My wife bought this for me around three years ago and I just got it put together as I am now into some picture frames. This is from MLCS and is really solidly built. It is 12" by 24" and weighs a little over 18 lbs. Made out of laminated MDF with two stop blocks and embedded T-Tracks. The 18" miter bar will fit normal 3/4" table saw slots. You use both stop blocks to sandwich smaller widths and use one or none for larger pieces. I most generally build my own jigs, but this was a gift. Was hard to put together and probably easier to make my own. The T-Track was installed with extremely short screws and all of them stripped so used epoxy to install the track and used the screws mainly for looks to fill the holes. This uses inserts for the saw blade area, but they hide the cut a little, so I don't use them. After playing with this for a while I have decided that this IS a very useful jig and works very well. You can adjust this in a large selection of positions to meet your needs. I didn't take pictures while it was being used so put a finished frame in it to show how it works. You can make multiple cuts for wider or double splines or tilt your blade for angled splines which give a more decorative look.
I'm sure most of us Philistines, have ventured down the path of making our own, however, when I consider the adjustability of yours and the hardware supplied, I often wonder whether it's worth it... I don't necessarily think that the search for a gap fill project is that legitimate excuse... maybe "I must have one immediately" might pass the pub test.
The one thing I don't like about it is the IKEA nightmares I'm going to face for the next few months.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
LittleBlackDuck - Thanks for the comments, greatly appreciated. With everything that's going on around me, I find that it's sometimes easier and quicker to just buy some jigs. I need to check in more often so I can stay updated on responses and stuff. Have a good day !!!
I've had the MLCS spline jig for so long I don't remember if it was sold as a router spline jig or a table saw spline jig. At any rate I've used mine on the router numerous times. Set up can be finicky but once it is set up it is great. Another one of those jigs that you can make if you want to take the time, or buy if you need it now, or get it as a gift like you did.
I'll have to look at the router version I have and see if it can be adapted to use on the TS. Otherwise making a TS version would be fairly straightforward. Just need a reason and some time.
Earl commented about 6 hours ago new I'll have to look at the router version I have and see if it can be adapted to use on the TS. Otherwise making a TS version would be fairly straightforward. Just need a reason and some time.
The reason is always there as you'll never have time to make one when you'll eventually need it.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
Mel, after seeing your review, I mentioned it as a possible Christmas gift to replace the balancing acts I’ve used for years. And guess what Santa brought…. Got the same spline jig as you reviewed and the thin rip jig.
Straight forward assembly. Quick test of both the spline jig and thin rip jig quickly yielded good results. Definitely should be more accurate and repeatable than what I had been using.
Dan B - Glad you got one, I have used mine several more times and it gets easier and quicker each time. LittleBlackDuck - Thank you, I guess if even one person gets some use out of it, it was worth putting out there.
