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How to Cut Wood Shim Wedges

When installing windows, doors and cabinetry, wood shims are used to level uneven surfaces. A shim is a piece of wood cut in the shape of a long narrow wedge. These simple devices always seem to be in short supply when you need them the most. To avoid driving to the store to purchase shims, you can make them with a table saw and a jig. Once you've made the jig you will be able to rip shims on your table saw with ease.

Things You'll Need

  • Carpenter's square
  • 3/4-inch plywood
  • Table saw
  • 2-inch wood screws
  • Screwdriver
  • Scrap wood
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure and mark the 3/4-inch plywood for a 12-by-8-inch rectangle. Cut along these lines with a table saw using the guard to make sure the plywood is square.

    • 2

      Measure and mark a section of plywood that is 4-by-2 inches. Cut along these lines with a table saw using the guard to make sure the plywood is square.

    • 3

      Hold the square on top of the long side of the 12-by-8 inch plywood so that its 90 degree corner is about 3 inches from one end and it is on a slight angle. One side of the angle should be about a 1/2 inch inside the plywood, and the other end should terminate near the end of the board making a wedge shape. Mark the outline of the carpenter's square on the board with a pencil.

    • 4

      Remove the table saw's guard and freehand cut along the marked lines. Freehand cutting on a table saw requires a steady hand and a bit of experience. It is very important that the board stays online while cutting. You are cutting a wedge-shaped groove out of the side of the board.

    • 5

      Place the 4-by-2-inch board on top of the jig so that it is perpendicular to its surface. Place it flush with the guard side of the jig and secure it with 3 or 4 wood screws. This acts as the handle to guide the jig through the saw.

    • 6

      Adjust the table saw's guard so that it is a hair wider then the jig. Place some scrap wood in the jig's cut-out groove. Push the jig into the table saw's blade holding the scrap wood with one hand and the jig with the other hand.

    • 7

      Flip the scrap wood over and place it in the jig's groove. Cut another shim with the table saw. Repeat flipping the scrap wood over and cutting shims.

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