Make Wood Wedges and Shims Safely with Power Tools or Hand Tools
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- Опубліковано 6 бер 2021
- Learn 5 different ways to safely make wood wedges and shims. We also show you the unsafe ways you should not use to make wood shims or wedges. These techniques cover the use of power tools and hand tools, so hopefully one of these will work for you with the tools you have. A wedge or shim must be cut parallel to the grain of the wood otherwise it will break across the grain as shown in the video.
PLANS - Bandsaw Shim & Wedge Jig Plans - woodenitbenice.ca/products/ba...
What is the difference between a wood wedge and a wood shim? A wedge is used to drive top pieces a part. Think of the common phrase "driving a wedge between..." A shim is used to take up space between two parts. The doors and windows in your house were installed with shims to level up the window or door casings so they are aligned where the builder wants them to be.
To make wood shims, there are safe ways to do this and unsafe ways. In my opinion, a table saw is not a safe way to cut shims. In the video, I show the forces of the table saw blade on the wood and at the back of the blade, there's a risk that uncontrolled wood can climb up the blade and cause an accident... and no one likes the words "accident" and "table saw" together. All material run through a table saw must be controlled between the blade and the fence, otherwise disasters can happen. If you understand that, then why would you cut a shim and allow that shim to freely float between the blade and the fence/jig?
The safe way to make shims is on a bandsaw. The blade direction is straight down at the table and does't present the risk of throwing material back at your, or even worse, dragging your hand across a moving blade from the uncontrolled material. The key to cutting shims on a bandsaw is to make a 1 degree jig to nest the block into. This can be as simple as cutting a gentle angle in a block of wood or as sophisticated as making an adjustable jig as I show in the video. If using a table saw is your only option for making shims, I encourage you not to take the risk and instead, spend $2-3 for a dozen shims at the hardware store.
To cut wood wedges, I prefer the bandsaw. There are several ways to do this. I use my adjustable wedge cutting jig, but you can also use a miter gauge with some success. I attempted cutting wedges free hand on the end of a board with the bandsaw and with a Japanese hand saw, but neither results worked well for me.
I cut small wedges for repairing through tenons on chairs. To do that, I use a hand plane and a wedge cutting jig I mount in my workbench vice. It's a simple jig that has a pocket for the wood shim I'm making. I simply split off a piece of wood from a 3/4 inch block of Birch, insert it into the jig and start planing. I plane one side smooth and then flip it over to plane down the second side flush with the jig surface. I typically make the wedges in small batches so I have wedges on hand when I need them.
Another way to make a wedge by hand is using a technique that Curtis Buchanan shows in his chair making videos. It's using a small block of wood and a very sharp chisel (you can watch how I get mine to a mirror finish in the video). The technique is to pare away progressively more wood starting from the back and moving forward to make the wedge shape. It's a good technique to use if you only need a few wedges.
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#Wedge #Shim #Woodworking - Навчання та стиль
Damn! Never thought I'll watch someone talk about shims and wedges for 20 min, but it was awesome and informative! 😀
I'm glad you found it useful. Thanks for sharing that. Scott
I also never thought I'd watch someone talk about Sims and wedges for that long but you are so informative and to the point. I know some of us will a little experience no kind of what we're doing and I can totally relate to your explanations which personally is the icing on the cake man you're right Hands-On explanations of safety which is a big thing for real are great very impressive I really wish I had a band saw and a router table! Also your shirt is awesome! Thanks again for your wise experience and wisdom, I will be following along have a great day
Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching. We also have a larger UA-cam channel called Fixing Furniture that may interest you. Scott
good timing, two days ago i was thinking about wedges and how i need some, now i know how to do them.
That's great. I'm glad it worked out for you! Scott
I know exactly what my next empty jar of peanut butter is going to be used for! I'm making some wedges and going to use them for dowel storage also. Then I'm going to tell my wife "honey, Scott says I have to buy my bandsaw now." 😂
Thanks for sharing some good ideas!
