STUMPED? Q&A: Lessons Learned from an Overly-Complicated Jig & the Evolution of the Table Saw

[@hyperionhelios190]

This was a great shop lesson and a great life lesson. DON'T OVERCOMPLICATE THINGS. Thanks for sharing your failures as well as successes.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@johnrice6793]

I always like the historical addition. Explaining how history and function go hand in hand makes the videos very interesting.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Thanks, John. What can I say, I’m a tool nerd. Scott

[@johnrice6793]

My Growth Rings No sir, your videos are intellectual, stimulating. As a former Alaska commercial fisherman, I was always taken by the ability shipwrights had to see, to do. The history behind their ability, the tools they used should not be lost. I say. “Good on ya!”

[@johnrice6793]

I’ll add - escaping Nazi Germany and founding a company that still uses his idea, the very same tool still exists and functions (10ER) is certainly a testament to the Shopsmith of today.

[@MyGrowthRings]

@@johnrice6793 You are exactly right. Hans had a vision and was also lucky enough to be working with some very smart businessmen who partnered with him to get his ideas off the ground. If you haven't read about the Bob and Frank Chambers, they are worth looking into. Scott

[@johnrice6793]

My Growth Rings You may have subscribed to a different Rice. I don’t have a KZbin channel. It’s interesting- back in the days of the Commodore Amiga I produced videos (and I was teaching). Those days are long gone. I am on Facebook though - John H. Rice Parachute,Co. I’d like to see you there!

[@MrMarkpeggy]

Thanks for the great video Scott! I really enjoyed the history of the table saw 👍😊

[@MyGrowthRings]

Thanks for checking it out and for your faithful viewership. Scott

[@lancefarmer8096]

Learn something every video. I like my Jack the ripper, simple and does the job

[@MyGrowthRings]

Glad to hear it.

[@RobertKeeney]

Love the dual miter gauge technique. I have two but I never thought of doing that.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Give it a try. It’s bit needed for most cuts but comes in handy at times. Scott

[@johnoerter2883]

Yup. Thanks, Scott! … gonna eve prowling eBay

[@chadnevels246]

Great episode of "Stumped? Q&A" this week. The real reason I made the suggestion to modify "Jack the Stripper" was for additional safety; to prevent it from getting sideways when pulling it back through the blade after the cut was made, with the saw still running. Or, you could just pick the jig up over top of the saw guard to reset for the next cut; as Scott did a few times (but not every time) in the previous video. My last comment on the previous video: "Sometimes the "k.i.s.s." method is the solution". So, my suggestion is don't think too much about modifying "Jack the Stripper", Scott. Old Jack might be good enough already, as is. Hearing "Make it a great day" just gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. Doesn't it?

[@MyGrowthRings]

I’m an advocate of the K.I.S.S. Method too. There is a stage in ideation where all ideas should be considered and examined before passing judgement on them, and I didn’t do that with my initial reaction to your suggestion. I really do have some ideas that I’m going to experiment with and if they lead anywhere, I’ll be sure to share them. Oh, and Chad, make it a great day! Scott

[@MyGrowthRings]

I forgot to mention, you are exactly right in my varied approach to returning the jig after the cut. Depending upon the width of cut being made is sometimes possible to pull Jack forward without removing it. It has to do with the anti-kickback device on the splitter and I was right on the edge. If I were ripping even slightly wider pieces I would’ve just slid the jig back.

[@looper9264]

The "T" nuts look ok, but I'd be leary of having to guide the rear nut into the slot while the wood is engaging the blade, having to adjust the jig to allow the nut to gently slide into the slot. I'm thinking, maybe if you set up the rip fence, making sure it's parallel with the saw blade, then drop a long strip of maple (machined to fit perfectly) into the guide slot, pre-drill slots in the top of your sled to allow for adjustment, lay the jig over the top of the maple strip and make marks where you could drill a few holes for Bitner nuts, then remove the jig and maple strip, countersink the holes from the UNDER SIDE of the maple strip, and remove your rip fence, allowing you to run the jig once it's locked into the place you desire. Might even be a cool way to rip tapers? I don't know, I'm new to this jig system :-)

[@MyGrowthRings]

SOunds worth exploring. I've used maple runners for a lot of jigs and they work great. Scott

[@jamesbrunk9817]

Just rout a t-slot into a board and no problems with cutting the aluminum channel. And you can attach with cheap t-nuts, not the Shopsmith expensive ones. But I like the tape idea better if it holds.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Yes, that's actually something I've done too. Just used toilet floor flange bolts. In the end it was just more work and didn't improve anything over the tape. Yes, SpecTape is excellent for jugs like this. Scott

[@larryjacobs5713]

Great idea on two miter gauges! He could have spent 35,000 and still needed jigs!

[@seanflanagan5674]

Wow, Mr Goldberg (may I call you Rudy?) you're my hero! I have an 'extra' miter gauge (from my 500) and want to make your adjustable fence for them. (I don't have a need for angled cuts, but I'm sure I can 'invent' a project, and actually get some saw kerfs in it. Oh, joy! Ace Hardware, here I come!) 🤡

[@MyGrowthRings]

That would be "Rube" and sure!

[@ronconti3429]

Can't you flip the jig 180 degrees so the aluminum extrusion is on the left miter instead of the right miter?

[@MyGrowthRings]

Yes, it's actually unhanded and can flip, but that doesn't change the way it functions. One solution would be to install an extrusion on both sides of the kerf and use four t-nuts. Again, now we are over-complicating something that otherwise was really simple.

[@RobertKeeney]

Simple is better I think. My two most used jigs are just a few pieces of plywood glued together.

[@MyGrowthRings]

Exactly. I have the same. Thanks fo me watching and commenting. Scott

[@johnrice6793]

I don’t recall watching this video. Dang it! The use of two miter gauges - sheesh! Simple but Suh - - - WHEET!

[@MyGrowthRings]

Ha! Yeah, it really works well, too.

[@alberttreado3713]

Did you ever come up with Jack the Stripper Mark II?

[@MyGrowthRings]

@@alberttreado3713 Sort of, but only on paper. I like the idea, though.

[@johnrice6793]

Looking at the comments, I did watch it. Was I in lah lah land?

[@MyGrowthRings]

Must have been.

[@seymourwrasse3321]

for something designed to be so simple, it sure is complicated

[@MyGrowthRings]

True!