29 - How to make a Tapering Jig in an hour (for little money)

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Share pictures of your work & get help if needed. Join our King’s Fine Woodworking Community Page. Woodworkers helping other woodworkers. Share advice, get project ideas. Free tips. Insider information. Get the best deals on lumber & tools. m.facebook.com/groups/134828903893994

[@threeqtrthrottle]

Awesome project. I like the simple stuff especially, because not all of us have bottomless budgets.

[@jobhiojkp]

Future Fins has what they call a "One-Pass Bit" which can make the double channel in a single pass although I usually make several passes, slightly increasing the depth at each pass.

[@Metalbass10000]

Another very well done, informative, and clearly communicated, video. I actually prefer to do some rip cuts using a jig like this. One thing I've noticed with the Rockler clamps I need to ask about. My machining, process engineering, background, where I not only am responsible for how parts are made, what machines, what tools, what order, speeds, feeds, depths of cuts, etc., but I am also respinsible for stable, reliable, precise, accurate, and above all, safe set ups. I always see these clamps used with the longer arm on the workpiece and the shorter arm on the opposite side of the nut (the fulcrum, as these and any strap clamps are levers). Using them this way gives you far less strength holding the workpiece in place. This lesser stability/rigidity brings an increased risk of a long list of negative consequences. I've had to write-up guys for set ups that weren't as rigid as they should have been simply because of improper clamping, which resulted in very expensive scrap, and in one case it resulted in a serious injury to a coworker on another shift. Is this clamping system, and I own two of the smaller clamps for small parts, meant to be used in this way? Any information is welcome. Thank you.

[@tomweaver7442]

Great video! If you make the countersink first then drill the hole you will get perfectly round countersinks even without a drill press.

[@77starface]

Can I just say that the fact you have these 2 cool young ladies helping you to teach is so so so incredible. As a woman in woodworking, and a high school teacher, I feel like this really makes me inspired to try new and different techniques that might be deemed more complex. Way to go, sir! I’m subscribing for life. And hello and thank you to your two girls!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

You are very kind. Thank you!

[@stephenschultz9901]

I can't wait for the day my kids decide to willingly help me in the shop!

[@mikebennett6591]

Hi James and the Photo Bombers, I've watched many of your videos and would like to express my sincere thanks for your contribution to my NOW better woodworking life. I'd like to think that one day I'll reach your skill level but starting woodworking in my 60's that might be difficult. I love the simplicity of your presentations, your advice and clear understanding of what you do and what you achieve. I only so admire your Daughters involvement and your comments of the Photo Bombing, they certainly put a smile on my face as you progress through your tutorials. I can see quite clearly that they are both picking up Dads skills so well. So once again thank you for your videos and long may you continue. I can't commit to your Patreon sadly but I will be purchasing some of your plans in the future. Thank's also go out to The Photo Bombers for my smiles. THANK YOU ALL.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Mike! Thank you so much for such a long kind letter. It really means a lot to us!

[@Normal1855]

Between this, and the planer jig, you gave me an excellent tool.

[@mountainviews5025]

Fantastic I really appreciate your channel my little nephew is getting into woodworking fabrication and he just lost both of his parents and I'm trying so hard to get him tools and watching your channel is helping somewhat on getting something's thank you so much James we love how great you are at woodworking thumbs up my friend

[@markturbitt8807]

Thanks again James. Your videos are very helpful. I'm a retired electrical engineer so I listen very carefully to a college professor who teaches organic chemistry (wow)

[@sigogglin]

You are great at explaining and have a pleasing voice.

[@TjallingBlackCat]

Hey, I just wanted to thank you for making these videos so in-depth and therefore longer than you'd typically see for woodworking content. Makes it so much nicer to follow along and build something you've shown. Haven't been subscribed for all that long, but I just thought I'd throw that out there.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi! Thank you for commenting and thank you for the nice compliment.

[@gabelariz]

Nicely done James, I’ve searched for a project like this one. I have to say that your is the easiest to make and as effective as the others. What I like the most is the alternate fixtures you’ve displayed for holding down the work piece. Yes the woodpecker and rockler are nice hold downs, but some homemade diy are as good as the others and and best of all are cheap. Great video.

[@johnmarcustaylor]

your videos on table saw jigs are among the best; you and colin knecht; thank you for all the clever ideas!

[@johnshort1536]

Excellent as always. Very well explained in a calm and pleasant manner.

[@billabram8512]

Best Video I've seen on making a taper jig!

