drawer slides, especially for its low cost and versatility.

Making your own jigs saves money, particularly in supplies. You can just use scrap pieces of plywood. If you plan to re-use the jigs, you may want to use a stronger wood. Otherwise, since jigs are only used for one project, there is little reason to spend a lot on materials. Plywood should suffice. Instructions on making jigs can be found in magazines or books or on the internet. You can photocopy or print the instructions for future use.

People everywhere are discovering the joy of woodworking. Today, when furniture and other types of wood-based manufacturing is moving overseas, getting old-fashioned quality is often next to impossible.

And of course, the high price of fine already-made wood products can also be prohibitively high. The good news is more and more people are either getting into woodworking or are expanding their skills and shops.

As a leading manufacturer of woodworking tools, our customers range from the weekend hobbyist with a set-up in the garage, to shops that turn out growing quantities of quality wood products.

One thing that will make your woodworking efforts far more productive and enjoyable is having the proper tools. Often we point to a professional’s skills as what separates him or her from the amateur, but skill isn’t the only factor. A pro usually has a well-developed collection of quality tools, with the right tool for every job.

And that’s a BIG advantage. Just about any job goes faster and gets better results when you have the RIGHT tool for the situation.

One constant challenge for woodworking shops is to keep dust under control. Super-fine saw dust can accumulate on floors, walls, in air conditioning, clog up tools, and even serve as fuel for fires. Worst of all, breathing saw dust can have a serious effect on your health. Most cities now have requirements that all commercial woodworking shops have dust gathering and removal systems.

An over-arm blade cover with dust collection for your table saw can be just what you need to control dust. Coupled to an appropriate dust collection system the blade cover will collect the dust as it flies off the revolving saw blade, keeping your shop and the air you breathe clean.

A sliding table will be a definite asset to your woodworking shop. Available in four sizes and designed to fit most table saws, sliding tables make it easy and safer for one person to cut large, heavy panels or long stock accurately. Plus, each sliding table has a two-part quick release-mounting bracket. With this you can quickly remove the sliding table from your table saw and attach it to your spindle shaper, router table or band saw.

If you’re serious about woodworking, don’t be afraid to spend the money to get really good quality professional tools. The price is often very affordable, and you’ll get years of enjoyment and productivity from your arsenal of well-chosen tools.

Setting up shop is easy when you have a supplier that can provide you with Jet power tools. The top-of-the-line woodworking and metalworking tools can be found at more than 9,000 dealers world-wide.

All About Jet

Jet power tools are not just made in one place, but are a collection of the finest technology and materials from around the world. The tools are manufactured in areas where engineers have perfected specific crafts and designed the tools to support them.

One of the unique qualities about Jet power tools is that they have the accessories that are most useful to each tool. For example, power saws are supported by products such as the Cyclone Dust Collector and Parallel Clamps. This makes working with the saw more efficient and creates a better workshop environment.

Jet power tools are backed by warranties on each and every product. Authorized Jet distributors stand behind this warranty as well. All tools can be maintained and services at authorized Jet service centres around the world. If you ever need a part, it will be available when you need it. Replacement and spare parts are well inventoried with more than $3 million of parts in stock at any given time.

And the Winner Is…

Jet has been the recipient of many prestigious awards within the power tool industry. Woodworking magazines are consistently rating Jet tools as the finest brand of power tools on the market. The awards don’t come easily either. They are based on a comparison of all tools within any given category from around the world and at all price levels.

What You Can Get From Jet Power Tools

In addition to quality you can get one of the widest varieties of power tools from Jet. The Jet lathe, Jet table saw and Long Bed Jointer are among the convenient woodworking tools by Jet.

One special item from Jet is the portable horizontal band saw. This lightweight series of saws are great for jobs outside of the workshop. They are small, yet big on capabilities. The blades can be adjusted to 45 and 60 degree angles great for miter cuts. The bi-metal blade makes it durable and able to handle jobs that normally require much bigger saws. There is also an optional floor stand that instantly turns the band saw into a multi-functional table saw.

To get the most from these portable saws and all of the tools carrying the Jet name, Jet has created training videos. These videos feature all of the top products by Jet in their training series known as the “Shopclass Series.” Either WMH Tool Group or specific distributors can provide you with the list of titles to help you complete any job.

Deep Backing for Jet WMH Tool Group

Jet power tools are one brand supported by parent company WMH Tool Group. This long-standing leader in tools also provides the Powermatic and Wilton lines to serious craftsman and do-it-yourself homeowners alike. To get a good look up close at the complete line of Jet power tools you can visit a distributor or attend one of the many industry trade shows where WMH Tool Group sets up their interactive booth. The website also features pictures and descriptions of all of their top selling tools and a list of distributors who carry them.

