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It's in the Jig
As woodworkers, our projects depend on accurate and precise
cuts. But lets face it, most of us can get away with a little loose here
and there. No one will ever know the difference once we break out the sandpaper
and put a finish on.
However, woodworking puzzle makers don't have the same luxury as the rest
of us common woodworkers. They require machinist perfection.
How do they achieve this? Check out this crosscutting sled jig in the pictures to the right. It belongs to Lee Krasnow, a reknown wood puzzle maker.
Let's forego the intricate designs of his puzzles for now. His work requires consistent, accurate, and precise cuts, and his crosscut jig delivers just that.
"my sled has machined aluminum sled plates ride down ground steel rods on four linear ball bearings to ensure smooth motion with minimal linear deviation. The surfaces of the sled plates are peppered with holes which allow me to affix all sorts of special cutting jigs and fixtures. I've even got a CNC power feed unit which I attach when I'm running long batches of the same kind of cut." -Lee Krasnow
Now, most woodworkers will never need to be accurate to .0001", but the principle is there. I've seen too many jigs and fixtures slapped together, barely making it through the project building process. Take the time and right material to build the jig the proper way.
You can't Build what
you can't Measure
Needless to say, your measurement tools must be accurate as well. Is your
crosscut sled really at 90 degrees to your blade?
Good measurement tools are essential in the building process. These tools will provide the basis of everything you build. Again, most of us won't be using calipers to measure our work, but when was the last time you checked your blade tilt, or even your tape measure for that matter.
Wood puzzle makers like Lee, require their pieces to be perfect. Thank goodness most of our woodworking projects don't have to be up to that standard.
But let this be a reminder to check and maintain your tools' accuracy, and to build your jigs properly. It'll save you time in the long run, and your projects will come out better for it.