[@greggmiller2913]

James, that taping jig is awesome looks like I need to add that to our shop jigs, just as a side note I think it is great that your girls send time with you in the shop. Our shop is a family business and my 14 year old grandson spends many days with us. Keep making sawdust and great videos

[@Sebastopolmark]

GREAT video James. There are several things I like about your jig; 1st the simplicity 2nd the sandpaper 3rd the "dual" rail system to accommodate 4X4's AND lastly the hold downs. I was going to use the toggle system but yours are MUCH more versatile. Very well done! !! !!!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much!

[@wilkbor]

This is a great and instructional video, but the best part was watching the kids. They seemed to be having a lot of fun.

[@jerryjones6126]

Hands down the best tapering jig video ever. Awesome thanks for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much!

[@jetlaggedchef6806]

I love that you involve your daughters, it's also great that they share an interest. Love this so much!

[@1stetson57]

Someone may have mentioned this below. But, to make a round countersink hole you need to drill with the counter sink first then your hole with a sacrificial pc under for a nice hole exit. Then it is no matter if you use your hand drill or press for the countersink as it will be round. Nice Vid!! Thanks

[@thedrizz1913]

Outstanding video as always James! I'd love to see a video of your cabinet jigs or best practices you've picked up over the years. Thanks for the great content!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Adrian. I am planning to put together a video of "how to build kitchen cabinets." I will have to include some of my jigs in that. Thank you and thanks for watching! ~James

[@billr2996]

King's Fine Woodworking looking forward to that video!!

[@NeverBeenThereBefore]

Good video! Just what i wanted.. all detail no fluff. Good work!

[@Chriswoodworker]

You really do explain everything in your videos. Well done. Keep up the door work.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

[@bgmacrides]

Nice work Mr. K. Love the videos. Easy to follow and fun to watch. Bill, Cross City, Fl.

[@fdort3971]

@KingsFineWoodworking thanks for the lesson...especially how you lined it up from underneath! Great parenting for the shop assistants! My father made it clear it wasn't for girls...I learned anyway.

[@jthomas2853]

Just last night I was using the countersink on about 20 holes, and one came out hexagonal. I was like WHAT, but you have confirmed my suspicion of my board bouncing . Great videos, new favorite channel!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Haha, thanks for watching!

[@jackwillumjensen5369]

Countersink before you drill the hole and it will be perfectly round

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

thanks for the tip!

[@louisstiglitz4770]

Sarjeet v

[@eliotmays]

Using the countersink in reverse works as well.

[@nonparticipant4671]

Thanks for the vid. Regarding the counter sink bit- If you use the countersink before drilling the hole with the drill bit you will have a better looking result. Its just as easy and works fine. I also like to just get one hole drilled and tapped, then drill the others when the first is locked in, which eliminates measuring error or walking drill bit. Wonderful to see a family doing things like this- my kids wouldn't do this if I paid them.

[@dalewilliamson1125]

That will make a great addition to any shop, thanks for sharing James.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Dale, thanks!

[@njbaquatics4827]

Fantastic as usual now we need a storage rack for all of our new tablesaw jigs they are a real pain to store 👍

[@jasongrant6165]

I like your video and i think its good that you get the kiddos involved. I will be making my own tapering jig based off of your plans very soon but with some modifications so that I can do quick jointing for common lengths. Eg getting the rounded finish off a 2x6 etc. When attaching the track its easier/faster/more accurate to insert it and apply a couple of dabs of glue and place the board on top. Then drop your pilot holes and countersinks in...

[@mtstewart8535]

quick and simple jig build to get perfect cuts everytime! I will definitely be making one of these! glad to see the photo bomber in there. but we need more glue James!!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thanks for watching and this video is definitely short on glue.

[@pdwinc.1077]

LOL I paused video to ask a question. Resumed the video and my question was immediately answered. Your good.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Haha, Thank you Steve!

[@fluffymittens24]

Excellent. I know when I watch one of your videos that I'm getting great information and this one is no different. You should have some highly skilled shop help by now. Great work to all involved.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you. You are very kind.

[@RainDog222222]

"this works 100% as good as the Rockler ones, and you can find it in your shop for free" -- that's a pretty good summary of all of Rockler's gadgetry

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Simple, yet highly effective & cheap to make. Well done once again. Kind regards.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much!

[@toolsconsumables7055]

Many thanks for your reply; credit when it's duly deserved. Kind regards.

[@HarmonieZvuku-harfy-kalimby]

Thank you. Finally this looks like design I was looking for :) I need to tapper wide panels - about 13inches and also narrow ones like 1 and less of an inch. This looks it could work! But you forget to add amazon links, there is just text. Thank you

[@hourse1980]

Wow you are a great person. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@marlonjcampos1]

Nice jig, nice video, and good explanation and demo. Thanks

[@mxka100]

thank you, thank you, thank you! what a nice and informative post. I am going to start building one tomorrow. I am a very novice woodworker putting a decking walkway with curves in the backyard. this will be an awesome tool for tapering the boards for curves. thank you!

