Simple Shim jig for Bandsaw

**Rorschach** · Aug 18, 2018, 02:58 AM

Doing a cabinet install next week and wanted some shims. Wooden shims are not commercially available here, only plastic and usually not tapered so I cut my own. When at home I just cut them to suit the job but since I will be off site I wanted to make a stack of them.

Simply made from a runner of hardwood to fit the mitre slot and the top piece is a scrap of laminate flooring. Tacked in place with CA glue and then a few screws added. The edge is trued using the bandsaw and then I marked out a 5deg wedge for the shims. I make my shims from offcuts and the jig works great, made 2 dozen shims in a couple of minutes. Jig itself took less than 10minutes to make.

Simple Shim jig for Bandsaw-img_20180816_104117.jpg

**Mi Tasol** · Aug 20, 2018, 06:21 PM

Originally Posted by Rorschach

Doing a cabinet install next week and wanted some shims. Wooden shims are not commercially available here, only plastic and usually not tapered so I cut my own. When at home I just cut them to suit the job but since I will be off site I wanted to make a stack of them.

Simply made from a runner of hardwood to fit the mitre slot and the top piece is a scrap of laminate flooring. Tacked in place with CA glue and then a few screws added. The edge is trued using the bandsaw and then I marked out a 5deg wedge for the shims. I make my shims from offcuts and the jig works great, made 2 dozen shims in a couple of minutes. Jig itself took less than 10minutes to make.

Click image for larger version.

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Magic - just what I need and have been trying to design for weeks

Thanks

Mi

**DIYer** · Aug 22, 2018, 06:39 AM

Thanks Rorschach! We've added your Bandsaw Shimming Jig to our Bandsaws category,
as well as to your builder page: Rorschach's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Shim/Wedge Cutting Jig by Rorschach

tags: bandsaw

**Rorschach** · Aug 24, 2018, 03:55 PM

Shimming jig isn't quite accurate, could cause some confusion maybe?

**Jon** · Aug 24, 2018, 04:32 PM

Sure, that's reasonable. What title did you have in mind?

**Rorschach** · Aug 25, 2018, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by Jon

Sure, that's reasonable. What title did you have in mind?

How about "Simple shim/wedge cutting jig for the Bandsaw or Table saw" Bit long winded maybe?
Just don't want someone to see it and think it's for adjusting the bandsaw angle or something.

**Frank S** · Aug 25, 2018, 09:15 AM

This is one of those examples where several possibilities for a description are correct yet none can completely describe with fewer words.
Wedge cutting jig, shim cutting jig, tapered shim cutting jig,
The problem is some folks will call them by several names.
Often when I need a wedge for a hammer handle I will use 2" long end cut off of a hardwood board set the vice in my horizontal band was to a slight angle then after the first cut merely turn the board over and cut another. Longer end cut pieces make longer wedges.
A 1 by 12 or 2 by 12 will yield several wedges before the piece of wood becomes too short to safely hold
Rorschach's simple jig does the same thing only his jig insures all shims/ wedges are uniform providing he has a fence set up so his jig becomes what some have called a boat.
I have found that if I cut a mesquite log into board shaped chunks they make excellent handle wedges

**Jon** · Aug 25, 2018, 09:42 AM

Originally Posted by Rorschach

How about "Simple shim/wedge cutting jig for the Bandsaw or Table saw" Bit long winded maybe?
Just don't want someone to see it and think it's for adjusting the bandsaw angle or something.

Accurate, but needs to be shorter for a title.

**Rorschach** · Aug 25, 2018, 10:03 AM

"Shim/Wedge cutting Jig" Is that short enough?

**Rorschach** · Aug 25, 2018, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Frank S

This is one of those examples where several possibilities for a description are correct yet none can completely describe with fewer words.
Wedge cutting jig, shim cutting jig, tapered shim cutting jig,
The problem is some folks will call them by several names.
Often when I need a wedge for a hammer handle I will use 2" long end cut off of a hardwood board set the vice in my horizontal band was to a slight angle then after the first cut merely turn the board over and cut another. Longer end cut pieces make longer wedges.
A 1 by 12 or 2 by 12 will yield several wedges before the piece of wood becomes too short to safely hold
Rorschach's simple jig does the same thing only his jig insures all shims/ wedges are uniform providing he has a fence set up so his jig becomes what some have called a boat.
I have found that if I cut a mesquite log into board shaped chunks they make excellent handle wedges

No need for a fence with this jig.