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Miter Vise Top & Block

One of the keys to a creating a tight miter joint with the vise shown on page 36 is starting with a 90° reference corner at the top of the vise. What's critical here is that the vise top and clamping block that make up the corner align with each other.

Centered Dado. The first step to accomplish this is to cut a centered dado in an oversized blank, as shown in Figure 1. But the key is

CLAMPING BLOCK

MITER VISE TOP

not to try to cut it to the exact size and center it in one step. Instead, set up your dado blade so it's a little more than half as wide as the final width of the dado.

Once that's complete, you can make a first pass, which is slightly off-center (Figure la). Then just flip the workpiece around and make another pass, as in Figure lb. This two-step process results in a perfectly centered dado.

If the dado isn't the correct width, simply reset the rip fence

and repeat the process by making two more passes, sneaking up on the desired width.

Alignment Holes. Before you cut the top and clamping block from the blank, step over to the drill press. There you can drill the holes used to adjust and lock the two pieces together. Doing this now ensures that the holes in the two parts line up with each other.

Finally, head back to your table saw and cut the parts free, taking care to keep the corners at 90°.

clamping block

MARK CENTER OF WORKPIECE

Set blade height

to Ve>" _J

MITER VISE TOP END

FIRST CUT IS OFF CENTER

/ /

dado blade is just over half as wide as final dado

NOTE: rotate workpiece 180° after first cut (see detail "b")

SECOND CUT WIDENS AND CENTERS DADO

miter vise top

CLAMPING h.

BLOCK END

26 ShopNotes No. 94