Replies

1. 
   James1 | Nov 30, 2002 08:10pm | #1

   Lee Valley in their newest catalogue feature a router based mortise and tenon jig made by Leigh, the same people who make the infamous dovetail jig. Check their website and see if it is the same. It looked rather expensive. 

1. 
   MIKELWatts | Nov 30, 2002 09:19pm | #2

   SEAUMAS,

   THANKS FOR THE REPLY, THE LEIGH JIG IS ONE THAT I AM LOOKING AT TO PURCHASE, BUT IT IS NOT THE ONE IN THE VIDEO, (AND YES THE LIEGH JIG IS EXPENSIVE). THE THAT JEFF MILLER IS USING IN THE TAPE IS OF ANOTHER BRAND. I THINK THAT I MIGHT CONTACT TAUNTON PRESS WHO PUBLISHED THE BOOK.

   THANKS AGAIN,

   MIKEL

1. 
   BillHg | Nov 30, 2002 11:50pm | #3

   Perhaps too expensive to mention but very impressive is the jds multi-router.  Check it out at http://www.thejdscompany.com .  Having seen this in action at a local custom furniture shop I was determined I needed one as well.  Welllll, I sent for their brochure and the darn thing is over $2,000 plus shipping and handling of course.  While this did not change my mind about wanting one I think it DID change my mind about actually having my own.  If any of you know of a less expensive comparable product please let me know.

1. 
   rslatm | Dec 01, 2002 01:08am | #4

   There's plenty of options if you don't need all the bells and whistles of the JDS. FWW #141 has a slick homemade slot mortiser using drawer slides. It works...I know someone who made a similar version years before. Then there's the Laguna/Robland slot mortiser. Next is the Rojek which is about $1250 at the shows. Then there is converting an old horizontal mill which can be found for scrap prices at times. If you can find one that uses collets you are almost there. Loose tenons are fine and you can do most everything the JDS will do for a lot less.

   Rick

1. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 01, 2002 01:21am | #5

   Or you could build one of these. Does everything the JDS does but with a larger capacity in each direction.

   
2. 
   LeeEschen | Dec 01, 2002 01:43am | #6

   Hey, Tom, that's slick. It looks like a considerably more sophisticated version of one I built some years ago. It was all plywood and it didn't have the nice sliding tables, but it worked just fine. I still use it occasionally.

   Have you got a plan drawing for this one or shall the rest of us struggle with trying to duplicate it by guess and by gosh?

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

3. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 01, 2002 02:07am | #7

   I don't have a plan drawing of it as I just kind of winged it but it really is a pretty simple contraption. There are three pairs of linear bearing sets, one for each axis and the table tilts with a hinge on the front. I just use wedges to set the angle I want. I made stop collars to go on the linear shafts to set travel stops. Still tinkering with a better hold down/fence system but it really is a great, accurate machine. I can give more detail if anyone is interested.

4. 
   LeeEschen | Dec 01, 2002 02:34am | #8

   I'm interested!!! Keep posting details.

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

5. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 01, 2002 02:45am | #9

   Might be easier if you have specific questions about the design or operation.

6. 
   LeeEschen | Dec 01, 2002 11:53am | #10

   Info on the linear bearing sets would be a good place to start. I'm unfamiliar with such things.

   Details on the stop collars would also be useful.

   Thanks!!!

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

   Edited 12/1/2002 3:55:47 AM ET by Lee

7. 
   TomMGTC | Dec 01, 2002 10:35pm | #15

   Rick was right in his recollection that I got my linear bearings for cheap. They were salvaged off an old plotter of some sort. Grainger and MSC both sell linear bearings and they are quite expensive new but I have seen them go pretty cheap on ebay. The stop collars are just bushings with an allen screw that tightens down on the linear shaft. If you are interested in building a similiar machine I would recommend finding your bearing sets first and thn building around them I could conceivably get a list of parts necessary to reproduce my machine but parts cost alone would probably be close to 1000.00. Still not bad when compared to a multi-router though.

8. 
   LeeEschen | Dec 02, 2002 11:29am | #16

   Tom wrote: I could conceivably get a list of parts necessary to reproduce my machine but parts cost alone would probably be close to 1000.00. Still not bad when compared to a multi-router though.

   ---------

   I'm in agreement with you on cost vrs multi-router.

   Rather than go the linear bearing route, I think I might look into upgrading what I already built with a 2-axis sliding table using some under drawer mount slides with a screw thread positioner/limiter, then improving the router elevation mechanism with a screw lift I've done in prototype already.

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

9. 
   MIKELWatts | Dec 01, 2002 04:01pm | #12

   RSL, THANKS FOR THE PEPLY, I WILL CHECK OUT THE FWW ARTICLE AND THE ROJEK SYSTEM. FOR NOW I NEED TO RETHINK THE COST VERSUS MY ACTUAL NEEDS.

   THANKS AGAIN

   MIKEL

10. 
    rslatm | Dec 01, 2002 05:50pm | #13

    That issue is still in print I believe. I'd post a picture from the article but don't think Taunton would like that. The article is pretty basic and shows what he did. No measured drawings so you can still be creative. Don't forget the Laguna. Consider the cost of 4 Accuride 1029 series drawer slides for $20. Have you priced linear bearings? Unless you can salvage some machine from scrap that has them, very pricey. http://www.mcmaster.com has some good basic linear bearing set ups with pricing as well as a large selection of stop collars. The thing is you could build the FWW slot mortiser in a day with things you can buy off the shelf for cheap. I give Tom a lot of credit for his ingenuity but I recall he got lucky in acquiring his linear bearings from some salvaged gizmo which everyone probably won't be able to find as easily. Most all the shops I know use the basic slot mortiser and loose tenons. We have a Griggio at work which is pretty heavy duty but overkill for the homeshop. Make the FWW one and can always upgrade as your needs grow. I like building machines as much as woodworking but I try to get the job to pay for it.

    Rick

    Edited 12/1/2002 10:50:22 AM ET by rsl

2. 
   MIKELWatts | Dec 01, 2002 03:53pm | #11

   123, THANKS FOR THE INFORMATION, THE JDS JIG IS WHAT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING FOR BUT, LIKE YOU, THE COST WILL BE A PROBLEM WITH ME.

   THANKS AGAIN,

   MIKEL

2. 
   crt2cu2 | Dec 01, 2002 07:39pm | #14

   MIKELWATTS,

   I don't have that issue of FWW but just this morning saw a cheap (relatively) yet simple MT router jig for sale at: quicktenon.com

   Let us know how your search goes.

   sawick