Tool/jig for cross-cutting sheet goods to the same size

[deemery]

For my B&M boxcars project, I want to be able to cross-cut a bunch of pieces of scribed siding to the same size (car body height.)  Here's my thought for a tool to do that.

I'll trim a piece of cutting mat to a bit more than 6", shown by the red line.  I'll dado the slot for T-Track into the fixture.  There's a wood stop glued to the right of the cutting mat, perpendicular to the bottom of the fixture.  I also glued a strip of wood along the bottom of the fixture, to hold the base of the square so the blade sits flat on the scribed sheathing. 

The T-Track stop is set behind the blade, because that's the more likely direction of thrust when I'm cutting along the blade of the machinist's square with an X-Acto knife. 

dave

[GPdemayo]

Excellent idea Dave.....every task is easier with the proper tools. 

[ACL1504]

Now let's see all those boxcars coming out of the shop!

Tom

[postalkarl]

HeyDave:

Looks great. Hope it works well for you.

Karl

[deemery]

Here's an update.  I got the longer square, but the T-Track parts I ordered weren't the right size.  The new parts are on order.  For the initial cut, I use the 'inside measure' aspect of my digital calipers, then lock the square into position with the clamp.  For subsequent cuts, I just use the initial piece. 

Also note the little piece of styrene between the wood and the square.  I noticed some problems when the edge of the siding was at the edge of the cutting mat, this styrene piece puts a "landing ramp" for the single-edge razor I'm using to cut the siding. 

All of the wood parts are done on the first/prototype build of the cars, I learned a lot and built some more jigs (including one for drilling the truss rod NBWs.)

dave

[jerryrbeach]

Dave,


Looking forward to how this looks and works with the T track you have on order.  Waiting somewhat (im)patiently.  I really like using tools and fixtures that make cutting sheetwood; and other construction tasks more accurate as well as saving time.

[deemery]

Here's the 'final' jig set-up, now that I have the right size T-Track parts.  I still like clamping the square down to the jig and to the table beneath, keeps everything from moving around.

That's a .030 x .125 styrene strip between the wood and the square. 

Works great!

dave

[jerryrbeach]

Dave,


I was having trouble picturing how this would work.  Add the T track and it becomes crystal clear to me.  Excellent in both design and execution.  I am thinking I should build one myself.  Thanks for posting and sharing your fixture.

[deemery]

Jerry, it works pretty well without the T-Track, just using the clamp at the bottom to hold the square in place.  If you don't have a router/dado set, that's worth considering.  The primary concern is getting a smooth cut at the bottom where the square runs, and then gluing the stop at a precise right angle to that bottom cut.

dave

[jerryrbeach]

Dave,


I glued a small cutting mat to a piece of laminate flooring and use a machinist square toget straight and square cuts.  However I have to measure each time and usually end up sanding paired sides until they match precisely.  Seems to me if I glue a baseboard underneath this mat, add a stop and a thin piece so the square "bottoms out' so I can clamp it i would save myself a lot of time.  I do have a router, so I can cut the slot for a piece of T track.  Once again, thanks for showinghow you made and use this fixture.