Triumph over tricky tapers with your tablesaw
To cut a taper in a large panel, I always turned to my portable circular saw and a clamped-on guide. But that clumsy set-up rarely yielded the cut quality or accuracy I wanted. So instead, I designed and built this panel tapering jig for use on a tablesaw.
Adjust the two arms by tightening or loosening the 1⁄4 "-20 star knobs that hold them in place, and remount them in different holes if necessary. A 1" length of 3⁄8 " dowel mounted to the jig's rear corner (where shown) backs and supports the workpiece, and 220- to 320-grit sandpaper on the face of the jig near the blade prevents the workpiece from shifting during a cut. Drill a grid of 1⁄4 " holes in the jig's base so the jig's arms can be moved to fit a range of workpiece sizes.
To use the jig, first lay out the taper on your workpiece. Align the layout line with the blade, butting the workpiece against the 3⁄8 " dowel, adjust the jig's arms to support the workpiece, and make the cut.
—Serge Duclos, Delson, Que.