test hinge on Gifkins jig

Now I'm beginning the process of making wooden hinges using the Gifkins jig. It is a bit more complicated to make a common box joint with the jig, than it is to cut dovetails. My wooden hinges are usually cut in the same manner box joints are formed. You have to use the red spacer shown in the photo above to provide for two different placements of the workpiece on the jig, and clamp the workpiece in two different positions to cut each side of the joint. Nevertheless, it does a great job as you can see in my test pieces. The purple spacer mounted on the router bearing is used to loosen the fit slightly to allow for the hinge to bend with less resistance. The jig comes with a variety of color coded bearings which allow you to fine tune the fit.

Today in the woodshop at Clear Spring School, the students begin making a table of periodic elements, part of their study of chemistry.