I wanted to make some raised panels, but I didn’t want to invest in a shaper and special cutters. My solution was to raise the panel with a 3/4-in., 2-flute helical end mill in my router. All that’s needed is a simple jig to tilt the router base to 15¡. I fitted a length of 15/32-in. drill rod through each of the two existing holes in my Makita router base and epoxied two outriggers to the ends. The low outrigger acts as a fence against the edge of the panel. In the sketch above, the tongue that will fit the frame’s groove has already been milled on the tablesaw, but you could just as well do this step afterward.

The high outrigger rides atop the panel or, if the panel is narrow (as in the sketch), atop a board of the same thickness clamped to the bench. I saw the panel project as a one-shot job, so I didn’t make provision for removing the jig from the router without breaking the epoxy joints at one outrigger. Maybe next time I’ll pin things instead.

Edward M. Rosenfeld, Gunley, Ala.

Fine Woodworking Magazine, April 1984 No. 45

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