You will eventually need more than one saw in your woodworking shop. Table saws and miter saws are often the first purchases made by beginning woodworkers. Knowing what to look for in a quality saw is the best way to be sure you are getting tools that will serve your needs as you grow in experience. Woodworking shows and stores that sell discount woodworking tools are a great source of information and inspiration.

Choosing Woodworking Saws

Table saws are an important piece of equipment and often the first power tool purchased for a workshop. Saws come in either 120 or 240 voltage. If the saw is 120, it will run on normal household current. If it is 240, you will need a dedicated circuit. An electrician can run a dedicated line for the tool. For most home workshops, 120 is plenty of power. Professionals generally use 240, which stands up better to regular use.

Things to Consider:

• Power of the motor
• Direction of the tilt, left or right
• Dust collection, these saws tend to create a lot of dust, which is messy to clean and can be a health hazard
• Accuracy of the fence; look for a fence that is adjustable and easy to use.

Miter Saws for Woodworking

Miter saws are an important piece of equipment when working with wood. They cut angles quickly and precisely. The choices can be daunting, as there are literally hundreds on the market. Reading reviews is a good source of information when narrowing down your options.

Miter saws are great for big jobs, like replacing the trim in your entire house or furniture making projects. A tight miter makes a big difference in the overall appearance. Miter saws can either be used on a stand or the ground. A stand is best when you have a lot of wood to cut.

Woodworking Jigs

Woodworking jigs are an essential part of a variety of different projects. They save time and increase accuracy. Using jigs is much faster when you need to create several pieces. All pieces will come out identical with a jig. The results are more consistent and professional. The jigs ( http://www.inside-woodworking.com/jigs/index.html ) you need depend on the projects you are creating and the results you hope to achieve.

You can purchase jigs in any store that sells wood working supplies. They can also be found inexpensively on the internet. To save even more money, you may consider making your own jigs. Using scrap pieces of plywood is a cheap way to make jigs. Since they are typically used only once, you don’t want to use expensive wood to make them.

Woodworking jigs are a necessary part of any woodworking shop. They are great for repetitive tasks in many wood working projects. They make complex projects easier to manage and faster. You can purchase pre made jigs or make your own. Although they are inexpensive, making your own from scrap wood is even cheaper. Depending on the type of projects you like to do, you will need a variety of different jigs.

Types of Woodworking Jigs

Dovetail jigs are great for making dovetail joints accurately. These can be purchased relatively inexpensively. Another option is to make your own dovetail jig. You can find templates for making your own jigs on the internet or in most stores that sell wood working supplies. Many of these templates allow you to make up to twelve different size jigs.

You may want to puck up a dovetail bit for your router and a dovetail saw. These are great tools if you intend to make your own jigs. Templates allow you to make variable spaced or fixed dovetails for a variety of projects, including cabinets, drawers and small boxes. Some systems come with bits and templates together in one kit. These save money compared to purchasing the components separately.

Dovetail saws are used to cut not only dovetails, but other fine joints for projects. The blades on these saws are thinker than other saws. This allows for greater accuracy. It’s important to purchase a good quality tool for making tight joints and professional looking projects. Look for about fourteen to seventeen points per inch in a good quality saw.

A dowel jig is used for making quality, consistent dowels. If you are using a thick timber, get a self centering jig for better accuracy. There are a variety of sizes from a quarter to one half inch. Complete kits are available that include the dowel jig with several hundred dowels in a variety of sizes. Glue is sometimes included in these kits.

A kreg jig is great for cabinet making. Perfectly positioned slides are necessary if the movement in the drawer is to be smooth. Using kreg jigs save time because you won’t need to measure and mark the spaces for drawer slides. These make it easier to mount metal drawer slides. They can be used for center, bottom or extension mounted drawers. This is an inexpensive, yet versatile piece of equipment.

Making Woodworking Jigs Yourself

Making your own woodworking jigs saves money in supplies. Use inexpensive materials and scrap pieces of plywood for making your own jig. Since you use the jigs for one project only, you don’t want to spend much on materials. If you plan to re use your jigs, use a stronger hardwood to make them.

You can find instructions for making your own jigs in woodworking books or magazines. Instructions are also available on the internet. You can print these out for future reference. Consider getting a good binder to keep your jig making instructions organized in your workshop. Using plastic page covers will protect the instructions from getting dirty, ripped or damaged.