Bowtie jig selection

[weelis]

Need to stabilize some checking in a table top slab and wondering about bow tie/Dutchman jigs. Is there a preferred jig out there for this task? Thanx.

 

[tarheelz]

Others can speak to the templates and jigs but I had good luck watching a few youtube videos and doing these by hand. If you do them without a template, you can make your butterflies of any shape you like. The templates don't give you that flexibility.

 

[KenOfCary]

I have a couple of templates but have never used them. When I last made butterflies for the bottom side of my workbench, I just cut out several of them to close to the size I wanted on the band saw. I then traced their pattern onto the wood. They were about 1/2" thick so I took a very small router and put a 1/8" straight bit in it. I carefully (you need lots of light to see your lines) cut inside the lines of my butterfly to about 1/4-3/8" depth. I finished the outside edges with a chisel. I put in some yellow glue and pounded in the butterfly. I came back with a hand plane and made everything level. A scraper or chisel would work just be careful of tear-out if using a chisel.

 

[Lowlander]

I personally like cutting my own butterflies out and tracing them onto the work. Then I route out the majority of the trace with a straight bit. I then finish up the edges with a chisel. Sand flush and its done.

 

[Touchwood]

I use the Casper jig and a chisel to clean up the corners. Plus a Whitefield brass patterning set and 1/8" router bit.
This is a small display table top done with it.

 

[dancam]

Nice top and the butterfly inlay looks great. What is a "Casper Jig"? I've never heard of it and I googled it w/no results. I use a simple lexan 1/4" pattern that I've had for years and it sounds like the same process. Route w/a pattern bushing and a 1/8th" spiral bit.

Tks,
Dan C.

 

[Touchwood]

Nice top and the butterfly inlay looks great. What is a "Casper Jig"? I've never heard of it and I googled it w/no results. I use a simple lexan 1/4" pattern that I've had for years and it sounds like the same process. Route w/a pattern bushing and a 1/8th" spiral bit.

Tks,
Dan C.

Sorry about that..my bad. It's Jasper not Casper

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/3801/router-jigs-and-templates

Don

 

[dancam]

Don, Thanks...that's exactly what I have.

 

[KenOfCary]

This is the butterfly on the underside of my workbench. Done by cutting on band saw, tracing and routing out the shape by eye.

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After leveling.

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The black stuff in the gap is epoxy with black dye mixed into it. It turned out looking like mineral streaks in the wood.