Simple mortice jig using Festool guide rail

**chris_hewett** · 5th February 2005, 10:24 PM

Looking at Rockers fine morticing jig made me decide that I had to build a morticing jig myself. Rocker was kind enough to send me his plans. After thinking about the project, I decided to try and build a jig that took advantage of the Festool guide rail system that I have for my Festool OF 1010 router. I don’t want this to sound like an ad for Festool, I was just hoping that this would save me some time and effort making the jig as I already had the gear.

I took the concept of having a table arrangement with the workpiece held below from Rocker, but instead of constructing a micro adjustable fence and stops, use the Festool guide rail and the micro adjustor on the router. So what I came up with was use a small fence at the back of the jig to register the guide rail. I simply clamp this on using the Festool clamps. The router has a micro adjust to fine tune the distance of the router to the rail. Stops are placed on the guide rail to limit the travel of the router on the rail and thus the length of the mortice. At this stage just using blocks and clamps for the stops, but Festool stops made for the guide rail are on order. The workpiece clamps below. I have placed an MDF batten to register the workpiece against to make easily repeatable mortices. The workpiece can be positioned to against the batten to make mortices either on the side or end of the piece. The batten can be removed if I need to make a mortice in the middle of a piece.

Here are some pics:

**chris_hewett** · 5th February 2005, 10:26 PM

A few more pics...

**Rocker** · 6th February 2005, 07:32 AM

Chris,

I don't see any need for the vertical batten to achieve repeatabilty of the mortices. You could get the same result by putting a centre-line mark on the edge of the window, as on my jig, and registering it with the centre line on the workpiece.

But probably this thread should really be in the Festool forum, since the effectiveness of the jig is entirely dependent on owning the Festool router and guide rail system.

Rocker

**ryanarcher** · 11th February 2005, 10:29 AM

Good Job chris. I plan on doing roughly the same thing, except using the router's micro-adjustable edge guide instead of the guide rail. good Idea.

There should be a race to see who on the forum can recreate Rocker's rocker first (with plans of course). I keep meaning to start on mine, but the "honey-do" list is growing proportionally. SWMBO wants a new dining room table next. When the next kiddo is in the oven though, a rocker will be at the top of the list.

**Rocker** · 11th February 2005, 12:00 PM

Ryan,

Check out this thread for the lite version of my jig, which uses the router's edge guide:

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ead.php?t=9853

You should be able to make this version of the jig in about an hour, rather than the 8 hours or so that it takes to make the one with the micro-adjustable fence.

Rocker

**ryanarcher** · 11th February 2005, 02:41 PM

that is absoutely Perfect Rocker! exactly what I was looking for. I pm'd you. so what do you think about a forum sponsored race? I'll Put in the pot a Bellingham Fire Department T-shirt to the winner.

I'm probably just way too competetive.

-Ryan

**Rocker** · 11th February 2005, 06:58 PM

Ryan,

I am confused about what the race is about. First forum member to complete my rocker? Or what? I am afraid there are lots of people who who have bought the CD and then farted about for a year or two, and still not got down to biting the bullet and actually starting to build it

Rocker

**ryanarcher** · 12th February 2005, 04:14 AM

Originally Posted by Rocker

Ryan,

I am confused about what the race is about. First forum member to complete my rocker? Or what? I am afraid there are lots of people who who have bought the CD and then farted about for a year or two, and still not got down to biting the bullet and actually starting to build it

Rocker

David,
Exctly my point! I'm one of those farters! A "First forum member to complete your rocker race" as a catylist for everyone starting those rockers. Each person wanting to compete must put something into "the Pot". Nothing Big. I'll put in a Bellingham Fire T-shirt. What do you think?
-Ryan

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