I use a jig to taper a guitar’s fingerboards, but the jig could be adapted to table legs or any short tapering job. The limiting factor is the length of the rip fence.

Start with a piece of hardwood scrap that’s narrower than the work. Cut a notch into both ends of the jig to leave two fingers. One finger should be half as wide as the taper, and the other finger should be as wide as the taper. To use the jig, first rip the workpiece. Then, without changing the fence setting, insert the half-taper notch between the fence and the workpiece, and trim one side. Flip the workpiece over and flip the jig end for end to trim the second side. The resulting workpiece will have square ends and equal tapers.

Phil Clark, Homestead, Pa.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, February 1993 No. 98

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