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I bought this in feb, but now that I'm ready to use it I can't seem to figure out how to actually make this jig to hold the templates on place. I spent all day on this thing and it came out like garbage. Do most people who use these templates use the jig plans on the stew mac website?

I really need help with this before I go insane.

I use their idea with a light modification. For routing the body I don't use the fulllength backing board. My jig is just the platform for the template mounted on two maple one by ones running parallel to the top and back with a spacer on either side of the dovetail template to make the bottom of the template flush with the wood it sits and slides in. Basically it then drops into place from above and sits on top of the area you want to route. There is a threaded rod that squeezes the jig and body together to hold it tight. The body is held in a clamping device to hold it upright.
For the neck I use their design almost exactly except the top is mounted by a piano hinge so you can adjust for neck angle.
I don't imagine that's very clear via text, so I'll try to post some pics, but I won't have time for that till tomorrow or maybe late late tonight.

THANK YOU!!!! I can't wait to see the pics.

Yeah no worries, just be patient I've never posted pics before and computers and I aren't friends.

does anyone have any videos of the jig and router working?

Sure Brian, here's a few photos of my current setup with the Stew-Mac templates. I will remake the jigs as soon as I get the Woolson plans.

Neck jig...




Box jig...




Neck jig in use...



Box jig in use...



Finished dovetail...



Hope this helps...

Thanks everyone. I routed the male part if the dovetail, but now I can't figure out how to rout the female part in the box (thank god I practiced on scrap wood first.)

Brian, the usual way is to rout the box first, then sneak up on the rout for the neck. When you get close, you stop and do the rest by hand. John Hall has an excellent vid on doing that part. Now you will have to sneak the female part of the dovetail to fit the neck. It's just easier to pull the neck out of the jig, test fit, and clamp back in to rout deeper.

Thank you everyone. It came out perfect.