Ask The Trades - Print Page

Ask The Trades
https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Jigless Worktop Jointing https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1084906031 Message started by HippieChippie on May 18^th, 2004, 7:47pm

Title: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by HippieChippie on May 18^th, 2004, 7:47pm

Hi Guys

gonna have a go at masons mitres without a rip off jig. It don't look hard, will use a small router to cut through laminate surface, then circular saw up to mitre and cut mitre with handsaw.
Cut the male 1st and lay on top of female (saucy) transfer onto surface and cut female in same way - should work or not?? what do you reckon?

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by fozzie on May 18^th, 2004, 8:26pm

I'd like to know how you get on. I've got a 'rip off' jig, but it's definately worth it everytime you happen to look and run your hand over that lovely join !! ;)

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by WJOHNM on May 18^th, 2004, 8:36pm

it will work,how good will the joint be?
even the smallest imperfections show big time.
why don't you think of hiring one complete with router and bit for the weekend.they are only rip off jigs if you only use them once a year.i think they are money well spent ;)
john

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by woodsmith on May 18^th, 2004, 8:51pm

I've done this years ago with good results. Made a template from thin ply, scored the surface with a marking knife and cut the joint with a downcut blade in a jigsaw . Slightly undercut the edge and cleaned it up with a file before joining worktops. It looked fine to me; but jigs make it soo much easier.

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by splinter on May 18^th, 2004, 9:04pm

WJOHNM it will work,how good will the joint be?
even the smallest imperfections show big time.
why don't you think of hiring one complete with router and bit for the weekend.they are only rip off jigs if you only use them once a year.i think they are money well spent ;)
� � � � � � � john
yes id agree with that its got to be the easiest and least painful way to go for a 100% joint

ps if you do hire youself one you could always use it as a pattern to make youre own out of mdf or perspex :)

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by HippieChippie on May 18^th, 2004, 9:33pm

Around my way hiring costs �45 a day same as buying a cheap one - but that money for a lump of plastic or whatever is a piss take and hate chipboard worktops anyway its not woodwork its plasticwork. Time's not important so I'll go for it.

Woodsmith did your home made jig have the curve on it?

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by WJOHNM on May 18^th, 2004, 9:51pm

hi there hippiechippie,
�45.00 a day your right rip off jigs >:( round my way �20 for whole weekend :D .i have my own now,before that i hired twice and before that i cut them by hand like you are planning.i didn't bother with the curve just cut 45 degrees worked ok.
john

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by woodsmith on May 18^th, 2004, 9:57pm

For the jig I used a dead straight edge then a 45degree angle for the last 40-50mm or so and just rounded the angle over a bit. Nothing flash as it is all about getting the two faces identical.

Definitely worth a practice first on some scrap, if this was soo easy then they would never sell jigs.

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by HandyMac on May 18^th, 2004, 10:12pm

wrote on May 18^th, 2004, 9:33pm:

So why not buy it, use it, then sell it on ebay?

You might even make a profit it you can buy one for �45! These things regularly sell on ebay for �70+.

Andrew

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by WJOHNM on May 18^th, 2004, 10:22pm

hi there handymac,
i think the hire company would say somthing about that ;) ;) ;)
john

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by HandyMac on May 18^th, 2004, 10:34pm

Sorry, I misread and misquoted. Where's me sanity pills.... ;)

Andrew

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by Kesh on May 18^th, 2004, 10:35pm

The trouble with buying on ebay is you can't feel if there are any nicks in it.

My local hire shop sold me a faithfull one for �70 new.

I thought about hiring, but figured even if I only do a few worktops a year - It'll pay for itself in the long term.

It can be done by hand, of course, but like woodsmith said - They wouldn't sell jigs if it didn't make the job easier.

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by big_all on May 18^th, 2004, 11:57pm

heeelllooo hippie chippie

i get the impression you want this to be a tactile
labour of love �:P :P :P
rather than wham bam thank you mam
back in sufrajet city
back in sufrajet city :D :D

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by mailee on May 19^th, 2004, 1:14am

Hippie chippie, what is your hobby, wrestling crocodiles!?. I think it would be worth even just hiring the jig for the time and effort it would save you. I have done one of these joints without one many moons ago and although passable it was not right. Now I have the jig and the masons mitre is spot on every time. Go for the jig mate, you know it makes sense. ;)

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by splinter on May 19^th, 2004, 9:41pm

just acouple of tips , rather than just router the laminate try routing out 10mm or more(doing it in as many passes as youre router needs ).then using the bottom face line of youre router cut as giude slightly under cut with a hand saw this will naturally prevent any chip out of the laminate .also as already suggested cut a straight 45 angle ;D

ps if you got agiude bush for youre router ,you could make a jig for it by drawing round the edge of the work top onto a piece of mdf +the difference between the cutter and bush

Title: Re: Jigless Worktop Jointing
Post by HippieChippie on May 20^th, 2004, 10:26pm

Hi
Just an update - went quite well and satisfied with result though did take longer than using jig and not quite as good.

Used router for 10mm depth then circular saw, cut angle with handsaw after knife through laminate. Did 2 males on middle w/top then laid on top of other two for "U"shape and penciled edge for females. Ended up with about 1mm joint so not too bad - started yesterday am. just finished (I jest) but next one will be with jig.

thanks for advice