Although I devised this jig for routing a cavity for a quartz clock works, the idea could be adapted to many routing operations. The beauty of the jig is that it combines a workpiece hold-down and a routing template into one device. It’s well suited for small production runs because you can quickly pop workpieces in and out of the jig.

The jig consists of a base, a foam pad, the hinged template arm and an eye-bolt. The eye-bolt pivots on a bolt axle to fasten the template arm down over the workpiece. I attached the template arm to the base with bolts as shown in the sketch. The template arm can be set for the thickness of the workpiece by adjusting the nuts below the arm.

To use the jig, simply lay the workpiece on the foam pad, lower the template arm, lock it down with the wing nut and rout away.

Les Stern, Denver, Colo.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, August 1989 No. 77

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