Got a new project going, maybe you are
building a roll cage, or adding some tube supports to a previous
cage. Any place where tube meets tube you need a properly
shaped notch to get good solid attachment. Take a look at
what Ol' Joint Jigger has to offer and make those notching problems
a thing of the past.
Heck, if you need an
excuse to help get your new tool, you can use it to notch tube so
you can make your kids a nice set of monkey bars, or maybe your
friends want to make a new hunting stand, the possibilities are
endless. If it's 2" or smaller, this tool makes quick, easy,
perfect notches.
Here are a few quick shots
to show you what you get with the RTN1000.
The stock RTN1000 as it came out of the box.
Click for full size image | 
RTN1000 with optional arbor support and arbor.
Click for full size image | 
Paperwork that is included with the
notcher.
Click for full size image |
Close up of the instruction sheet, sorry its
sideways.
Click for full size image |
Right out of the box you notice the quality of the
piece, the main body and mounting foot are made of nicely anodized
aircraft grade aluminum. All hardware is grade eight. The
T-handle and arbor are made from hardened polished steel. The
tube clamp is V notched to automatically center your tube.
The angle marks on the built in protractor are laser engraved from
0 to 60 degrees in one degree increments for easy trouble
free setting, no stickers or painted on marks to fade or fall off
here.
Aircraft grade aluminum main body and mounting
foot.
Click for full size picture | 
Hardened polished steel arbor (with optional large
arbor on right)
Click for full size image | 
V-notched tube clamp and polished T
handle.
Click for full size image | 
Laser engraved 0-60 degree protractor.
Click for full size image |
On the unit we obtained, we had a couple of optional
parts included because we were planning on notching mostly 1.5" to
2" tubing. They offer a Torrington Needle Bearing Arbor
support, and a Large Thread Arbor, just for the large size hole
saws. (usually from 1.25" up to 2")
Large arbor and Torrigton bearing arbor
support
Click for full size image | 
Close up of the bearing inside the arbor
support.
Click for full size image |
The included Arbor is threaded for 1/2" x 20 threads
and has a screw on adapter for 5/8" x 18 threads that the larger
hole saws use. The Torrington Needle Bearing Arbor support does
offer a longer life than the stock bronze bushings, but it makes
the joint cuts about 1/1000 of an inch less accurate. (hmm, I
don't know about you, but I can't see quite that good, nice to know
the tool can make cuts that accurate though).
The mounting foot on the RTN1000 allows you to bolt
it down to just about anything flat, or clamp it in a vise (with
some padding to keep from destroying that fine anodizing of
course). It also allows you to pivot the tool for much
greater flexibility when needed, so that you can notch that oddly
bent or awkward piece of tube. These shots show the RTN1000
installed on a stand that I quickly fabbed up.
Set up and ready to go, don't make fun of my dirty
drill.
Click for full size image | 
Half way through a piece of 2" thin walled
tube.
Click for full size image |
Here are a few shots of pieces of tube that I notched
with the RTN1000, as well as what some joints look like with and
without notching. As you can tell, the notched joint makes
for much better contact and stronger easier welds to be made.
We used Lennox brand hole saws for the cuts we made and they have
not slowed down a bit after quite a few notches cut. Take
your time and feed the saw into the metal nice and easy. On
thicker tube, use a little cutting oil to keep the saw teeth
cool. This will make them last much longer. Also always
wear safety glasses, the tool can send metal shavings flying all
over as its cutting.
2", 1.5" and 1" tube all notched and ready to
go.
Click for full size image | 
1" thick wall DOM tube notched to attach to 1.5"tube.
Click for full size image | 
2" thin wall tube notched to attach to another
piece of 2".
Click for full size image | 
No notching, this would not make for a very strong
joint.
Click for full size image |
We were very pleased with the performance of
the RTN1000, if you need to do a good bit of tube joints we would
highly recommend the RTN1000 from Joint Jigger as a great tool for
the job, give them a shot, you wont be disappointed.
Any questions or comments regarding this article,
please feel free to email me:
Glenn
depdog@off-road.com
Any questions or comments regarding
this product, please direct to: 
For telephone
ordering in the Continental U.S., call Toll Free:
1-800-NICE CUT (642-3288)
World Wide Phone:
816-459-7223
or send us a FAX at:
816-459-7319 Mailing
Address:
Ol' Joint Jigger
PMB #257
5510 N.E. Antioch Road
Kansas City, MO 64119 |
