Reply To: Fixtures, Guides, Jigs, and Templates – aids to accuracy and precision
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IMHO, it depends what you are trying to do. Jigs and fixtures help you when you want repeatability or speed. They are generally best when they do only one thing and don’t need to be set up or tuned. These usually (but not always) require a deal more precision in the preceding stages of preparation though (compare how many times you have heard Paul say ‘Use a test piece’ vs. any of the jig / power tool demos you can find on the squinternet).
If your goal is the finished piece then an off the shelf or simple fixture / jig will probably help to get you there more efficiently.
If your goal is the skill of the use of the tools, then a jig may be more of a handicap. Really does depend on a bit of self awareness regarding why you are doing something.
For example, I have a funky bit of tree that I am going to make in to a small table. I don’t need an extra table, but I would like to know if I can do it or not.
If I can do it, then I will have succeeded against my objective of learning how to make that sort of table (and I will then have an un-necessary table to dispose of, but that’s another debate).
If I fail to make a good table, then I will still be in the process of learning how to make that sort of table (and will have to wait until another suitable piece of tree comes along before I continue).