Jig material

[guyos]

Hi woodworkers

I am just starting to play about with wood, only made a couple of boxes in the past, even did a dovetail box, but recently made a few jigs i.e. TS sled, mortise jig, tenoning jig and router planer. All in ply from B&Q.

My problem: I have the plans for an adjusting finger jig, but it advised me to use 3/4 thick hardwood.

I live in Brighton but don't know where to buy it, I just buy wood from B&Q or Wickes which is not really good. Could I use ply to make this jig, as it is the most available?, or where should I look for small bits of hardwood.

Your advise please.

guyos

 

[Smudger]

It may well be that the reason hardwood is specified is to prevent splintering or breakout - I assume you will be using a router?

Would MDF be strong enough? I use it for sleds on my shop-bought finger jointing jig.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Guyos,
I'm a long way from you, but I'm pretty sure there must be hardwood suppliers in West Sussesx! Often timberyards that kiln their own timber have a stack of "kiln samples" or other scrap ends, such as machined jobs that were ordered but never picked up, or machined wrongly, which are no use commercially but are great for us home woodies.

Plywood is a very good jig-making material, because it is stable and fairly flat and stiffer than MDF. Use Baltic Birch ply rather than Far Eastern if you have the choice. Yes I know it's twice the price.

The other material currently in vogue is HMWP or High Molecular Weight Polymer. It's in Tilgear's catalogue. No on-line store, but they are now shouting about the fact that you can order by email, so they are slowly getting into the 20th Century.

Cheers
Steve

 

[misterfish]

Wenban Smith, Wests and Covers certainly all do hardwood.

Last time I was at Wests they had loads of offcuts being sold as firewood, some of which looked a reasonable size. Also I know that Wests and Covers will machine timber for you (I expect Wenban Smith will as well)

MisterFish

 

[guyos]

I never liked MDF, the edges seem to scuff too easily.

I have relocated here from London where I knew how to get anything, even recycled timber,

I was told of a place here that sells recycled timber but their prices were more for antique timber than just recycled.

Thanks misterfish I will try to find Wests and Covers Thompsons directory here I come.

guyos

 

[misterfish]

Wests are www.wlwest.co.uk and at Selham, Petworth, West Sussex. Covers are www.covers.biz and are as far west as Southampton and as far east as Lewes.

Wests do quite a bit of woodturning stuff and have an excellent range of timber species.

I've found staff at both companies helpful and professional.

MisterFish

 

[9fingers]

My favorite material for jigs is phenolic resin coated baltic birch ply.
beautifully stable due to high quality plycore and hardwearing coating is low friction.
Available from good ply specialists.
Bob

 

[white_sw]

Bob,

Do you know a rough cost for this ply in 3/4 and 1/2 8x4 sheets ?

Cheers,
Sam

 

[9fingers]

Bob,

Do you know a rough cost for this ply in 3/4 and 1/2 8x4 sheets ?

Cheers,
Sam

Last order was Dec 2002
I paid £52.50 vat ex per sheet for 10 off 12mm 8x4
The brand was 'REBOUND'

The plywood merchant I used has now closed down unfortunately!

HTH

Bob

Just found a weblink for Rebound
http://www.mlmuk.com/html/Overlay.pdf