This is a router tool for sure. NOBODY who has looked at this yet has has or knows where I can get a set of instructions? Wow, tough crowd!

 

nobuddy has one..

 

I have never seen or used one before. Is this a mortising jig? At one time Porter Cable made all kinds of different tools and tool kits that had various jigs pertaining to that particular tool.

HErb

P.S> I just read it is a Stair mortising jig,missed that first time through.

 

In an older thread, it lists a book called, "Stair Layout" by author Stanley Badzinski Jr, the 1971 printing. The ISBN 9780826907004 is what you're looking for, if you're looking for the same book as me.

I just purchased the book online, and I'll post a quick review of the contents I'M looking for, the instructions for the 521 jig. If it has the info, I'll comment here regarding my thoughts on the info and the book as a whole.

 

So here is the update, I did purchase the book, it did arrive. That almost covers everything, right there. The book makes a passing reference to the jig along with a photo of the jig being used. That's about it.

On the upside I have another reference book for my small library of construction related/detail related books!

 

Here are a couple of photos of my two jigs.

 

You have 2 jigs?
They are made so you can set up one and flip/flop it to the other stringer to get an identical cut.

Box stairs were generally made in the millwork shop rather than on the job. The on-site carpenters rarely set that type of stair,installers brought from the millwork outfit and came out to the job and put them in. Carpenters usually did conventional stair jacks with treads and risers cut on the job site. In the 45 years I was a carpenter,I only helped set a couple of sets,never built one.

Herb

 

Jack have you figured out yet how to set for the angle on the run? If I was going to mortise the treads and risers in I think a plywood jig would be easy enough but I’d probably need to set the angle first with a square and a set of rafter/stair buttons.

 

Hey Chuck, everything still starts with a rafter square and some stair gauges. Just like any other set of steps. This unit is machined without any bumps or dips to transfer to the steps, (unlike many plywood templates). I have a Porter cable 3hp router, I'll need a specific collar and a 7° dovetail bit. This forces a really tight fit against the stair tread when the shim is driven in from the back.

 

There are no pins sticking out to keep it registered correctly against the edge? I don’t know how it would maintain the correct angle without something like that unless you do all the marking with a sqare first and then just clamp it down on the layout lines.

 

Chuck, if you will re-examine the photo, you will see two "bars" at the top, which are adjustable, and a crank on the bottom like a clamp crank, (which it is), these 3 pieces are used to locate and lock the angle and position. Hope this helps you visualize how that aspect works.

 

Recent Issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine had an article on building these. Author makes templates.

 

@Jack Wilson
What kind of material is used in your neck of the woods for box stairs? Mostly Clear VG old growth Douglas fir is used here.

HErb

 

Hey Herb, I've used both oak and fir. Most likely it wasn't old growth. Everything here is, (mostly), fast grown to cut. Although a lot of our wood does comes from Canada. I'm in upstate NY, where are you?

 

Western WA.

 

Now for the coup-d'é·tat, someone sent me a PDF of the actual instructions! I'll try to attach them here, and on a new thread so they are at the beginning of the thread, instead of the end. OK, next post. For the last few days I have not been able to add attachments from my phone. Hopefully from my laptop?

 

Here are the instructions for the Rockwell/Porter Cable 521 router jig stair template!

 

Please let me know if your ever interested in selling that jig!

My father had one just like it and raised five kids with it.

My email is derby6868@yahoo.com

Thanks,

Mark.