[@LurgCraft]

Great video, particularly the final section where you provide various options for differing budgets!

[@cabman86]

That one daughter just loves the camera! I have to build this one.

[@Ekhazman]

Hi James, I made this jig this weekend and had an issue. When u tighten down the hold down clamp, it makes the fence bow up a little. Great video by the way!

[@JeepJorge1]

Great vid, Dr. King. Learned lots and this jig is on my list.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much!

[@alschulze-woodworx7258]

Great video, I see you have a lot of nice toys aside from the great power equipment......thank you for taking the time to show alternative approaches for those of us that do not have extra rockler or woodpecker material laying around yet, lol - love that you have your kids in the shop even if she is a photobomber hahaha

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Al. Thanks for watching. My girls really do love woodworking but my youngest really does love photobombing.

[@akquicksilver]

Nice simple functional jig and another great video. Well done James.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much.

[@larndavies6954]

Certainly a high quality jig, looks good and works well, the doubling up is a good idea for thicker items.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much.

[@stevenwood8805]

Great video. I just finished mine this weekend. And I bought ur extreme mitre station plans for my project for next winter. Thanks James.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Steven! Thank you!

[@redwards2006]

The alternative hold downs were a great bonus. Thanks

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much.

[@NZErehwon]

And another practical lesson from James & assistants :-)

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thanks Andrew!

[@ronsmith2464]

Once again another excellent video, thanks for taking the time to make these video's

[@michaelkaye4998]

Building this tomorrow. Wish me luck 😁

[@mariojhorge23]

Nice work. Well done.

[@littleduckylittle8251]

Just outstanding. Again.

my friend. very nice. thank you. be happy. bravo...

[@cosmasindico]

I just discovered your channel and I love it. Thanks.

[@kathrynnewton8721]

Love your stuff James! I think a little beyond me at this stage but something I'd like to make in the future. I live in South Africa and not sure we can find the rails and clamps but worth looking into.

[@SpareroomWoodworking]

You can get most of the Rockler products from Toolcraft or Tools4Wood. That said Toolcraft has much cheaper T-track (R150 for 1.2m) and Adendorff has toggle clamps that are MUCH cheaper than the Rockler hold down clamps. For mitre slot runners I get UHDPE from Gartech in Cape Town.

[@nicksears1225]

First off I'll say I'm really enjoying your videos, you do an excellent job of showing and telling, so thanks for all of the good information! One think I'll mention though is I made your taper jig this weekend and I have a DeWalt portable table saw, with the stock throat plate. When I was cutting a taper on some 2x2 stock, the cutoff wedge would fall into the throat plate and against the blade, pushing the blade over and actually stopping it one time. Guess I need to get a zero clearance throat plate?

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Nick. Thank you! Yes, I highly recommend a zero clearance throat plate.

[@HomeImProveMentHow]

That's very useful thanks for the video bro I'm a fellow woodworker finish Carpenter I definitely see the value of that thank you Ken

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

[@robertevans6481]

Great jig there James...

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Robert! Thank you!

[@ryxx9z743]

I love the sandpaper grip strips you added, I am definitely going to do that on my tapering/jointing jig. The red sandpaper looks bad ass also.

[@jasondoust4935]

I was thinking the same thing! Function meets fun. Maybe do a Shelby Cobra GT stripe in blue abrasive paper? (And I'm not even a car nut!) Great design and great video, James. Thank you!

[@hassanal-mosawi6049]

Thanks James for showing and sharing that

[@jeffbowling2674]

Great Design! What is the longest taper this jig can accommadate ? Thanks.

[@cougill_trim_and_cabinets]

Loving this design. Thanks guys!

[@mikesim28]

I realy like your video keep on going u are a great woodworker

[@DucPhan20]

I'm trying to find the double sided tape you suggested in one of your video but now I can't find it. Great videos! Love your work and kids.

[@crappo8459]

Well built nice and clean thanks

[@stevegaymer9764]

Thanks for your good work I do appreciate you videos, time to go to my shop and make a jig,

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much.

[@HarlyGuy13]

Another great one James.

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

[@airman051]

learning a lot from your channel. Thank you Sir!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Hi Bryan! Thank you for watching!

[@michaelthomas3738]

Very nice James... Thanks for this inspirational video... I have my own bench saw and even though I don't have the tools you've got there, you gave me some damn fine ideas to make my own mitre guide... Well done buddy.

[@jamescapozzi9749]

Another quality job well done 😎

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thanks James!

