Does anyone know of an inexpensive dovetail jig ,good quality and easy to use ?
I have a sears one ,15 to 20 years old. Its quality is good with good instructions
but, the clamping device leaves a lot to be desired. Good for it’s age.
I reciently bought a ROCKLER dovetail jig because it had excentric clamping device,
and thought this would solve my problems, not so:
1)The concept is good but the design is poor.
2)To reset the end stops, the device has to be taken apart and reassembled each
time the stops are to be reset.
3) The quality is poor and the instructions are worse
Bill
Replies
IME, you'll waste time and money trying to find "inexpensive" and "good".
Leigh jigs are well made. I've also made my own dovetailer for use on a tablesaw, based on a Taunton book on shop machinery.
jackplane,
Thanks
Bill
A good dovetail saw and a nice set of bevel edge butt chisels, best DT jig ever thought of. (Oh yeah, a good oil stone, 5" slim taper file and a fine screwdriver to set the teeth) Maybe Frank Klaus' video on cutting DT's.
Porter Cable 4210 or 4212. I just did my first set of drawers with 4212. Made perfect dovetails first time. Cut several sliding dovetails, too. I have cut dovetails by hand, but it was my first time to make them using a router. These are useful, not artistic, dovetails. There was an additional expense for me - a new router. The 1/2-inch bits wouldn't fit my 1/4-inch router. PC recommends two router motors, but planning your work can avoid that problem. Then there are the guide bushings which fit PC routers. You may need a different base to accommodate the bushing or another bushing which fits the PC template perfectly. Actually, I didn't mind buyimg the new router. I had been lusting for a PC 890 series anyway. The whole new system with its soft start and low speed was a great pleasure to use. It did the job right out of the box with not a hitch.
I realize that you were interested in something economical. This is probably as good as it gets.
Cadiddlehopper
I just bought the Keller jig. Works great. Relatively simple to use.
Our jigs are in the same price range. Had I not wanted a router anyway, Keller looks good except for the plastic template. The literature that I have on Keller doesn't claim through dovetail capability. Will it do that? The Woodtek may be a good unit at lower cost if through dovetails aren't required by the user. But, no matter, one probably has to spent $100 or more to get a decent jig. The PC jig impressed me with its minimal setup, accuracy, & ruggedness.Cadiddlehopper
The Keller jig does through dovetails only. Also, I believe Keller offers an aluminum unit at a higher price, although my experience with the phenolic (or whatever it is) unit tells me that it would be suitable for all but day-in day-out industrial use.
Edited 3/13/2006 2:09 pm ET by SLOSapo
The MLCS jig looks similar to the Keller, it's aluminum and less expensive for through dovetails. I've used it for a few projects, and it has worked well. Art
http://mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/dovetailjig.html
The nice thing about the MLCS is that if all you want is through dovetails, that is all you pay for. Likewise, half-blind ones. The cost for any of these entire systems is pretty close though. I spent over $400 (includes new router) to get into the machine-made dovetail business, which I really don't mind. I got the entire PC system, too. Someone who is more budget-minded or who intends to make just one type dovetail probably should consider the MLCS very seriously.Cadiddlehopper
Clem, is that you? or is it Red?
:)1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
C. Warren, today.Cadiddlehopper
Has anyone else twigged to your screen names origin?1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go 4 - get a new board and go back to step 1
Oh, yes! Every time I type it out I wish that something shorter had come to mind at the time I chose it.C'hopper (How about that?)
Lots of us are old enough to remember Red. You've not chosen a hobby that's the exclusive province of the youngsters.
Try finding a snowboarder who has heard of Clem Cadiddlehopper. Heheh.My goal is for my work to outlast me. Expect my joinery to get simpler as time goes by.
If your old Sears jig has the thumbscrew tightening bolts, you may be able to replace those with some of the plastic jig handles that most woodworking stores carry. You can also glue a strip of sandpaper to the metal clamping bar, which will greatly improve the grip. You probably won't find any inexpensive jigs that are much better.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
I use the WoodRat. Ain't cheap, but worth it. Does perfect dovetails, and there are no limits to sizes and spacing of the pins/tails. Check it out.
I'm considering buying a woodrat. Is it really as great as their video cd makes it appear to be? Do you still use a router table as well? If I buy one, will I begin to frequently say "perfect" with a British accent like the guy in the video?
Well, understand I'm still a novice with mine, so right now I'd say no, its not as perfect as they make it out in the video.I only own one router, but I am going to buy another and put back in my router table. There are a couple things I've tried and failed with on the 'Rat that would have been simple on my router table.With that being said, I am very happy with my 'Rat. It does things easily that cannot be done easily on any other machine that I'm aware of. It takes some getting used to, it's a different way of thinking. I've had great luck with box joints and finger joints, they've come out perfect. I still need some practice with my dovetails, but so far I am pleased with the progress. I just finished four table legs that I am going to cut mortices into with the 'Rat this weekend, we'll see how it goes.I think the more comfortable I have become with it, the more I have used it. I made perfect wood hinges on it, and a perfect box latch with it. It's fast, very fun to use, and once you get it set up and figured out, it's easy to use as well.
Thanks for your opinions. I'm seriously considering one when I set up my new shop - which is not yet built.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled