The Polygon Jig | Cut any shape on the table saw (plans available)
A couple years ago I built a hexagon cutting jig. It's adjustable and can cut out hexagons any size. I have plans available for this jig but I get a lot of requests for either a pentagon jig or an octagon jig. So today, instead of building a dedicated jig for each shape, I'm building a polygon cutting jig. With this geometric jig, you can cut any shape you want! One jig that does it all. Cut a pentagon, hexagon, octagon or even a heptagon. Get the plans below!
►GET THE PLANS: www.diymontreal.com/product/p...
►WRITTEN ARTICLE: www.diymontreal.com/geometric...
►MATERIALS USED (affiliate links):
· UHMW runners amzn.to/3NnxMP7
· T-track amzn.to/41U09Zt
· 1/4 x 20 T-bolt, 2-1/2” long amzn.to/3NoJ85h
· 1/4 x 20 Star knob amzn.to/3oWzMDQ
· 1/4 Washer amzn.to/3Nsymv5
· #6 ¾-inch flat head screws amzn.to/41RnsmY
· #8 1-1/4-inch flat head screws amzn.to/41RnETe
· Super glue amzn.to/3Voq2hW
· 5-minute epoxy amzn.to/3VoqbSw
· Paste wax amzn.to/3NKzydt
►TOOLS USED (affiliate links):
· Router Table • I can’t believe I buil...
· Router amzn.to/3LkoPTX
· 3/4-inch straight bit amzn.to/3LeDIXO
· 1/4-inch spiral bit amzn.to/3VpPCCX
· Digital protractor amzn.to/40SfYP1
· Chamfer bit amzn.to/3p3cIDa
· Countersink bit amzn.to/4281hIK
►ALL MY TOOLS & GEAR
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www.diymontreal.com/shop/
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►CHAPTERS
0:00 Intro
0:38 Polygon jig base & runners
2:46 Fine tune the runners
3:26 Cut the kerf
3:38 Cut dados for T-tracks
4:59 (Using a plunge-base router)
6:10 Install T-tracks
7:01 Route slot into fences
8:08 Fine tune fences (chamfer and mitered corner)
9:11 Polygon jig set up
9:50 Using the jig - cut a hexagon
12:00 Reference guide: angles for each polygon
12:10 Cut a pentagon
13:50 Cut an octagon
PLANS available here: www.diymontreal.com/product/polygon-cutting-jig-build-plans/
Marie! Lady, you're damned INCREDIBLE ❤❤❤ It wasn't long ago that I watched your first video, and you were struggling with everything. Now you're teaching ADVANCED cabinetry!!! Fabulous ❤❤❤
But, but, the hexagon is the perfect shape, why would anyone want a different one? Thanks for the post!
Right!? Just giving the people what they want tho
One jig to rule them all and in the workshop bind them
Pennies ?! Talk about a throwback ! 😅
Tip #1: put a stop on the underside of the jig so that it will hit the front edge of the saw and you will never have to worry about the kerf growing. Tip #2: save samples of each shape to speed subsequent setups.
I like tip #2 but not sure I get tip 1. How can I put a stop underside of the jig? Genuinely curious as I though about whether or not to add a bridge but decided not to as it might get in the way when cutting larger shapes.
@@DIYMontreal A strip of wood, plastic, or metal, along one edge (closest to the operator), perpendicular to the runners. Depending on how thick you make it, It will be hitting the front edge of the table or the fence rail. Think of an upside-down miter gage, a bench hook, or a simple miterbox and how they hook onto the workbench. Sorry, I don't have any visuals for you.
Improved for sure by having a stop to prolong the lift of the gauge…….great idea! Wonder about a length of piece gauge that could run in the slot right of the blade, for cutting those segmented pieces for us turners? Howdy from MT USA
Just love this channel, best thing is Marie a very good looking lady buy doesnt use it to get views. Just pure simplicity, and great tips
One of the rare times someone's made a comment about my looks without me feeling insulted ;)
@@DIYMontreal anyone insults our Marie will have me to answer too 🧐
Great video for a very useful jig. Thank you for sharing. Everyone stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia
Thanks. You too!
That is a great jig! Looks like I know what I will be building this weekend...