[@billm4560]

Nice build James and thanks for sharing! I see the photo bomber is helping! :-)

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much. She is always a great help.

[@asashaw1953]

Great video!

[@nancymills3381]

This was very helpful thank you for sharing!

[@xro5841]

At 14:40 your talking about Stacking so you can taper Large materials like 3x3 or 4x4, What size Blade or table saw do you need to actually be able to Cut through a 4x4 let alone be able to taper cut a 4x4 raised up 1/2 an inch?

[@handyman562]

nice jig great video well done thanks for sharing

[@ahunt2117]

One thing to consider is the max depth of cut for your table saw. Max thickness of material (for a 10" table saw) would be 2 5/8" which accounts for the 1/2" plywood sled. Otherwise, a bandsaw is ideal for thicker material. Just a thought. Well designed jig, though!

[@graysonchild7479]

I like how you involve your family

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you.

[@gilzr473]

Great video thanks for sharing 👍👍🙂

[@MJFAN666]

omg having your hands right above the router bit 3:30

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

Nice simple tampering jig, I would rethink that piece of metal for a back stop. I bet it would do wonders with a SawStop saw and a $140.00 Forester Blade. That goes for the aluminum hold downs too they sure look nice, well until one goes through that Forester Blade. I like your idea of using a hard wood for the hold downs, I say all this not to be critical about your work but rather to have new wood workers learn to be critical Thinkers. I have three times the experience of most wood workers, that is because it took two times to find ways that did not accomplish my goals. I am going to build your style of tapering jig as I have a need for one this weekend. Thanks.

[@feocuchara]

nice vid. what is that slotted metal bracket you add to the end?

[@ronswoodshack]

Great idea! Thanks!!

[@repy123]

This is fantastic and exactly what i needed to make. Thank you!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

Awesome, think you could just use the fence to guide the sled instead of the miter slot, move the fence to get a fresh edge as it wears ? Don't you just love that router lift . Hey that helpers hair matches the hardware !

[@77starface]

Did you make this? I was thinking the same thing. Maybe I’ll make this without the runner and see how it turns out.

[@leandersmith6184]

This is great and I think a old video but I'm missing the outfeed table what should be no problem for you to make. Great jig and so versatile. Change the circular areas of clamping to a disk turning from the middle like the disk from a microwave is what I was thinking. But again great and another project is waiting thanks

[@Frankengruvin]

Around the 6:00 mark in the video, when you were cutting the sandpaper strips...was that a Maker Knife?

[@stob82]

Good job on making the jig that’s almost as good as Rockler one. But, I tried adding the cost of purchasing the parts for it and it came up as much as buying this jig from Rockler would cost me which is $70 on sale until the end of March. 36” bar is $30, 2 hold-down clamps $26 ($13 each). Add plywood/mdf, knobs/bolts and your time invested into building it’s gonna cost you close to $69.99.

[@billr2996]

Excellent video. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. And tell the photo bombers hi. Lol

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you. I sure will. And thanks for watching.

[@BradsWorkbench]

Great video! Great explanation

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you!

[@jeffcoh3440]

Fabulous vid, thanks

[@fred4513]

Very interesting!!! THANK YOU for sharing your vast wealth of knowledge!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@waynesatterwhite4440]

How do you determine the depth of the mortise (length of the tenon)?

[@afidram]

Nice build - thanks!

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Thank you very much.

[@williamhanna5224]

Excellent!

[@tracyross98]

I can use this jig for building the bucket portion of a butter churn I hope to build for my students. I just cut the slats with a beveled edge. Thanks

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Awesome.

[@ecaff9515]

Excellent job. Thank you for sharing. you gave me an great idea for practical solution to my common problem...

[@KingsFineWoodworking]

Great. Thanks.

[@АльбертДобрыйтатарин]

Молодцы,отличное приспособление!👍. И спасибо Вам за хорошие видео.

[@bifurcated]

As a note to all the people complaining about the hardware costs: A. as others have mentioned, you can find cheaper alternatives to the Rockler stuff (e.g. Powertec?), and B. things like the hold downs can be shared between jigs with almost no effort, and things like the adjustable tracks can be reused if you decide to remake or upgrade your jig (or if you just decide you don't want it anymore).

[@gary3ward]

Star nuts. For 3"dia. use a compass set to 1.5" to make a circle on 1/2 or 3/4" plywood. Walk it around the circumference making six marks. Drill through all six marks with a 3/4" spade bit. Cut out using a 3"dia. hole-saw. Pick a nut for the size screw you want to use. Drill an undersized hole as deep as the nuts thickness, then all the way through with a drill the size of the screw. Press and epoxy the nut in place. Do several at a time. Cheap.

[@Nonsense62365]

Brilliant!