I need to make some shelves out of MDF and i want to rout rebates out the side pieces to slot the shelves into. Is there a jig available for doing this quickly and accurately? I have been using a fence clamped to the workpiece but it can be a pain especially when using thicker MDF and you have to make a number of passes.

Thanx
Zambezi

That is what i use Dewy.


there is a jig thing im sure, i saw a review on it where you put a small piece of the material in the fence and it automatically sets to the width of the material you want to trench to.

Im looking now  

Jase
Coggy

Cool it will be interesting to see!!
Are the clamps that clamp on either side of the workpiece any good (i am not sure what they are called, they look like aluminum bars with clamping bits on either end??) I will have to go and check the Axmin catalogue to see what they are called....

Do you have a link for john elliot?

If you want to rout housings into shelf side panels the easiest and cheapest solution is to make a jig yourself.

You need to have a router with a guide bush or a profile cutting bit (they have a bearing above the cutter).

Get a piece of scrap MDF, about 200mm longer than the width of the panel and 200mm wide.

You now need to cut a slot in it from one side 50mm longer than the width of the panel.

The width of the slot you need;
if using a profile cutter slot width = housing width
if using the guide bush you will need to work out the width. EG 30mm guide, 10mm cutter, if you want an 18mm housing then the slot needs to be 38mm wide.

Screw a piece of 2x1 batten across the end of the jig (slot end) at exactly 90degrees to the slot then just clamp the jig in position and away you go perfectly square housings every time and it hasn't cost anything.

You may need to cut the slot to one side of the jig so that there is room on the other side to clamp it down and still give the router full access.

Keith

Quote:


I have a couple of them and use them a lot.  There great for cutting the btm of doors with a circular saw, using for a jigsaw and router etc.

Just line up where you want them and turn the handle and it clamps in place  

Still cant find that adjustable fence i saw in a mag  ???

It was a fence for your router, i know it fits DW routers and basiacally if your housing out for 18mm MDF shelves you would run it from a straight edge where you wanted it and then put an offcut of the 18mm MDF in the little jaws in the fence which would set the housing to exactly the 18mm or whatever material thickness your wanting to house to.  Ralph Laughton reviewed it in a magazine and i spoke to him about it and he said they were fantastic  

I think they was from abroad but there was a place in UK that you could order them from, they do have a website which shows them on but i can not find it  

Jase

following on from kieths jig
Quote:


when your happy the first slot is in the right place, draw a mark on the work using the edge of the jig
remove jig measure the required distance for the shelves from the mark youve just drawn
then all you have to do is line up the edge to the marks to get each position accurately

Right then got the info:

The Accurate guide . It is a US import, here is their website:

http://www.accuratewoodtools.com/

This is a Workshop Demos. He has a bit on it:

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/nprod-2c.htm

...and here is a UK supplier:

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/accurate_guide.htm


It is not a jig as such so might not be any good to you but thought it might be helpful

Jase

You may find this video useful

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/pages/wvt098.asp

Lots of other tips & vids on this site.

Jason