I just finished my 100th drawer box with a new jig setup

I built a simple plywood jig for my table saw to batch out drawer parts, and after finishing a big kitchen job, I counted exactly 100 boxes made with it. The jig cut my assembly time per box by about 15 minutes, which really added up. Has anyone else hit a specific number that made a new method feel worth the setup time?

4 comments

4 Comments

mia_baker1mo ago

Your jig paid for itself in saved time after just seven boxes. That kind of efficiency gain is the real win, not just hitting a round number. The best setups are the ones you stop counting with because they just work.

leob581mo ago

Yo, that's a great point. Most people forget the mental energy you save not having to double-check every cut or fix mistakes. When a jig works that well, it frees up your brain to focus on the actual build, not just the process. That shift from working on the tool to working with it is where real skill grows.

jennifer_jones171mo ago

Sure, but sometimes that mental autopilot makes you sloppy. You stop paying attention to the basics.

carr.abby23d ago

Totally agree with @mia_baker about the mental shift. Built a simple crosscut sled last year and after the first few perfect cuts, you just stop worrying. That freed-up focus is what lets the good work happen.