Having completed these operations, you can cut grooves in the piece by contouring the jig with your router. J. Norman Reid Getting the Best From Your Dovetail Jig, Highland Woodworking. Eventually, this model by the General Tools is the best alternative if you have just a router and don't want to buy a table. The supply package includes 3 templates, 2 lock nuts, wrench, and instruction manual.
Please be advised that the operator of this site accepts advertising compensation from certain companies that appear on the site, and such compensation impacts the location and order in which the companies (and/or their products) are presented, and in some cases may also impact the scoring that is assigned to them. Attaching a face board to this jig is simple and helps add stability if you are cutting long/tall boards, or if you want to clamp your work piece in place while cutting. As is expected from a Leigh Tools dovetail jig, this model employs aluminum for the base and steel for the fingers to provide long-lasting durability. This Dovetail jig works great. If unsure on guide bush adaptor selection, please contact our customer service team or your nearest store. CLICK HERE FOR STORE AND COVID-19 UPDATES.
Platform, 2 Mounting Hardware, Backer Sled, 2 Pre-drilled Holes for Sacrificial Face, 1/4'' Indexing Key, 3/8'' Indexing Key, 1/2'' Indexing Key, Stable MDF platform has low-friction melamine coating, ABS plastic backer sled, Easy-grip knobs, Up-cut spiral bits. I tried to do box joints myself and gave up this jig is a godsend. The users will be pleased to find three bits in the package: 1/2" 8-degree dovetail bit, 1/2" 14-degree dovetail bit, and 5/16" straight bit. Thankfully, this does not limit the capacity of this dovetail jig as it accepts workpieces up to 12” wide and between ½” to 1 ¼” inch thick. The manufacturer claims that this best dovetail jig has just become even better with some adjustments from the previously popular versions. It is enough to place the miter bar into the slot. Reviews & Buyer’s Guide, The Best Jigsaw Blades You Can Buy Right Now: Buyer’s Guide, Best Cordless Jigsaws For Cutting Anywhere You Want, Includes template 4211 for half-blind, rabbeted half-blind and sliding dovetails, Includes template 4213 for through dovetails and box joints, Includes template 4215 for miniature through and half-blind dovetails, and miniature box joints, Accepts wood from 1/8 to 3/4 inches thick, Easily produces handmade looking dovetail pins and tails, Router requires a 7/16-Inch Guide Bushing and 1/2-Inch 14-Degree Dovetail Router Bit with 1/2-Inch shank (sold seperately), Simple to set up, this sturdy, well-made jig makes 1/2-Inch half-blind dovetail joints, the hallmark of quality drawer construction, WOODWORKING MADE EASY- All-in-one 861 Dovetail Jig produces strong, precise dovetail joints right out-of-the-box quickly and easily, SELF ALIGNING DESIGN- Ensures that both ends of the dovetail joint match up evenly every time, ADJUSTABLE- Can accommodate boards of any width and easily adjusts the dovetail interference to create loose or tight joints. To get a symmetrical 1/4" dovetail joint, you need to set the indexing key and the bit of a corresponding diameter, in addition, you need to set the 1/4" distance between the key and the bit. Once you finished cutting pins in a workpiece, you can use the workpiece for shaping the tails on the other to make the joints that match perfectly. The metal guide bars for the three finger sizes 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 are nicely made aluminum extrusions with blue anodizing.
Templates are the key elements of dovetail jigs as they define the variety of joints that can be made with their help. Starting from the jig's base, it consists of two profiles made of aircraft-grade aluminum. Besides, the model can handle several pieces at once. On the other hand, the Rockler Complete Dovetail Jig is still reasonably easy to use without having to sacrifice on performance out of the box. Completed with three templates, this dovetail tool allows making joints for furniture or other wood products. Some brands use pressure knobs to keep the workpiece in place which can work, but they are not quite as stable and can mar the face of the wood. $1,049.00 inc GST (EACH) Increase value Decrease value Add to cart Multi Buy Qty Each Leigh Pro Mortise & Tenon Jig LGH-FMT. The model can be installed on any cutter thanks to the reversible design. I spend a good chunk of my time working on wood projects and contributing to this blog. This jig is supplied with the unique Leigh eBush. Let us take a closer look at the way pieces are to be secured on the tool. Still, taking the initial measurements and setting the miter bar correctly is the most complex task when using the tool.
The ledges are adjusted with red and silver knobs located on the side of the jig base. The jig operation is quite easy, so using it is not a problem even for a beginner. However, you need to keep in mind that the fingers adjustment may be pretty laborious as long workpieces require positioning of several fingers. General Tools Pro Dovetailer II 861: 12 in. This tool allows you to make only box joints. A dovetail joint is one of the most reliable connections. March 7, 2017. The machinable piece thickness is capped at 1" while the length is not restricted.
A plunge base router is needed for the Leigh FMT jigs due to the way the jig operates, but either a plunge or fixed base router can be used for the dovetail jigs. On the other hand, this dovetail jig is easier to use than most of the competition – provided you have your own clamps. The bar features two ledges that can be adjusted by moving closer or away from each other depending on the cut width. it makes doing them easy and quick. Dovetail joint, Wikipedia. Even the variable dovetail jigs I reviewed cannot provide that kind of joint versatility, and while the miniature through and half-blind dovetails, and miniature box joints is a bit expensive, it is priced in the mid-range.
That said, the Rockler Complete Dovetail Jig is the first model on my list that eschews the heavier and more expensive steel template for one made out of phenolic plastic. One thing to keep in mind, Leigh Tools is exquisitely aware of their own prowess and price their dovetail jigs accordingly, so it should not come as a surprise that the Leigh Super 18″ Dovetail Jig is an expensive option. Convenient, isn't it?
I. To leave a comment please sign up/sign in, Leave a comment as or Logout, Copyright © 2020 www.bestadvisor.com. In our opinion, this Leigh dovetail jig is aimed more at experienced joiners that seek a high cutting accuracy and enhanced tool adjustability. Speaking about the design in more details, the jig baseplate is suitable for the use with 3/4" miter slots. These jigs commonly feature fingers of different lengths and shapes for making such types of joints as half-blind, rabbeted half-blind, through dovetail, sliding dovetail, and other types. This is because you can always use your own clamps and base to secure the workpiece in place before cutting the wood – though this increases the time it takes to use the jig. Half-Blind, Through, Sliding, Single Pass, Finger/Box, Isoloc, Angled, Inlaid, End on End, Raised, 1/2'' 8° dovetail bit, 1/2'' 14° dovetail bit, 5/16'' straight bit, 1/2'' to 8mm collet reducer, Cam action speed clamps, Sliding dovetail fence, Square drive screwdriver, Spacer, Leigh e-Bush, Half-blind bridge piece material, Infinitely adjustable guide fingers, Sliding dovetails, "Single Pass" half-blind dovetails, Non-slip clamping surface, Cam action clamps, Under cut side stops, Easy to read scales. The model allows cutting grooves in pieces with the thickness of up to 1-1/4", which is enough for making small articles. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The template and/or fingers, on the other hand, should always be made out of steel to extend its lifespan as long as possible. More info. I've used my … PORTER-CABLE may be known more for their power tools than hand tools, but the PORTER-CABLE 4216 Dovetail Jig is an impressive option nonetheless.