4 Handy Tablesaw Jigs Avenal CA

4 Handy Tablesaw Jigs

Unlock your saw's full potential.

by Seth Keller

The tablesaw’s power and precision put it at the center of everyone’s shop. Despite this honored position, a tablesaw is mostly used for mundane ripping tasks. To make better use of my tablesaw, I use these four simple jigs in my shop. They take advantage of the tablesaw’s speed and accuracy without tempting you to perform risky operations.

The first jig crosscuts small parts without putting your fingers in harm’s way or sending little offcuts flying back into your face. The second jig allows you to repeatedly rip very thin stock without the risk of kickback. The third jig lets you safely crosscut panels for casework. And the fourth jig provides an easy, accurate way to cut tapered legs. All four jigs make use of the factory-milled miter slots found on contractor and cabinet saws. Once you have these jigs in your shop, you’ll be surprised how often you reach for them and what a difference they make in your saw’s capabilities.

Note: Except for the thin-rip jig, these jigs rely on an initial cut to define a zero-clearance edge. Because blade kerfs vary slightly, it’s important to select and use the same blade each time you use the jig. So that you won’t forget, note the blade used on the face of each jig.

Small-Parts Jig

Cutting small parts usually means dodging little wooden bullets flying off your saw blade. This sled takes care of that problem. Push the sled slowly into the blade and your small part will slide safely down the ramp away from the spinning blade.

This jig is perfect for cutting plugs from dowel stock or other small decorative parts. Its maximum cutting capacity is 3/4-in.-thick stock. A simple sled stop prevents you from pushing the jig too far.

How to use the jig

An adjustable flip stop makes it easy to get accurate, repeatable cuts. Flip the stop down to position the workpiece and clamp. Then flip the stop up out of the way and make the cut. Repeat. 

Thin-Rip Jig

This jig makes ripping lots of thin stock safe and easy. That’s because the finish piece is the offcut, rather than the piece pushed between the fence and the blade. The jig is used to set the fence for each cut so the offcut is always the same width. 

While it is possible to rip thin stock using only the tablesaw’s fence, you have to remove the guard and squeeze your stock and push stick through the dangerously narrow gap between the blade and your fence. Can you say “kickback”? Even if you successfully navigate this dangerous cut, you inevitably end up with burn marks and uneven cuts that have to be sanded out. 

This jig flips the equation, making the narrow offcut the finished product. The jig is simple to set up and can be adjusted to cut strips of various widths. You can rip miles of cabinet trim without breaking a sweat.

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