That's a great jig. I really like that one.
Clear and concise instructions for the base of almost any jig.
Your as smart as you are beautiful. I think your a genius. I have learned a lot from your videos. Thank you so much. I'll keep learning from you.
Thank you!
Great engineering! And re: pennies vs nickels, you get what you pay for.
lol proof.
That was very well done. I have a couple of dedicated jigs that have to be adjusted. This setup involves much more precision and less susceptible to angle errors.
Hey Mary, Cool trick... place pennies and pick up nickels after the glueing. I like your style anyway. Yer okay in my books. Go girl!! (Hi fromVancouver)
I’m saving this as I know I want to use this in the future
Great idea still not got round to building your hexagon jig keep the videos comming
Will do!
hi ,i made your jig. without t-tracks and all the fancy staff here in costa rica it is very hard to find all of those items so i made the sled..with a couple pieses of 1x2 screwed to it got the right angle and i did tasted one by one the angles so easy love it thanks ...very practical ..i do a lot of repeticions so it doesnt matter to me if i have to move the screws ones in a while, thanks for the idea superb.
Good stuff as always. Reminder for those that aren't comfortable with plunge cuts on the router, drill through holes at each end of the slot for the bit.
drafting triangles to set up angle blade to fence for common angels, much easier then trying to hit exactly on a line on the jig.
Awesome as always, Marie!! Definitely going to be using a sacrificial fence for this one. Thank you for sharing!!
Yep, probably best!
Ingenious! And I appreciate your showing that epoxy-ing the T tracks works. Mega helpful.
Fantastic work, Marie! Really excellent jig! 😃 Thanks a bunch for all the tips! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
Thanks for the great idea been wanting to build something for my shop
Thanks for this idea, It's really great!
Es impresionante la habilidad q UD tiene con las manos y las herramientas,la felicito y un abrazo desde Colombia.
Great jig... Well done...
Loved the video! Thank you!
una chica muy creativa y muy profesional
Nicely done Marie! That would be a good way to make a picture frame that didn't have 90 degree corners. I made an 8 sided frame many years ago to display a beer mat from a famous pub here in the UK. It would have been easier to cut using this jig.
Thank you for sharing!👍🏼🍻
Great videos! Like your product sources also.♥
would add some toggle hold down puck accessories. especially for small workpieces.
Hi Marie. Nice work you have there. Thanks for the nice videos you send out. I have a suggestion for how you can avoid cutting into those who lead the subject. Set up a stop at the end of your saw so the blade doesn't reach too far forward. Hope you understand what I mean. :-)
Like a magswitch or something to stop the sled from going to far forward and cutting through the fence? Yeah great idea!
The perfect jig. Thanks for sharing the video. This was exactly what I meant in one of my comments to your earlier jigs.
I was able to find it thank you I'm enjoying the thing you are showing 🎉
I like the count er sink you use and in the video said it was in the comments below so had to get my phone because I watch your shows on TV 😂 but after getting the phone I was not able to find it 😢I'm not good with phones so I could use a little help in locating the name of the bit 😊
Buenísimo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋👋Saludos desde Argentina .
Thank you for making this jig and the video of you making it for us! Also thank you for putting up all the angles on the chart!!
Nice and versatile jig, Marie. But shapes other than hexagons? Oh, no (lol)! Bill
Don't worry, hexagons will always be my favourites :)
Un chouette Gabarit, bonne idée !
Thank You !
Thanks!
original stop block build pentagon angle on one end and octagon on the other. for larger product quantity without dedicating a whole assembly as a one trick pony.
Well done.
This is really cool! As always, your designs are super functional and also good looking (I like the red contrast with the paler wood). I also like the idea of using epoxy instead of screws; I've had some very poor results with screws, and will try epoxy next time. Thanks for the tip. Great video as always. You're awesome!
thank you great information. 👍
Excellent Merci!
Nice
02:10 the nickel making machine!!!
Awesome jig! What do you suggest as the best way to get the correct length for the sides? Measure from the kerf of the first cut and align the second fence to that or is there a quicker/better/more accurate way in your experience. You can make a sample of each shape and then instead of using the protractor use that sample to set the correct angle for that particular polygon.
