Subject: jigs

Some can do the work of two or more people, called a surplus, and using jigs and gauges and combined with certain machines, the possibilities are infinite.  If more people knew just about jigs alone, they could become more familiar with common woodworking tools, even learning how to make things in high volume.  The ultimate devise is where a  table saw is fitted with a crosscut box, which is then the starting point for which jigs can do precision high volume machining of wooden parts.  

Knowing about jigs is a good way for beginners to increase their interest in woodworking.  With the help of certain jigs ( the"mascut" in particular) and fixtures, a table saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly,  building jigs is what leads to high volume work.  They are devices used to manufacture interchangeable parts using even common machines many people own.  Just by starting out with a "solid gauge" box joint jig,  things which use to be tough become more natural to accomplish.

Right now artists and craftsman around the world attempt to produce a work of art, dreaming to produce and then successfully sell a winning product.  Maybe even a product that might be in demand one day.  What they might need to do is what most manufacturers do.  They need to duplicate a winning piece, and mass produce it!  More people might want to learn the importance of wood jigs. 

Here is part of the problem.  Many, many people rush into a hobby, or into woodworking by purchasing numerous expensive machines. They buy a table saw, planer, jointer, and drill press, and often aren't interested in production techniques.  But many are, and sometimes this interest extends the initial interest of just getting all the right tools.  Some thrive for awhile dreaming of some time in the future where they will produce something, be self sufficient, become self reliant upon their craft. Many have tried this, and then found out that hand made artwork without a duplication method often requires so much hand work that for the average person, it is only a hobbly...thats fine.  But, a few will go on to link their machines into a standardize way to duplicate a few woodworking projects by using jigs.

Woodworkers can then expand their hobby and their productivity if they "Unlearn" many misconceptions of what tools do. If we focus more on..... "high volume" than just "making things the best", then we can break out of the mold and focus on a system. Just because things are mass produced, doesn't mean they are low quality.  Learn to build jigs, because they are permanant, used over and over, and they are quickly set aside and a new one is accuratly ready for the next batch or process. In other words, they goof proof things.

Even some experts in woodworking or who own fine machines lose interest.  They buy a showpiece, production type planer or jointer, yet get little use out of it.  Many even get discouraged or find that they have been use to making things by hand, or using only outdated techniques.  Few people for example know that most table saws with a cast iron table can become a precision machine. Most table saws have two accurately milled miter slots. These slots hold a cut through the blade uniform and straight. What some new table saw owners don't realize is that these two slots enable a saw to become a precision tool. This means that an ordinary table saw, with a few simple additions can become a high volume machine, making uniform batches of wooden parts for assembly.

This means that with the help of certain jigs and fixtures a saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly, with teamwork and certain other expertise this is what leads to an economy of scale, a high volume economy. An economy of tradable goods begins with the unique but basic knowledge of how to manufacture interchangeable parts using  precision tools and woodworking jigs.

All being said, people can gain enormous skill by beginning with a box joint jig, especially one with solid pin gauges.  Why know how to make box joints correctly?

In the manufacturing industry many shop hands spend their whole careers perfecting only a few operations with machines. Many perform operations using the same, time honored tools, many of them producing precision, quality parts.

In other words, in manufacturing, most machine operators
did not require many of the vast planning, "pre-production" skills.  (This is the principle behind the division of labor). The ones who do the brainy work, the planning, "pre-production" skills are the engineers and shop leaders. They are often the ones who create the original plans, the jigs, the fixtures and designs. These are the ones who understand, often after decades of effort, the true productive value of gauging, locating, and innovative ability.  Those who graduate to the level of  jig maker, fixture
makers, automation technicians, and engineer know the "real" value of machines, not the undeveloped, basic, perceptive value. See more of my guides on Ebay about woodworking and box joints

Right now, an innovator, a creator who looks at an idle machine, a planer, or jointer or saw doesn't see an iron edifice with switches, gears and motors, but something with vast capability.  What a box joint jig  does (one with solid, interchangeable gauges) is to change many of it's user's from an observer of machines to someone who finally sees it.  They employ a sequence of steps to effectively produce box joints.   Someone who learns how to use just simple, but accurate gauges can discover the true productive potential of a table saw. Then, not only do owners make nice box joints,  but they can go on to apply the principles to make many machines become more productive and yielding.

The beginner, or "Novice" gains great insight into woodworking when they understand jigs.... Once you master certain techniques, like using a solid gauge box joint jig ,  things which use to be tough become much more natural to accomplish.


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tags, jigs, jointer, planer, tools.