Jigs and Fixtures

Jigs and Fixtures

Description

Jigs are taken to be specially made, often self-made, pieces of equipment often used to guide another tool or simplify an operation. This might include Marking Out operations and so there is some overlap with Template.

Fixtures are similar but tend to be associated with devices for holding work whilst a machining operation is carried out.

Types and Applications

Dowelling Jig	Various devices have been developed to simplifying the making of Dowel Joints. A Dowelling Jig clamps to the edge of the timber to be joined and adjustable drill guides are set into position. The dowel holes can then be drilled with little or no marking out required and the guides help to ensure the drill is kept perpendicular to the joining faces.
Pocket Screw Jig	Screw Pockets are holes drilled at an angle to the work surface to Counterbore the screw head. They can be used where it is not possible to screw directly through one part of the joint to the other (e.g. need to conceal screw heads or lack of access). Various Drilling Jigs are commercially available to ease the drilling of the holes to the required shallow angle (usually 15°).
Router Jig for Cutting Circles	Cutting neat circles with a Router is most easily accomplished with a Jig. Most of these, in essence, transform the Router into a Beam Compass by attaching it to bars or a plate rotating round a fixed point at a centre
PCB Holder Jig	It is useful to have an 'extra pair of hands' when Soft Soldering components into place on a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) for example. Various clamps, special purpose vices and holders are available for this purpose.
Honing Guide	Sharp edge tools such as plane irons or wood chisels are usually ground to an angle of 20° to 25° using a Tool Grinder then ‘honed’ at an angle of 25° to 30° (i.e. 5° greater than the grinding angle) on a sharpening stone such as an Oilstone. Clamps and guides are available to hold the blade at the correct angle whilst using the Oilstone

Template:Jigs Buyers Guide