Tapping the end block.

Using my Woodcraft screwbox to thread the 3/4" screw. One step has been omitted to protect the innocent since some electrons were sacrificed when turning the 1x1 piece into a 3/4" dowel. You can see the miter jack in the foreground with the dowel pins holding the end block in place.

Here it is assembled. The screw pushes the moving block against the fixed block at the far end. After assembly, check the accuracy of the 45 degree angle to the top face and adjust by planing the top surface.

You can see the dowel pins used to attach the end block to the sides.

Here is the smaller miter jack in use. The miter jack is clamped in my face vise and a stretcher is inserted from the bottom. The screw is used to clamp the stretcher in the 45 degree slot. The stretcher is show proud of the surface here, but in use it would be almost flush with the surface. A shoulder plane is used to trim the mitered surface right up to the tenon.

Here is a picture of the end table that I made. The triple miter joints can be seen at the top of the leg and where the stretcher joins the leg at the bottom of the drawer.

I have never used one of the more traditional types of miter jack, but this one works well and it is nice that it clamps the piece securely so that a very accurate miter can be planed. I like the fact that it is easy to fix in the face vise and that it was not too hard to make.

Best Regards,
Ted
February, 2006