Ripping Guide Steadies Rough-Edged Stock
After trying to cut tapered table legs by shimming them in my taper jig, I decided there had to be an easier, more accurate way. My solution requires a little more stock, but the results are well worth it.
I start by ripping the legs 7⁄8 " longer than finished length (Step 1 of the drawing at top.). Next, I drill a 1⁄8 " pilot hole 1" deep centered on the bottom end of each leg (Step 2). After making reference marks on each leg, I trim the legs to finished length (Step 3) and set the cut-off pieces aside.
Using my tablesaw taper jig, I cut the tapers on two adjacent sides (Step 4). Then, using the reference marks I made earlier, I reattach the extension blocks to the legs with 1" screws (Step 5). The blocks keep the legs properly positioned when making the final two taper cuts (Step 6).
—Glen Kraig, San Bernardino, Calif.