Bryan’s Router Mortising Jig

Viewer Project - By Bryan White from St Thomas, Ontario
Added on September 2, 2012

Inspired by The Wood Whisperer Episode #63 (Gadget Station pt 6) where Marc uses a one time use jig for installing a SOSS Invisible Hinge (something I’ve done before, only I did it the hard way!), this jig has stops for positioning it on the work pieces and stops to control the router travel for the mortise length. It only takes an hour or two to build. I recently used it for the leg joinery on the Adirondack chair and it worked great. Plus there is a sketchup model and a video on how to make it!

For material, this jig requires:
•3 – 1/4″ x 1 3/4″ T-Bolts
•2 – 24″ Long T-Track Sections
•3 – 1/4″ Winged Knob
•3/4″ Shop grade plywood

Download the SketchUp File

Discussion

Frank September 2, 2012 4:39 pm

Okay, I read the blog entry, looked closely at the pictures, and watched the video. Nice jig. I’ll probably end up copying it when the need for a router mortising jig arises for me.

Reply
Bryce Sommerer September 2, 2012 6:44 pm

like the jig, i’ll (try) and make one ….

Reply
Texfire September 2, 2012 9:27 pm

Nice jig. :)

Reply
Stephen Spence September 2, 2012 10:55 pm

Will definitely be building this one . Nice jig. Tangent, but how are you liking that Bosch router?

Reply
- Bryan White October 7, 2012 12:20 pm
  
  Yes, the bosch router. I actually do really like my bosch routers. I have a couple different ones, the latest having multiple bases but the power switch on the handle… which is a great feature.
  
  Reply
Sandra September 2, 2012 11:27 pm

Nice job on the video. Thanks for including it.

Reply
John Davies September 3, 2012 1:13 am

Nice job, I like that a lot. If you were to put a piece of scrap on the opposite side, underneath the two stops, before clamping you would get a more stable platform for your router base ;-)

Reply
Bob September 4, 2012 6:11 am

Nice jig, thanks for sharing it.

Reply
Riley R September 4, 2012 11:40 am

Very Nice! I wish i would have watched this last weekend. I will be building this. Thanks

Reply
Ryan September 4, 2012 2:49 pm

Wow i was just about to spend $200+ on a jig just like this one.
now i can make my own for a lot less.

My wallet and I thank you.

Reply
Lone_Wolf September 4, 2012 4:33 pm

Thank you for letting us see your jig. It looks like a great design. I’ll have to give it a try.

Reply
- Ed May 1, 2019 9:56 am
  
  Nice looking Jig, where is the video on making the jig?
  
  Reply
Justin Erb September 4, 2012 4:49 pm

Very nice! I have the same router and love it. After watching the video I’m going to soon have the same jig. I’ve debated buying one for sometime but will building one instead. Thanks

Reply
Sean September 4, 2012 7:34 pm

Nice concept for a mortising jig. This looks like one that is versatile and will last. I am about to start a small dresser for my girlfriend and I know I want to try mortise and tenon joints for the first time. I wasn’t sure witch way to approach the mortises, by hand, with a mortising machine, or with a router. I don’t have a mortising machine and don’t want to spend the money for one just yet. After watching Marc cut mortises with a router and now seeing this jig has made up my mind. Now I just need a proper vise for my “bench”

Reply
Mark Boyles September 5, 2012 5:57 am

I like the jig! The way it is constructed should afford years of service. It’s also another good example of a scrap wood project. (Hello, I’m Mark and I’m a scrap wood hoarder)

Reply
Chris September 5, 2012 8:43 am

Would it make more sense to run it through the jointer before cutting at the table saw?

Reply
- JGreasy September 6, 2012 10:12 am
  
  I think it doesn’t make a difference since the far sides of the top and fence dont have to be paralell or co-planar to the near sides to make the jig work.
  
  Reply
Nick September 5, 2012 5:37 pm

Nice video. Looks like after you go through the work to make the jig it would be pretty useful.

Still saving up for that Domino though ;)

Reply
Swalton September 6, 2012 1:09 am

when you drill the key, would it not be better to turn the peice over key up and then it would be stable

Reply
Derek Hall September 7, 2012 6:29 am

Very cool.. thanks for sharing

Reply
Barron Bail September 7, 2012 6:51 am

I like the jig. to make the stops I might try cutting the groove for the key in a longer piece of plywood, installing the key, then cut the three stops from the longer piece at the table saw or by hand on a bench hook. It would save the trimming step and I find cutting grooves seems safer in a longer piece then one the size of the stop blocks.

Reply
keith September 7, 2012 9:36 am

Nice design and exe. – Must build.

Far cheeper than festool domino and can do many of the same things although more set up time….

Reply
Rickterscale September 7, 2012 10:21 am

Very nice. I’d be embarrassed to disclose how many times I’ve routed right past the (intended) end of a mortise. I may have to make one of my own.

Reply
Jolie (Maker Breaker) September 7, 2012 10:24 am

Thank Bryan. I’ve only used a hollow mortise machine and I’ve been wondering how that might be done on a router. I’d love to do them all by hand, but who has that kind of time?!

Reply
Torch02 September 7, 2012 12:10 pm

It may should too complicated/crazy, but I wonder if you could cobine this with the adjustable dado jig from TWW139?

Reply
- Torch02 September 7, 2012 12:11 pm
  
  I’ll learn to type one of these days…. ::sigh::
  
  Reply
Bryan White October 7, 2012 12:17 pm

Thanks for all the comments on the jig. I’d love to see what changes other people make when constructing their own. Contact me through my web site if you want to show off your version.

Reply
Todd R July 22, 2014 8:03 am

Thanks a lot Brian, saved me money and it appears as though many years of use. Keep the vids coming, you do a great job demonstrating and explaining.

Reply
Bob October 11, 2014 7:55 am

I made this and used it for some through mortises on a table. Worked great! Thanks for the awesome jig design!

Reply
Tony December 10, 2017 5:23 pm

This looks great, I am planning on making this as part of making some bar stools. Looking at the plans it has this 1/8″ key, can you provide some more indication of what this means? Thanks.

Reply
ED May 10, 2019 10:36 am

Anyone know where I can find the video for this jig ??

Reply

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

Bryan’s Router Mortising Jig

Advertisers