Woodshop jigs and woodworking jig

Some great advances are the result of variety.
When you combine woodworking with precision
machinist instruments it is a lesson in manufacturing.

Recently various national spokespersons on trade and the economy have blamed the loss of jobs on the lack of tech skills. Almost all of them have a consensus, agreeing that we are not taught what is necessary to compete, or to excel. For those wanting skills, they need to know how big the world is, and not just see how big of a challenge it is. The ones who made accomplishments often set their goals to follow a progressive, accessible and experienced guide in whatever practice it was. Others did it through schooling, yet many gained all of their knowledge by a combination of schooling and by being self taught. Many gained deeper insight by eventually being able to discern it when they were in the company of knowledgeable people, one with an unusual skill to influence, and then to guide others.

Industry and manufacturing often takes the most acceptable path; solid traditional learning and correction first, then repetition, and then in depth experience which is often one on one. Still, our national spokespersons on the economy have blamed the loss of jobs on the lack of tech skills. Almost all of them agree that we are not taught what is necessary to compete, or to excel.

Most guides are peer reviewed (for good reasons)
but they become tailored for those looking for a pastime.
Consequently our tools and machines have always been
intended for hobby and pastimes...

Only recently has there been a wide variety of accessibility into things such as a craft or hobbies with the advent of craft and woodworking books, magazines and TV.   But these sources are still peer reviewed and tailored for those looking for a pastime, and their followers get only a broad insight.   Followers get more general purpose demonstrations for tools.   We have probably all seen people fill a whole room with various tools and hobby supplies. Those who don't grasp becoming organized, automated, and an almost artistic execution of mistake-proof procedures find disappointment and go on to the next pastime.   And after their interest in wood, or tools wanes, they are unfortunately still unaware of how engineers view the capability of machines and tools.

Too many people go from hobby to hobby, or to tool buying, and end in boredom and a list of abandoned hobbies and craft tools and supplies. They pay little attention to organizing and automating. As an example, a woodworker might buy a laundry list of machines to build all sorts of things. But soon the machines sit dormant until retirement, or when the snow is too deep to get out of the driveway.   The ambitious tool buyer never grasps the ways and precepts of automating their tools and machines, and in the case of woodworkers...not enough know about jig building for organizing, locating and duplicating ideas.   Many discover how important it is to know the talk, and adapt to proven laws of the trade, the proven science, law, and theory. Many who don't experience certain precepts and techniques in their schools, so they stumble trying to discover them through years of other experience. Those who don't grasp onto a system go on to the next pastime. In other words, building jigs are an experience in mistake-proofing, not in hap-hazard guessing.    Jigs demonstrate more precision, controlling a process of where to machine, or where to exactly cut or precisely drill in the same exact location over and over.

For woodworkers, especially early, and even metalworkers in trade schools we were taught repetition, technique, organization, discipline and perfection. That is the age old instinct for crowd control, trivial, meager instruction. Rarely is a connection made to advanced principles for various reasons.   Rarely is it mentioned about "controlling a process" of where to machine, or "where to exactly cut" or precisely drill in the same exact location repeatedly.

Some can do the work of two or more people, called a surplus, and using jigs and gauges and combined with certain machines, the possibilities are infinite. If more people knew just about jigs alone, they could become more familiar with common woodworking tools, even learning how to make things in high volume. The ultimate device is where a table saw is fitted with a crosscut box, which is then the starting point for which jigs can do precision high volume machining of wooden parts.

Knowing about jigs is a good way for
beginners to increase interest in woodworking.

With the help of certain jigs the "Mascut" in particular and fixtures, a table saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly, building jigs is what leads to high volume work. They are devices used to manufacture interchangeable parts using even common machines many people own. Just by starting out with a "solid gauge" box joint jig, things which use to be tough become more natural to accomplish.

Right now artists and craftsman around the world attempt to produce a work of art, dreaming to produce and then successfully sell a winning product. Maybe even a product that might be in demand one day. What they might need to do is what most manufacturers do. They need to duplicate a winning piece, and mass produce it.   More people might want to learn the importance of wood jigs.

Here is part of the problem again. Many, many people rush into a hobby, or into woodworking by purchasing numerous expensive machines. That's wonderful, that is a start. They buy a table saw, planer, jointer, and drill press, and often aren't interested in production techniques.   That fine also. But many are, and sometimes this interest extends the initial interest of just getting all the right tools. Some thrive for awhile dreaming of some time in the future where they will produce something, be self sufficient, become self reliant through their craft. Many have tried this, and then found out that hand made artwork without a duplication method often requires so much hand work that for the average person, it is only a hobby, something as a pastime... and that's is a good purpose. But, a few will go on to link their machines into a standardized way, more precise to learn about accurate locating and then duplicate more woodworking projects by using jigs.

