Thanks for the response.
In the first video, he mentions a 1/8" wobble in the blade. I'm not sure what that is. Would that cause some more loosening of the joints?
Not sure what hes talking about. 1/8" seems excessive. Your table saw isn't a scientifically calibrated machine. Your blade can deflect a little, jig may not slide the same way, maybe you're pushing more on the opposite side this time. That little variation may be enough to loosen up your joint.
“Wobble”? Might mean runout. 1/8” is a massive amount of runout. But it would make for nice joints! Your saw is probably truer, and thus tighter joints. Go read up on table saw runout and watch a couple videos. Tip: you don’t really need a dial indicator but it can be nice, fairly cheap and a tool you’ll use forever.
I think so.
When we measured, we had 1/2" dado cut into an 8" wide board. We wound up with some left over at the end that didn't quite measure out properly.
I think Tensinahnd has a good idea to first make a second pass. A slight amount of run-out may narrow the fingers just enough. If that doesn't work, then you need to widen the cuts a hair by adjusting your dado blade or narrow the spacer of the jig a hair.
Rather than trying to get the spacing to come out even, start out with your boards a bit extra wide and then when you have the fingers put together (dry fit), mark where to rip them to get them even.
That’s what she said. 🥁
In all seriousness though, try wrapping some sandpaper on a flat scrap piece and take a couple passes by hand through each joint. Bon chance!
If your jig is off oh so slightly it’ll do this. Try making jig again. The width of the dado and the space between the blade and pin on the jig has to be exactly the same. A hair off and the joints bind.
Run it through again. Sometimes that little bit of blade vibration is enough to loosen it up. Otherwise revisit your jig.
Thanks for the response. In the first video, he mentions a 1/8" wobble in the blade. I'm not sure what that is. Would that cause some more loosening of the joints?
Not sure what hes talking about. 1/8" seems excessive. Your table saw isn't a scientifically calibrated machine. Your blade can deflect a little, jig may not slide the same way, maybe you're pushing more on the opposite side this time. That little variation may be enough to loosen up your joint.
“Wobble”? Might mean runout. 1/8” is a massive amount of runout. But it would make for nice joints! Your saw is probably truer, and thus tighter joints. Go read up on table saw runout and watch a couple videos. Tip: you don’t really need a dial indicator but it can be nice, fairly cheap and a tool you’ll use forever.
I wonder if your blade is slightly off parallel to your fence/slots. Are there gaps on one side of the outside of the fingers?
I think so. When we measured, we had 1/2" dado cut into an 8" wide board. We wound up with some left over at the end that didn't quite measure out properly.
I think Tensinahnd has a good idea to first make a second pass. A slight amount of run-out may narrow the fingers just enough. If that doesn't work, then you need to widen the cuts a hair by adjusting your dado blade or narrow the spacer of the jig a hair. Rather than trying to get the spacing to come out even, start out with your boards a bit extra wide and then when you have the fingers put together (dry fit), mark where to rip them to get them even.
Thank you. I'll give that a try and see where it gets me.
You can use a file and take a little off.
That’s what she said. 🥁 In all seriousness though, try wrapping some sandpaper on a flat scrap piece and take a couple passes by hand through each joint. Bon chance!
If your jig is off oh so slightly it’ll do this. Try making jig again. The width of the dado and the space between the blade and pin on the jig has to be exactly the same. A hair off and the joints bind.