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+-- Thread: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? (/showthread.php?tid=7377884)
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Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Dumb_Polack - 02-10-2025
Hi,
I'm rebuilding the lattice that sits on top of our fence. The original just had the slats stapled where they meet and many of them have failed. The 2nd picture shows the assembly jig I made. You'll note that some of the squares have been removed in order to make is easy for the slat pieces to fit. (In retrospect, I probably didn't need a square at every intersection point...oh well...I had some time on Saturday with nothing to do).
The 3rd picture shows my TS jig to cut the wide dadoes. The problem is that I can't make a dado the width of the slats (IIRC, they're about 1 7/16" wide). I seem to recall there's some sort of half-lap jig that allows the key to be slid over once you make the 1st cut to accommodate the entire width of the slat, but I can't seem to find it. The front fence slides to the right somehow?? (Did the Woodsmith Shop do an episode where they made one?)
I realize it'll be a lot of bending over the TS to make my cuts. I think I've got 4 8 feet sections and 2 smaller sections to make. Ouch.
Also I'd rather got the TS route vs the router route as I think the TS will be more accurate, once I get the jig dialed in.
Got any plans/sites that show how to build one?
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Bob10 - 02-10-2025
(02-10-2025, 08:52 AM)Dumb_Polack Wrote: Hi,
I'm rebuilding the lattice that sits on top of our fence. The original just had the slats stapled where they meet and many of them have failed. The 2nd picture shows the assembly jig I made. You'll note that some of the squares have been removed in order to make is easy for the slat pieces to fit. (In retrospect, I probably didn't need a square at every intersection point...oh well...I had some time on Saturday with nothing to do).
The 3rd picture shows my TS jig to cut the wide dadoes. The problem is that I can't make a dado the width of the slats (IIRC, they're about 1 7/16" wide). I seem to recall there's some sort of half-lap jig that allows the key to be slid over once you make the 1st cut to accommodate the entire width of the slat, but I can't seem to find it. The front fence slides to the right somehow?? (Did the Woodsmith Shop do an episode where they made one?)
I realize it'll be a lot of bending over the TS to make my cuts. I think I've got 4 8 feet sections and 2 smaller sections to make. Ouch.
Also I'd rather got the TS route vs the router route as I think the TS will be more accurate, once I get the jig dialed in.
Got any plans/sites that show how to build one?
why wouldn't you set it up like a regular box joint jig? instead of that buried guide all you would need is one buried and spacers to allow more than one cut I am not sure that was clear enough but that's what I am going to do to make beehive boxes
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Dumb_Polack - 02-11-2025
(02-10-2025, 10:40 PM)Bob10 Wrote: why wouldn't you set it up like a regular box joint jig? instead of that buried guide all you would need is one buried and spacers to allow more than one cut I am not sure that was clear enough but that's what I am going to do to make beehive boxes
Hmmm....let me think about that one. Good idea!!
(When I made the box joints for my beehives my dado was wide enough so this wasn't an issue)
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - jteneyck - 02-11-2025
I don't see the point except to make a lot of work. Glue the lap joints and staple them. Half laps are just an opportunity for water to get in and cause problems.
John
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Dumb_Polack - 02-11-2025
(02-11-2025, 09:52 AM)jteneyck Wrote: I don't see the point except to make a lot of work. Glue the lap joints and staple them. Half laps are just an opportunity for water to get in and cause problems.
John
Well, they were stapled before and they failed. (the lattice is 24+ years old so I guess it earned it's keep)
They used really thin staples and I just have your typical silver, Arrow staple gun that can't shoot thin staples.
Also, I've got the time to do it this way
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - wjt - 02-11-2025
Attached is a half lap jig I made. Probably overly complex but it works.
Bill
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - jteneyck - 02-11-2025
(02-11-2025, 11:51 AM)Dumb_Polack Wrote: Well, they were stapled before and they failed. (the lattice is 24+ years old so I guess it earned it's keep)
They used really thin staples and I just have your typical silver, Arrow staple gun that can't shoot thin staples.
Also, I've got the time to do it this way
I doubt they were glued. A pneumatic stapler at HF is $15. Shoot staples longer than the thickness of your two boards, then clinch them on the back side. They aren't coming apart.
John
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Gary G™ - 02-11-2025
Gotta agree with John on this.
However, if you’re hellbent on doing a thousand halflap joints, look up Router dado jig.
There’s lots and lots of videos and free guides.
Plan on doing lots of yearly maintenance too.
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Bob10 - 02-12-2025
(02-11-2025, 08:44 AM)Dumb_Polack Wrote: Hmmm....let me think about that one. Good idea!!
(When I made the box joints for my beehives my dado was wide enough so this wasn't an issue)
The joints I am looking at are 7/8" or an inch I have to measure them again. What did you make yours with.
RE: Anyone have a jig for making wide half laps? - Dumb_Polack - 02-12-2025
(02-12-2025, 12:39 AM)Bob10 Wrote: The joints I am looking at are 7/8" or an inch I have to measure them again. What did you make yours with.
IIRC my joints were (are) 1/2" or close to that. One pass with the stacked dado blades did the trick.