I recently picked up the newer stainless steel version of the Jessem jig, and I'm having a bit of trouble aligning dowels. The previous model is a bit bulkier, which helps in getting good registration even if the dowels are slightly raised. However, the new model is much thinner, which means I often have to slot a piece of wood underneath it. This creates some challenges since it can be tricky to find the exact width needed for the jig to register properly with the center of the dowel pin. Plus, drilling through the wood adds extra complications like difficulty in clamping and losing sight of the centerline. While I've seen some 3D printed solutions online, they are relatively pricey and don't necessarily work as well for my needs. I'm curious if anyone here has come up with a practical solution!
1 Answer
I've faced similar issues with the stainless version too, but I found it works pretty well on corners. One straightforward fix is to cut two pieces of hardwood and glue them on top of the jig to give it some extra height. It's simple, but it might be your best bet until you can access a 3D printer!
Yeah, that’s definitely the most practical route! I was hoping for a fancier solution too, but sometimes the simplest answers do the job best.