Once the back fence is set, you can use the ruler on the protractor to get the size you want one side to be. Beyond that I think practice and having templates as you suggested.
Make the first cut, then measure and mark on the piece where the next cut should go. All the rest will be the same length.
Great jig, we what's the biggest size hexagon I could cut with it?
I am going to purchase the plans for making this Jig. One thing however, the video did not mention how you set the Jig to cut specific sizes of these shapes. I will be cutting 2 inches and 1 inch hexagons for two separate projects. PLEASE ADVISE. Thank you.
Parabéns 👍🏻
Nobody seems to notice that many 'T' track sizes fit perfectly in the miter slots of table saws.
Yup.... @2:10 looks like nickels are the ones! 😁💸
Yep! Pennies just weren't doing it for me
The size of the polygon is limited though, it seems.or am I not seeing this right?
Ola y una guía para cortar ,Pentágonos tienes Gracias
Hi Marie...I'm not sure if I missed it or if it is obvious and I am still missing it but if I need a polygon a specific size how do I determine the setting of the guides? Do I find the center of my blank to the first cut and set the center half the distance of the finish height away from the blade?
I love the idea of this jig. I'm probably being stupid but how do I set the length of the side of the shape? eg if I want each side to be 2 inches long.
I purchased the plans for this jig but you didn't specify the distance from the fence you placed the board before cutting the kerf and installing the runners. Is this a critical measurement?
Where did you get the clamps that have the squeeze trigger??
Shouldn’t you set the router on two T-tracks in order to set the depth?
I have a 10'x20' shop and can't figure out where to store jigs 😅.
Lol I feel ya. Space under my workbench is getting overcrowded!
I'm doing something wrong, and I can't figure out what it is! I keep getting triangles!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
No need for the second fence end to butt up against the first fence. Just collects debris. The workpiece is registering on the fence edge, the the second fence end is not involved in alignment.
Running a dado with the table saw for the metal guides would have been faster, safer, and more accurate. Instead of a chamfer, add a bunch of .25"x.25" dados under the runners, about an inch or so apart. With thinner boards, the chamfer will mess up your measurements, where the small dados will allow chips to get out of the way, while still fully supporting the board. Also, always leave a decent gap between the runners, for additional chip removal. Get a set of cheap plastic drafting triangles. Even the cheapest will be remarkably accurate and you can use them to set the angles for hexagons (60°), octagons (45°), and dodecagons (30°) much better than the protractor. You just have to place the triangle on the other side of the blade. For a pentagon, once you make one "perfectly", save it for setting up the angle next time.
If you want to cut other polygons: The angle for a regular polygon with N sides is (N-2)*180/N
Amazing! Thanks for sharing.
Question, it has been many, many years since I was in High School (it feels like it at least) so please tell me if I am correct or if I need to go back to school or not! With the formula that you laid out if I wanted (grab this number out of the sky/clouds) to make a 12 sided Polygon the angle I would need to use would be 150°, is this correct? 🤔 Thank you in advance and I hope you don't think I'm a dumb b@tt for not knowing this off the cuff!!🤔🤔
@@davidnleeh4 Correct!!
How would I cut a diamond on this jig
🤔🤔🤔🤔 Couldn’t you use som MDF or hardwood to make a setup block. Of course you would Ned one for each shape. Triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon, octagon etc.
Sure that's always an option, but seemed easier to just have 2 parts that you can adjust.
What meant was to use them to re-set the angles. Put one side against the sawblade to set the first angle and use another side to set the other angle. Kind of like a set up block.
Of course once you have the initial set up, you’re set a block would only need three sides. Find a the blade, side, be the long fence and side see the short fence.
🤔🤷🏻♂️😃😂
suggest a quick set-up 'square' block or panel, sides at different common angles and the usual drafting triangles. make a shallow storage tray with lid as part of your handhold. Triangle box (staying with the theme) at your close right hand corner.
I can’t help myself. Nickels are bigger.
UHMW is cheap. And it's not worth a crap. Use NYLON, it's more expensive but the results will be worth it. retired tool and die maker. I hated UHMW. I cut a lot of it because the customer was too cheap to use NYLON. It's just not worth the aggravation for the machinists and tool makers to use UHMW.