BEST BANG FOR MY WOODWORKING BUCK
I have been working on my basement bar and needed a way to hide a steel column that I bulit my bar around. I decided to try a fluted column. Problem is that the bar is being made of cherry and I never made a fluted column in my life. I researched it, but it seemed to be akin to rocket science. That is until I came across a recent issue of Woodsmith that featured DRL’s fluted column jig.
For $30 bucks I figured it was worth a shot .
I finally got a chance to try it yesterday. The jig required about 5 minutes (pictures in Woodsmith were far better than the website). I made a perfect three flute through-flute sample on a 1×4 on the first go. I was impressed. I tried my hand at a stopped flute next on a mock up made of pine. Spacing was dead on. Barring my momentary lapse of attention, three of my four stopped-flutes came out perfect. What can I say, operator error. Once I had the nack, I made a demo four flute and a demo five flute column mock-up to get a feel of what looked better.
After two test mock-ups, I made four perfect stopped-flute sides of my box column. I’ll have to post a pic once the cherry raised panels are installed on my bar front.
Bottom line: its was the best $30 (plus shipping) I ever spent for a woodworking gadget. While some may complain about not being able to precisely set spacing of flutes, let’s be honest, I was looking for simplicity. I found it.
Thanks DRL!
-- Mike, Northern Virginia
___________________________________________________________________________________________
I have had one of these jigs for about a month and although I have not used it for any project yet, I have put it through its paces with tests on scrap.
I fully agree with the review, it is very accurate, easy to use and fast.
For the price, it is within the range of most woodworkers budget and although you might not use this jig all the time, it is a desired jig to have when any fluting has to be done.
Well made jig, affordable price, great results, not complicated. If you can afford it, get one.
-- Roger, Rep. of Texas
______________________________________________________________________________________________
12/2/09
I received my jig yesterday, tried it out today. My congratulations to you….you have a very good product here. Easy to use…quality workmanship…reasonably priced…..and it is MADE IN AMERICA!
You get one “Attaboy” for each feature!
Best Regards and Keep up the great work!
Tom Wasden, Sr.
______________________________________________________________________________________________
I needed to make 8 fluted columns for a small kitchen island I was making and remembered reading about a flute spacing jig here on LJs.The jig was delivered very quickly and I found it to be of the highest quality.It is made of THICK aluminum.What the jig does is help you set the fence on your router table for perfectly spaced flutes every time.You do not need to measure and there is no math involved.The instructions say to practice on a piece of scrap wood.The scrap piece and all 8 columns came out perfect.Extremely easy on the very first time and also enjoyable to use.At $38 delivered I think its a bargain.Picture is from their website.