Thread: Resaw/Ripping Jig

I bought some ebony blanks a few weeks back and attempted to resaw/rip them on my table saw. The results were less than satisfactory. It was hard to safely control the work piece enough to get a decent through-and-through cut.

So I searched around the internet (and here on SRP) for ideas on jigs that would make the task simpler and safer. The result is a pair of “push blocks” to guide the piece through the cut. The design is not original, of course, but it worked so well that I felt obligated to share.

I took two scrap 2X4’s and cut them square to remove any rounded edges. It’s important to “zero” the saw perfectly before doing this to ensure that the blade is perfectly vertical. Don’t trust the indicator gauge (the gauge on my cheap mini saw, for example, is off a bit). You can use a carpenter’s square to test for vertical, but my blade is too short for this approach to provide accurate results. Instead, I simply took a third scrap 2X4 and ripped it half way down its length and flipped the board over and completed the cut. I did this a few times until I got a smooth cut - I then knew the blade was perfectly vertical.

Once the boards were squared, I attached small strips to each end via wood screws and sanded everything smooth. These thin strips help hold onto the work piece, and I made sure that each of these “catch boards” overlapped the end by about 1/8 inch.

To use, I simply place the work piece between the two blocks with the back end flush against the two catches and proceed to cut. The setup works pretty well. I recognize that a bandsaw might work better, but until Santa brings one I’ll have to stick with this approach.

Thanks for reading.

Brian

PS: I see a thin kerf saw blade in my future though. Ugh, yet another AD.