To use the jig, I lay out the tabletop halves and any leaves in their
correct positions. Then I mark one end of all parts with an X. This is
the reference end that I hook the jig’s stop against. I clamp the jig into
place, screw appropriately sized drill bushings into the sleeves on the
exposed side of the jig, and drill the holes. I move the jig to each leaf
and drill all the edges in the same way. These are the holes for the
pins. To drill matching pin holes in the corresponding leaves, I remove
the drill bushings and screw them into the sleeves from the opposite
side of the jig.
To make the traditional wooden pins, I use^3 ⁄ 8 -in. dowel stock cut to
1-in. lengths. To keep them from binding in the pin holes, I mount the
pins in a three-jaw chuck on the lathe and sand down half the length
and round the ends.You can also use brass pins (^1 ⁄ 8 -in.-dia. brass pins
that fit the sleeves require^5 ⁄ 16 -in.-dia. holes). The pins are also available
from Rockler.
—CHRISBECKSVOORT,New Gloucester, Maine
PORTABLE POWER-TOOL FIXTURES