Router Table Spline Jig

I only have a Makita trim router, and my router table is two pieces of plywood put together (18mm and 12mm) so I was concerned the router bit wouldn't make it all the way to where splines could be cut... but it made it. I used a Trend long router bit - about 3" - and it's only 6mm wide, but that's cut enough. I cut some splines in a beech box and managed to insert sapele splines for a nice contrast. The jig is easy to set up in a mitre track facing your router bit and you're best clamping your box to the sides of the plastic... then run it through... and back... perfect space for a spline.

Rockler rescues me again !

This works fine, and great for the sale price paid (around £30) but I think I would have sent it back if I'd paid full price. The quality isn't up to the normal Rockler standard and this affects accuracy. The main sliding mitre frame is all plastic; one of the rail runners came off on first use and had to be glued back on; the adjustable supports are loose and out of square and the knobs holding them in place were cross threaded; finally the aluminium bars that hold the jig into the router table's 3/4" mitre slot hadn't been deburred and were crazy sharp. Most of these issues were easily rectified – but the adjustable supports can't easily be fettled, leaving the jig somewhat inaccurate. Having said all that, for the purpose it's designed for – putting splines into the corners of picture frames to reinforce them – it does that job with adequate accuracy.

Adding splines to mitre joints makes them stronger and more attractive. This jig will be in use for years to come