Console Table Build Part 4

Next up is tapering the legs. The amount of leg taper is a tricky thing; I find that it’s difficult to get it right without a full-scale mockup. It never looks the same in a computer model when viewed on a 2D screen and even a mockup can be deceiving at times; subtle changes can make a noticeable difference.

With that said, this is not about design; it’s about laying out and cutting the tapers. The layout is straightforward – just draw the appropriate lines.

Cutting that narrow angle is next. When I was teaching, I taught a course on jigs and fixtures. Early on, my go-to taper jig was one I had come up with, similar to what you can purchase:

But I didn’t like how these kinds of jigs worked. You’re supposed to locate your stock on the left side of the jig, against the stop, push the jig (against the fence) through a table saw using the handle, and the stock magically stays against the rail. Right… The forces involved make no sense and I’m amazed these things work at all. I turned the thing end for end, with the large end forward. You then push the stock, with the jig between the stock and fence.

This works well but it’s a little tricky to use. You really have to pay attention to what’s moving what, and the jig length has to be similar to the stock length.

For my table legs, I used a more complicated but safer jig. While writing this, I searched the web for taper jigs and found that most of the jigs are now like the one I use in the video, not like the one at the top of this post.

My “fancy” jig, which I made, was based on one I saw somewhere (probably one a student brought in). It’s a great jig, easy to set up and very safe to use. The only real downside is that the stock sits on top of the base, which means you lose a bit of blade height. Not typically a concern but a drawback on occasion.

Watch the video here.

On another note (assuming you’re still with me), I’m curious if the length of my videos is working for you. I’m always trying to strike a balance between delivering the content and keeping your interest. I could have made this video twice as long if I included cutting the mortises, but I thought that was a bit much. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.