Woodworkers can then expand their hobby and their productivity if they "Unlearn" many misconceptions of what tools do. If we focus more on "high volume" than just "making things the best by hand", then we can look beyond ordinary and learn precision principles and then focus on a system. Just because things are mass produced, doesn't mean they are low quality. Learn to build jigs, because they are permanent, used over and over, and they are quickly set aside and a new one is accurately ready for the next batch or process. In other words, they goof proof things.

Even some experts in woodworking or who own really fine machines can lose interest. They buy a showpiece, production tool, planer or jointer and yet get only occasional use out of it. Many even get discouraged or find that they have been use to making things by hand, or they are using outdated techniques. Few people for example know that most table saws with a cast iron table can become a precision machine. Most table saws have two accurately milled miter slots. These slots hold a cut through the blade uniform and straight. What some new table saw owners don't realize is that these two slots enable a saw to become a precision tool. This means that an ordinary table saw, with a few simple additions can become a high volume machine, making uniform batches of wooden parts for assembly.

This means that with the help of certain jigs and fixtures a saw can produce consistent, uniform, interchangeable parts. This is the mostly forgotten basics of mass production. Done properly, with teamwork and certain other expertise this is what leads to an economy of scale, a high volume economy. An economy of tradable goods begins with the unique but basic knowledge of how to manufacture interchangeable parts using precision tools and woodworking jigs. If we tailor our goals on standardizing, it is then often where we begin to grasp precision principles and then focus our goals on a system.

In the manufacturing industry many shop hands spend their whole careers perfecting only a few operations with machines. Many perform operations using the same, time honored tools, many of them producing precision, quality parts. In other words, in manufacturing, most machine operators did not require many of the vast planning, "pre-production" skills. (This is the principle behind the division of labor). The ones who do the brainy work, the planning, "pre-production" skills are the engineers and shop leaders. They are often the ones who create the original plans, the jigs, the fixtures and designs. These are the ones who understand, often after decades of effort, the true productive value of gauging, locating, and innovative ability. Those who graduate to the level of jig maker, fixture makers, automation technicians, and engineer know the "real" value of machines, not just the undeveloped, basic, perceptive value.

Right now, an innovator, a creator who looks at an idle machine, a planer, or jointer or saw doesn't see an iron edifice with switches, gears and motors, but something with vast capability. What a box joint jig does (one with solid, interchangeable gauges) is to change many of it's user's from an observer of machines to someone who finally sees it.   Making box joints is like a brain exercise, and the best technique employ a sequence of steps to effectively produce useful boxes, trays, drawers, and storage chests.   Someone who learns how to use just simple, but accurate gauges will discover more productive potential of a table saw. Then, not only do owners gain from a "standardized" automatic-like discipline, they make nice box joints. Then they can go on to apply these known disciplines and principles to make many machines become more productive and yielding.

The beginner, or "Novice" gains great insight into woodworking when they understand jigs.... Once you master certain techniques, like using a solid gauge box joint jig, things which use to be tough become much more natural to accomplish. Industry has become as tough as nails, but a decline in it is worse. As long as there are machines and tools, along with the exchange of ideas and capital investment, there will be continued passion to spread the advance and mastering of tools and machine principles.

It often begins with a discipline for precision. It's not a threat...it's just another bump in the road....

Some will always enjoy and absorb production skills and principles and then become adherent to only seeing things made, and to the hopeful advancement of efficiency and society. I have observed one trait of leaders is that they grasp a fascination with systems, principles, and procedures and when they can afford improvements, they often go on to set goals for massive efficiency and output...like GE jet engines, Rockwell, Sony, Fed Ex, and all the giant food manufacturers like PG for example. They began with a standard, an idea, one of organizing and precision automation. William Hewlett and David Packard started HP computer company in a garage in the 1930's in California.

Again, in today's job market, those who "get it" have the best chance at enjoying seeing things built, and at job stability, and those that don't take real chances that someone else will. So if you are a woodworker, and you want to advance your knowledge of tools and machines, here's a raw tip....learn about using jigs to locate and to mistake proof more procedures done with a machine or power tool. Start with a proven box joint technique. All being said, people can gain enormous skill by beginning with a box joint jig, especially one with solid pin gauges. That is why it helps to know how to make box joints correctly...it's an advance where you unite the skills of a woodworker with the skills of a machinist.

Variety brings together some great advances, like
motion, precision and progress.

A locked mine...For too many, owning a shop full of machines
is a short lived hobby, like
owning a mine, and covering
the entrance and never knowing its full potential.....Read
Jigs and Gauges for Beginners.

Plus ..Bonus too.