I am making a square end table with four 33” x 3” x 3/4”aprons connected by 3/4” finger joints at each corner. Previously, on small boxes I had mounted my wood pieces vertically to be run through my table saw.
How do I safely position a 33” long board vertically; or is there an alternate, safer way to accomplish this?
tenderfoot bob
Replies
If you have the ceiling height you could build a supersized version of the sled you used for the little boxes, or buy / build a router jig... but by the time you build that one-off jig you could probably have cut them by hand. I have low shop ceilings and dovetailed a queen bed frame with the parts running diagonally through my face vise:
https://www.tailspintools.com/custom-dovetail-joinery-bed-frame/
Sometimes unplugging is the best way... Break out the handtools!
I screw a 8-10" wide board vertically to two miter gauges, and clamp my work piece to it. Plenty of surface to keep it vertical. You can check the verticality of the board with a square and adjust with paper shims to make sure the work piece is vertical. The faces of my miter gauges are not perfectly vertical. You shouldn't have any problem with ceiling clearance unless you are in a hobbit house.
David O. Wade has a great method here:
https://tinyurl.com/y43bxs3p
I made a jig using this concept. I have seen versions in magazines as well. Your 33" boards would put the working end at just the right height if clamped vertically in the vise with one end resting on the shop floor.
Thank you, thank you!! Just what I needed! I explored the video you suggested. The approach will make my finger joints easier to do and very accurate.
tenderfoot bob