Lol, that's hilarious! Thanks for the laugh Sean! Scott
Hi Scott, tnx fer a very informative way of making wedges. for my purposes, I like the miter gauge on my bandsaw.( I don't use a lot of them and make them as needed.) but loved all the ways you've shown. more techniques to my arsenal. Thank you for taking the time to show us, and for sharing.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for sharing that Ellis. Scott
You have a style that is very conducive to absorbing information i.e., SMOOTH!
I was about to try making these on my table saw until I watched this. Definitely going to go buy some instead, thanks for saving my fingers.
Glad I could help!
Great video! I use wedges all the time - all hand cut. Very tricky when I first started but Like you I worked out the best method.
Most use is keeping pieces solid in my portable workbench!
Thanks for sharing that Kerry! Scott
I came here to learn how to make shims for getting a bookcase plumb to the wall. Pretty much all the bookcases I've installed leaned away from the wall at the top and therefore need a shim along each of the verticals and another spacer at the front. Very informative and useful!
Glad it was helpful Jack! Scott
Thank you very good presentation. I was looking at a jig for the table saw but my fingers didn't like the feel of that. I will do this work with the bandsaw from now on. Thanks again for helping me keep my fingers and thumbs !!!
Glad it was helpful!
Exactly the video I needed for my current project! Thank a lot! Subscribed now!
Awesome, thank you!
Very good information I never would’ve thought about Using a chisel, I use 2-4 foot wedges all the time that I cut a 2x4 on a bandsaw. I use them on a Ron Poulk table with bench dogs for glue ups and hold downs work wonderfully quick and simple. Thanks
Wow, those are big wedges! Thanks for sharing that Bill. Scott
This was a very good overview on wedge and shims. Well done with your sample demonstrations and review.
One thing i did note that when you use the wedge making jig in the vice, your bench longitudinal stiffness was not there for planning!
Why not push your bench against the wall and secure it. Or add a filler board an shim it in! Of course the rear of your table will have to nr secure to the wall. Or fix your bench.
Good video learnings over all. As for wedges and shims are on of my favorite simple machines. Where would we be without them!
Coumbus Michigan
Wedges are how I hold the work on my viseless bench. I appreciate your exhaustive approach. I took to clamping a thin piece of wood on the end of my bench to push against. Kind of a combination of the last two. Hand plan but letting the wedge rest against a stop block. I loved your jig though.
Thanks for sharing your approach Micheal. Glad you enjoyed the video. Thanks for being a subscriber! Scott
High quality video. Well written. Very useful. Thanks.
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing that. Scott
Some great methods. Thank you
You are welcome!
thank you
For most of my needs, I have found the chisel to be the quickest. I made up a dedicated block for paring the wedge tapers. It essentially is a fat L. Throw that in a vise and you are ready to go.
That sounds like a good idea Eric. Thanks for sharing that with everyone! Scott
Quality...Just Quality! Thank You!!!
You're welcome! Scott
I really like your adjustable band saw angle jig. Have you ever tried making the first cut at half the angle you are going to be using? This would align the grain to the center.
I'm glad some people have the time & patients to make wedges with a chisel. NOT ME!
I'd like the plans for the wedge jig. I could handle that.
Hi Jerry. If you'd like the plans, email me by using the Contact page on our website and I can let you know when they're available. Cheers. Scott woodenitbenice.ca
EXCELLENT video!!
Thank you very much!
Thanks, great information!!!
Glad it was helpful!
handy video thanks - get that bench stable and bolted down !
Thanks. Will do. Scott
As a designer, I have used shims a lot more for making furniture level on an uneven floor.
I have bought them.
Great tip! Thanks for sharing that Carol! Scott
excellent !!
Thank you! Cheers!
Very informative. That band saw jig was really beautiful as well.
Glad you liked it. Thanks for sharing that.
@@HomeImprovementWoodworking I built one myself the other day.
