Homemade Table Saw Taper Jig
- To build a tapering jig, you'll need two 24-inch-long sections of 1-by-4 hardwood. You'll also need a 3-1/2 inch long piece of 1-by-2, plus another 6-inch long piece of 1-by-2. For hardware, you'll need a 3/4-inch wide hinge with mounting screws, two 5-inch long 1/4-20 wood bolts, two 1/4-inch flat washers, a 1/4-20 wing nut and a 1/4-20 lock nut.
- Position the two 24-inch boards so that they are flat against one another, flush at the ends. Mount the hinge flat against one of the ends of the two boards with the included screws. The two boards should then swivel and open smoothly and evenly.
- Place the 3-1/2 inch section flush against the outside edge of one of the two boards (opposite the hinge end). Mount this wood stop to the board with some glue and 1-1/4-inch wood screws.
- Place the 6-inch 1-by-2 on a table with the 2-inch side facing up. Measure in 3/4 inch from each end and draw a line square to the long edge of the board on each end. Make another mark 1-1/2 inch in from one end. Find the center point on each mark, and drill a 1/4-inch hole at each point. Then, draw a line from each side of the center hole and the hole on the opposite end of the board parallel to the long axis of the board. Cut out the oval shape formed by these two lines and the holes with a jigsaw. Finally, round the four outside corners of the 6-inch piece of 1-by-2 with a jigsaw or band saw.
- Place the two boards with the hinge end on edge, so that the hinge is on the side away from your body, and the board with the wood stop is on your left. Make a mark 18-inches down from the hinge along the top edges of each board. Mark the center point in the board at each of these marks, and drill a 1/4-inch, 3-1/2-inch long hole through the center points of these boards. Be very careful that the drill bit drills straight through the board. A drill press makes this task much easier.
Turn the board over and insert a 1/4-20 bolt through each hole. Mark the edges of the six-sided bolts with a pencil. Remove the bolts, and chisel out the marks to make a hexagonal countersink so that the bolt head will be flush and locked in place in the board. Insert the two bolts into these holes before turning the jig over.
Place the open hole of the adjustment mechanism you cut above over the left bolt, and the slot over the right bolt. Place a washer over each bolt, followed by the locking nut tightened onto the left bolt, and the wing nut over the right bolt (on top of the slot). - To use the jig, adjust the angle of the jig to the desired width, and lock the wing nut in place. Position the right side of the jig flat against the fence, and place the wood to be tapered against the left side of the jig, flat against the wood stop at the base of the jig. Move the fence as needed to properly position the jig. Raise the table saw blade, turn on the motor and guide the entire assembly through the table saw blade, keeping the jig firmly against the fence to cut the taper.
