Getting workpiece corners perfectly square?

[Putty]

Hey all,

I am sure there is going to be a perfectly simple solution for this.

I make end grain cutting boards and recently I've been putting juice grooves in by making a rectangular jig to act as a fence for the router. I've noticed that several of the boards, once flipped to do the opposing side, no longer fits into the jig.

The boards are all the same width from top to bottom, and the same height from left to right. This means I have a rectangle, but it is as if someone has pushed the top of it to the right, for example, so the rectangle is leaning slightly. Sometimes it is more than just slight.

It's incredibly frustrating, so much so that I can't think how to fix it and avoid it down the track myself right now - can someone help please?

Cheers,

Putty.

[FenceFurniture]

How are you cutting them? On a table saw, or with a circular saw or...?

A sled on a TS will get them at 90°, but the simplest fix I can think of is to use a track saw. Mark a line at right angles to the edge, clamp the track in place, dock the end. Then measure back from that end 400mm (or whatever) on both sides, rule another line, check it for perpendicularity, track & dock.

[ian]

The boards are all the same width from top to bottom, and the same height from left to right. This means I have a rectangleNup

It's even length diagonals (corner to corner) that indicate that you have a rectangle.

[rwbuild]

How much is it out by?

[Glider]

I am sure there is going to be a perfectly simple solution for this. Putty.

There are several. 1) When you glue up, check the corners for square or 2) make a square glue up jig or 3) check the diagonals as Ian suggested.

While you're at it, I'd check the routing jig for square too.

mick

[ian]

me, because it's a cutting board, I'd be aiming to cut it square after the glue up.
Much less stress than trying to get everything exactly right and square during the glue-up

[tonzeyd]

There are loads of factors that come into play eg wood movement, grain orientation, wood moisture, technique, clamping pressure etc), hence end grain boards are bit of an science as well as art. But as Ian says easiest way is to cut it square after you've glued everything up. But you'll need at least one square edge in order to successfully cut right angled corners.

[Putty]

Thanks for the replies everyone, and sorry for being so slack getting back to the thread. I've taken all advice on board and haven't had an issue since. Thanks again.

Anthony

[FenceFurniture]

So what was the problem, and how did you fix it?

[Fumbler]

Hey all,

I've noticed that several of the boards, once flipped to do the opposing side, no longer fits into the jig.



What you have is a rhombus, and a mistake I have made several times, 2 sets of opposite equal lengths don't make a rectangle. if it fits your router jig the way it is, then what you need to do is when you flip the board, you then rotate it through 180deg and it should line back up with your jig. don't need all that fancy resetting of sleds, and saw etc (hahahaha), although that might help too.