I love youtube tutors. I needed to make a ton of opposing wedges to stabilise some box frame shelving against a brick wall. I can only assume the bricks were laid by a Victorian (1888 London) apprentice on their first day... my frames vary from 30 to 0mm (!!) off the wall. Anyway, thank you very much for this as my shelves are now the most solid thing in the house! I didn't have time to build your awesome bandsaw sled... but this vid made me realise I could cut a master wedge, put my blocks against it and safely push it through the bandsaw with some push sticks, flip the master, cut, etc.. Now I have a ton of scribing to do to clad the frames. Anyway... blah blah, you saved the day! New subsciber! Have you got a vid for that sled? Cheers.
Sounds like quite a project David. I don't have a video on the sled, but I have plans for building it on my website woodenitbenice.ca/collections/woodworking-plans
Very informative
Glad it was helpful!
Looking this up so I can shim up my grindstone onto the axle.
In Dutch we call the shim a wedge as well (wig). And to shim something up is 'opwiggen'.
Now, if you ask a Dutch person they won't know usually because sandstone grindstones have been out of fashion for about as long as my grandparents have lived.
I found it in a manual.
good jig
Thank you for your wonderful content. I'm wondering if you have a suggestion for a project I'm making where I need a wedge that is 21 inches long and 15°. I have a jigsaw and plenty of wood to cut the wedge from I'm simply wondering how do I go about doing this...
What about pressing the piece of wood to a grindstone or a belt/orbital sander? With the jig from a plane method that could be quick and quite accurate way
Yes that's another approach. I suspect the jig would eventually wear down from touching the belt sander, but jigs are easy enough to make. Thanks for sharing that idea! Scott
Maybe create a plan for your bandsaw shim jig? In the last wedge method that you showed, the wedge is only tapered on one side - does this affect how well it works in a tenon?
Good question John. No, it doesn't matter if a wedge is tapered on one side or two. The important part is that the grain is running parallel to the wedge for strength. I hope that answers your question. Scott
ALWAYS hook two or three fingers on the opposite side of the fence with your table saw. That way if there is a kickback your hand will be held back by the stiffness of the fence instead of just your arm muscles.
Interesting. Not sure the force of kickback can be controlled by any muscles. I made the switch to a SawStop as I've been safe for the past 35 years and don't want to get caught by a loss of concentration some day.
@@HomeImprovementWoodworking I do not think it is the sheer strength of the muscles that would keep you fingers from going in. But the grip you have on the fence will keep you from it. Years back I had the pleasure of getting lightly bit by a table saw. That is when I developed this technique. I also consider the plate that covers the access the blade as a "no fingers beyond this point" line. That is the point were I also always use a stick. And most importantly when the saw is running pay super attention to it, even though I'm some old guy and should have learned by now to never make mistakes again, I can. I respect that damn saw! Thanks for your response.
I was trying to make a wedge yesterday for an old pic axe handle anyway I tried de-rusting using electrolysis something I never tried before and it cane out way better and finally yesterday took some big branches I cut down few years back and had stored took a knife stripper the bark its strong and tried using a jig saw cut the long thick branch and when I tried doing that to make my wedges it bounced back cuz there wasn't enough space to grab it nor did I trust it so i do have wedges which the first time or maybe second I used them I was doing good then pushed on the wood with one hand and my other holding the piece my hand slipped chisel went right through side of my hand like butter I was bleeding bad but I couldn't really feel it got stitches I dont think my scar will ever go away but i learned my lesson and chisels are no joke power tools or hand tools can easily be dangerous even if your experienced which I live fixing stuff and building stuff but you can never be safe enough so if your going to do this type stuff just be very careful maybe wear some type of gloves that are like puncture proof if I had those the times I injured myself with nails or something else doing stuff probaly would of Been more safe.
I need a bandsaw, but just have not pulled the trigger on one yet. I'm about to enclose a timber frame building. Some of the corner post are twisted, and I need shims to true up my girts. I'm looking for ideas to more efficiently cut these. The first few I cut with a hand saw, and its just not efficient.
You may be able to pick one up used, but I recommend buying new. I got a used one and refurbished it, but I’m still struggling with it. Buying a new one is on my list of investments for the workshop.
