Follow along with the video at the bottom of the page.
If you’ve ever tried to shape a square table leg or taper a chair spindle using a hand plane or spokeshave, you’ll know the challenge: the piece rolls around in the vice, slips under pressure, and needs constant repositioning. It’s fiddly, inefficient, and can lead to inconsistent results or damage to your workpiece.
A spindle jig solves all of this. It’s a low-cost, highly effective way to securely hold square or rectangular stock — typically 30x30mm or similar — for shaping, chamfering, or tapering. Whether you're crafting chair legs, table legs, or any other long square components, this jig keeps your work stable, flat, and quick to reposition. No shave horse or complex setup required — just lock it into your bench vice, and you're ready to go.
The Concept: A Jig That Holds Square Stock Securely
The jig works with two different holding grooves on opposite faces:
- V-groove on top: This supports your workpiece on a 45° angle, allowing easy access to the corners for octagonal shaping or chamfering.
- Square groove underneath: This cradles the piece in its flat orientation, perfect for flattening faces or tapering edges.
Each groove features a stop block at one end, preventing your work from sliding around. This is critical for safe, accurate shaping, especially when using spokeshaves, which tend to pull the stock forward.
Combined, the grooves allow you to flip the stock between orientations easily, shape all faces and corners consistently, and keep your piece in place throughout.
How to Build the Jig: Materials and Method
This version was built using 18mm chipboard, but if you’re making this as a permanent fixture in your workshop, opt for a denser, more durable material like 25mm ply, MDF, or hardwood offcuts will all do the job.
Steps to build the jig:
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Cut the V-groove
Use a table saw with a 45° blade tilt, a panel saw, or a V-groove router bit. The groove doesn't need to go all the way through the board — just deep enough to support your stock securely without wobbling. Aim for precision here so that the two angled cuts meet perfectly at the bottom. -
Cut the square groove
Flip the board and rout a shallow trench (about 3mm deep) that’s slightly wider than your stock — e.g., use a 32mm bit for 30mm stock. This can be done on a router table, with a handheld router, or even by making multiple shallow passes with a table saw. -
Add the stop block (tail piece)
Fix a small block at one end of the jig to act as a backstop and provide a grip point for your bench vice. This can be attached with glue, pins, and screws — particularly important with weaker materials like chipboard. Make sure it’s the right height to sit into your vice without obstructing hand tools. -
Round over sharp edges
Since your hands and tools will be sliding back and forth constantly, round over all external edges with a trim router or sanding block. This prevents cuts and keeps the jig comfortable to use.
Using the Jig: Spokeshaving, Chamfering, and Tapering
To use the jig, simply drop it into your bench vice using the stop block as your grip point. Then:
- For flat face shaping or tapering, place the leg in the square groove.
- For chamfering or shaping to an octagon, flip the piece into the V-groove.
The grooves keep your stock steady while allowing you full access with a spokeshave, drawknife, or hand plane. If you're tapering, use graduated cuts: take more material off the thicker end, gradually reducing cuts toward the narrow end. This avoids the common mistake of cutting full-length passes too early, which just deepens grooves without creating a true taper.
Want to go even further? You can use the jig for octagonal shaping or decorative textures, simply by rotating the workpiece within the groove.
Tips to Improve Safety and Usability
- Add a cup hook: Screw in a small cup hook at the end of the jig to hold down the far end of the leg. Simply rotate it over the top once the stock is in place to stop any lifting while you work.
- Use glue: If using chipboard or MDF, back up screws with glue and pins. Screws alone won’t hold well over time in soft sheet goods.
- Wipe excess glue: Be sure to remove any glue squeeze-out inside the grooves — any lumps will prevent the stock from seating fully.
- Keep the grooves clean: Especially if you’re using oily hardwoods or applying finish later, a clean seating surface is essential for consistency and safety.
This budget-friendly spindle jig offers a shave-horse-like function without taking up space or requiring a complex setup. It's quick to build, easy to modify, and incredibly useful for small shops or classrooms. Whether you’re shaping legs, making tapers, or adding facets to a piece, this jig keeps your work stable and your hands safe — all while saving time.
Give it a go with the offcuts you’ve got lying around. Your spokeshave will thank you.