Richard Fryklund’s budget-conscious plate-joinery jig (Fine Woodworking #75, p. 12) inspired the jig shown above. This jig incorporates a series of scallops along both edges of a piece of Baltic-birch plywood to eliminate the tedious clamping and unclamping required when cutting a series of biscuit slots.

To construct the jig, start with a piece of plywood about 10-1/2 in. wide and 42 in. long. Using a fly-cutter in a drill press and a fence, bore a series of equally spaced 3-in.-dia. holes, just touching each edge. I spaced the scallops 4 in. apart on one edge and 6 in. apart on the other to provide a variety of slot spacings. Now glue and clamp 1/4-in. by 1-in. strips of plywood along the diameter of each line of holes on opposing faces of the jig. When the glue has cured, rip equal amounts off each side, leaving 5/8-in.-deep scallops and a fence on the edges. This size scallop, when used with a 2-in.-dia. wing cutter and a 1-in.-dia. guide bushing, will produce an arc that will cut a semicircular slot matching a #20 biscuit size.

To position the jig, line up the centerline of the jig with a centerline scribed on the edge of the workpiece.

R. Brucken, Martinez, Calif.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, June 1995 No. 112

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Leigh Super 18 Jig

This jig is a value-oriented alternative to the Leigh D4R, but its template system is just as excellent.

Buy at Amazon Buy at Woodcraft

Veritas Standard Wheel Marking Gauge

A wheel-type gauge is the easiest to use, and this wonderful Veritas model is a steal at $38.

Buy at Lee Valley

Pfiel Chip Carving Knife

Great to use as a marking knife for laying out joinery and easy to sharpen.

Buy at Amazon