I agree. I have been shopping for used, but hesitate to buy, not knowing the machine's history, or how well its maintained. I will get one one of these days. I was able to cut some wedges for my twisted post using my miter saw and an offcut piece of 4 x 6. It actually worked pretty well. Thanks for replying!
Nice work. What bandsaw are you using? It sounds smooth and powerful. I'm searching for one.
I inherited an old 10" Delta. The tires were shot and the guide bearings needed replacing but it's working well now.
HAHA using a table saw to make shims?!??! You are right. Ive seen so many safety videos about uneven forces being dangerous on table saws, so why would someone deliberately do it. You are a wise man
Thanks for sharing that. Cheers. Scott
Can you make shims out of pressure treated wood for decks? They sure would come in handy!
Yes, you can. Due to the chemicals in the wood, I would wear gloves and a quality respirator for protection. I hope that helps. Scott
In your opinion, would a Radial Arm saw be suitable to make wedges?
Yes, provides you can control where the wedge goes when it’s cut off. Also, don’t try to cut small pieces as your hand will be too close to the blade for safety
Had always thought wedges were tapered, shims were parallel and always thin and mostly metal. Working on very irregular stone walls, making external insulation, I'm bolting 6" brackets 8" above ground . Priority is to get them secure. Shims (metal) behind the vertical isn't working so the horizontal is not level but sloping down, so I'm making single wedges to get the brackets level. Sometimes the bracket is level but the stones being so irregular i have to make PARALLE L shims to bring them up to correct height. So what is the correct term i should use?
Thanks for the safety warnings -- have abandoned the idea of making jihs for the table saw.
In the woodworking and carpentry world, a Shim is a long wedge. As I mentioned in the video, they are used in pairs to provide a parallel spacer between to pieces such as a framed opening and a door jamb. If you stack one on top of the other, with the narrow points at the opposite ends, you will see it provides a parallel spacer. When you pull the tips further away, it will create a smaller spacer.... when you push them together, you get a thicker spacer. I hope that makes sense as I describe it. If not, rewatch the start of the video as I demonstrate that. Scott
👍
Yeah, i dont own a chisel, and table saw wedges scare me so ill use the cnc 😂
Dental wood wedge please
Got a question, after seeing your video....you said that wedges are used in the center, to expand; ive seen others putting wedges on the side of the shaft, saying if you put it on center, you'll weak the structure....
Im talking about handleing tools,like axes and hammers.....common thing is a wedges on center, however some wood workers ive seen put wedges on the side for the reason above....
Whats your opinion on this?
Thank you.
To be honest, I've never thought about it. Wedged tenons are used in chair construction and the wedge goes in the center. I've never heard any concerns with tools, but I'm not a tool maker so I don't have a strong opinion on that front. I would research and follow what the tool makers do. If you find something compelling, I'd love to read it. Thanks. Scott
@@HomeImprovementWoodworking Can i give you a link, where a man puts a handle to an axe the way i said? The man claims to be a carpenter
@@hirayaman246 Yes, please paste a link in a comment here and I'll take a look. Thank you! Scott
@@HomeImprovementWoodworking m.ua-cam.com/video/FYHY22AdiP8/v-deo.html
This is it....hope it works ( its in romanian)
HAVE THOSE *CANADA DRY* PEOPLE GOT TO YOU TOO??
❤
Thanks!
Maybe a riving knive. Would be a good idea…..
It would make it safer, but not as safe as using a bandsaw. Cheers. Scott
I use a wedge to clean between my teeth to open them apart a little. I use a shim to shim things that need to be shimmed. A bit tricky!
Lol, that sounds uncomfortable
The fence on my Dewalt tablesaw is adjustabole so you generally don't get kickback if yo do it right. The key seems to be the amount of fence sticking out to the rear in relation to the thickness of the cut workpiece. if you draw a diagonal line from the middle of the blade to the rear corner of the table, the rear tip of the fence should be adjusted so it is no further back than that line. Has worked out so far.
Great video exactly what i was looking for
Glad I could help. Scott