Why is it we modern woodworkers feel the need to add bells and whistles to everything? We have jigs that took more time to build than Townsend took to build a secretary. I guess we have too much information and too much time on our hands when you are not concerned with running out of light to work in and surviving the winter.
So I blame my modern conveniences for complicating what should be the world’s simplest woodworking jig. In The Joiner and Cabinetmaker, Christopher Schwarz makes an allusion to a simple jig endorsed by Robert Wearing in his Making Woodwork Aids & Devices
The jig is called a mortising board, and it is used to provides support to your workpiece while chopping mortises where they should be chopped: on the bench top, not in the vise. I don’t care how strong your vise, when you bear down with mortising chisel and mallet, the piece will shift and probably scratch while shifting within the jaws of the vise. I personally believe that you introduce a lot of stress to the screw and/or the mounting screws of your vise by beating on it like this. The ideal place for chopping mortises by hand is on top of the bench right over a leg.
Wearing’s mortising board is simply that, a board that is clamped in a face vise to which you can clamp your workpiece. In Making Woodwork Aids & Devices
I decided to make it easier and more complicated at the same time. I took a piece of Poplar and glued a pen blank sized scrap to the back. I offset the scrap a little. Now I drop the mortising board into my leg vise and the scrap hits the chop preventing it from dropping any further. The offset allows either 3/4″ to project above the bench top or when flipped 180 degrees it allows 1 1/2″ to project above the top. I then run two quick clamps across to anchor my work piece in place. Because I have a leg vise, my chopping is now centered directly over the leg, providing the most solid surface on the bench. I can flip the board depending on whether I am mortising into thinner stock, or working on a thick leg type piece. This “jig” is fast to employ and it really makes a big difference when you are not chasing the board around the top. I can rest easy that I’m not damaging the piece or sending my leg vise to an early grave too.
What jigs to you use with your hand tools? Do you insist on putting your own stamp on them too?
I’m not sure if it is simpler, but I usually just clamp the board (or two) between some handscrew clamps and then clamp the handscrew clamps to the bench. There are some extra clamps involved, but you don’t need a jig.
Then again, if you remove the cleat on the mortising board you can just find any old board laying around the shop and use it for the same purpose. But then I don’t know if you can call it a jig. That might be a downside for the jig obsessed woodworkers out there.
The single board was the original route I went with and I had trouble calling that a jig since I didn’t have to “make” anything. I added the cleat just so it wouldn’t drop below the bench top. I figure that makes it a jig right??
wow Shannon ! I really envy your mortise chisels
Great jig
Julio, this was a great investment (except that I got them for Christmas last year). I use them all the time and they murder the wood so easily.
This is one of those “forehead slapping” solutions that make me wonder why I didn’t think of it.
So so simple and so so so many ways to use. I’m even wondering if it would make a good pizza dough flattener.
Thanks for posting it.
just take the chisel out of your hand before you slap your forehead. You just got back to woodworking after that physical therapy remember?
Nice!!! This is why I read your stuff good common sense. I would have never thought to put the chisel down before slapping my head. Come to think of it maybe that might explain this response. Oh and the other idea is good too!!!
I don’t really understand the need for this. I just place the boards on edge on the bench top and clamp them down with a holdfast. Quick an simple.
Matt, you are right of course, nothing could be more simple than that. I find that the mortising board is helpful when working on the edge of narrow pieces like door rails to add just a bit more support. But I’m also all for the simple and you can’ beat the holdfast for that. Great point!