Workers Of Wood

Woodworking magazine articles and books often show jigs featuring arched slots, but I realized that no one teaches how to effectively make them. So here I am with a simple yet effective and safe-to-use jig.

While my jig was designed to rout tight-radius arched slots, larger radii can also be accomplished. I provided two holes for pattern guide bushings (1/2" and 1") so I would be free to use smaller and larger straight router bits according to my needs. I made mine out of n HDF laminated floorboard because this man made material is hard, stable, durable and slick on both sides; however, any good-quality hardwood plywood coated with a slick finish will work as well....

by Serge Duclos

I looked at that this morning. Really, a slot routing jig is nothing more than a circle cutting jig, you just don't go all the way around. Having the dowel holder on the end of his so you can gauge where the bit is without having to look through the gaps in the base past flying sawdust and chips might be a handy addition alright but that isn't the only way you could do that.

Assuming you are working on a sacrificial piece of panel you could lower the bit without the router on on both the start and stop points and mark where the edge of the base is. Or better yet, screw some stops to the sacrificial panel, making it impossible to miss the start and stop points. Screw some strips down on the panel to hold the pieces in place that will have the slots in them and you can mass produce a bunch and every one will be identical.