Hand Tool Jig

I have been cutting the planed 4x4 lumber for a telescope cart by hand. It's relatively easy using the right jig.

For cutting across the grain it's straightforward to use a square, marking knife, and chisel to setup an alignment line to cut accurately.
When cutting with the grain as shown in this photo - getting a precise cut (square and in exactly the correct position) avoids a lot of work.

The jig is created from 2 dovetailed assemblies that are very precise and square.

• The first right-angle dovetailed assembly is for clamping to the wood (the milled 4x4 beam in this case). It has a guide for positioning the top guide square to the clamped piece.
• The top right-angle dovetailed assembly has a slot for adjusting the offset of the cut to the beam (for repeatable cuts)
• A facing hickory piece (very rugged) has embedded magnets to align a japanese handsaw. The bottom is slightly reset for the kerf of the saw.

Once setup - just cut to the correct depth. It this is done carefully, no filing or chisel work is necessary to adjust the joint.

This accelerated many of the cutting operations to make my (almost finished) telescope cart.