I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I watched
a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen cabinet
drawers in the future, and after the fact, have decided that maybe the Leigh
jig would have been a good purchase. I wouldn't mind putting in a little extra
time to make some fancy joints in drawers to show off some of my talents. (OK
I know there isn't a lot of skill, but most people wouldn't make there own
cabinets anyways. It is just a personal pride in doing something that others
won't spend money to do. Understand what I mean? My theory is that my time is
cheap, and if I get personal satisfaction that is good for me. I like to do
things that aren't practical for others, my neighbor has a lot more money than
me, but he isn't into woodworking so I can do things like this). Anyways, this
person at the show had a combination deal for about $525.00 and change, where
you got the D4 jig, a bunch of router bits (8mm and adapter for router),
vaccuum attachment, and some other perks. I didn't want to buy it then because
I hadn't done much reading about it, but I can't find anyone who has a similar
deal. Let me know if you are aware of one. I thought about the PC omni jig,
but I think I will enjoy the versatility of the Leigh better. Let me hear your
thoughts!
"Phil Hansen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
>> I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I
>> watched
>> a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen
>> cabinet
> <snip>
>
> I have a D4. It took few hours to read the manual (comprhensive), watch
> the video and set it up.
> Dovetails in no time. Made a few mistakes (who doesn't) but nice neat
> tight joints. Great quality. Very happy.
> BTW if you want to do M&T joint the FMT is awesome.
> --
Howzit Phil,
Ya had to sneak in the drive-by didn't you. I honestly don't know who is
better at it, you or David Eisan!
:-)
--
Greg
(a slightly jealous Greg - a D4 *and* an FMT <sigh>)
"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> One Atta Boy comin' your way, Down Unda, Grogs.
>
> LJ--Another soldier attempting to get and keep the the troops
> spreaking Engrish.
To be fair Larry, Leon had already corrected himself. I was just funnin'
with him ;-)
--
Greg
Great shop Swingman! I am sooo jealous.
Guess I'll go out and buy a few more lotto tickets.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<U6KdnfuMnoSw9efcRVn-
[snip]
Swingman, your I-beam idea is great.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
[snip]
I have the D4 and I'm very happy with it. It's definitly in the cry
once category: expensive, but worth the price. I think it's biggest
strength is in mass production. You'll be making a lot of drawers for
teh cabinets, this will let you cut all of the dovetails in an
afternoon, complete with hand cut looking variable spacing. The only
two downsides for me are that ther thinest pin isn't that thin. Also,
I have a hard time remembering which way the boards should face. I
have to really think about what I'm doing. They're just nitpicks
though. Make sure you have a good router with good concentricity. I
use the small porter cable now and it works great. I had a ryobi
before and got poor results. The dust collector is only so-so.
brian
[email protected] (ToolMiser) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I watched
> a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen cabinet
> drawers in the future, and after the fact, have decided that maybe the Leigh
> jig would have been a good purchase. I wouldn't mind putting in a little extra
> time to make some fancy joints in drawers to show off some of my talents. (OK
> I know there isn't a lot of skill, but most people wouldn't make there own
> cabinets anyways. It is just a personal pride in doing something that others
> won't spend money to do. Understand what I mean? My theory is that my time is
> cheap, and if I get personal satisfaction that is good for me. I like to do
> things that aren't practical for others, my neighbor has a lot more money than
> me, but he isn't into woodworking so I can do things like this). Anyways, this
> person at the show had a combination deal for about $525.00 and change, where
> you got the D4 jig, a bunch of router bits (8mm and adapter for router),
> vaccuum attachment, and some other perks. I didn't want to buy it then because
> I hadn't done much reading about it, but I can't find anyone who has a similar
> deal. Let me know if you are aware of one. I thought about the PC omni jig,
> but I think I will enjoy the versatility of the Leigh better. Let me hear your
> thoughts!
"Leon" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:Vhked.9033$q%[email protected]...
> My advise is to buy the bits as you need them. I think I have 4 bits
> dedicated for the Leigh.
Umm my adviCe.
"Never Enough Money" wrote in message
> Swingman, your I-beam idea is great.
Actually got the idea from an old time cabinet/furniture maker in England
back in the early 60's, who called them "saddles". Definitely a handy, but
frequently overlooked by most, aid to a myriad of tasks ... and a great use
for plywood scraps.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/04/04
In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I watched
> a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen cabinet
<snip>
I have a D4. It took few hours to read the manual (comprhensive), watch
the video and set it up.
Dovetails in no time. Made a few mistakes (who doesn't) but nice neat
tight joints. Great quality. Very happy.
BTW if you want to do M&T joint the FMT is awesome.
--
Phillip Hansen
Skil-Phil Solutions
To reply change the 'past' to the 'future'
Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate all the honesty here, it
doesn't always come out in magazine reviews. I am sure of the post stating I
would be alright if I completed my basic education before 1972. Does it
deteriorate real quickly after that? I graduated from college (Industrial
Education major) in 1983. Will that help bring me back into the fold? LOL
Have a good day!
In article <02%[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> Howzit Phil,
>
> Ya had to sneak in the drive-by didn't you. I honestly don't know who is
> better at it, you or David Eisan!
>
> :-)
>
Hi Greg,
I am not in David's class. This was my first. He does it all the time :)
--
Phillip Hansen
Skil-Phil Solutions
To reply change the 'past' to the 'future'
I have the D4 and it is awesome. As with anything, it takes a little
getting used to it to get good at it, but I'm not one of those that feel the
Leigh was difficult to figure out. Bascially, if you can follow
instructions (with pictures, no less), then you'll do fine with this jig.
The manual is extensive, but that's not to say complicated. The jig itself
has a lot of versatility, so that lends to varied instructions depending on
what you are trying to do. For making simple through dovetails or
half-blinds, it is VERY easy (IMNSHO).
I recently bought the finger joint attachment and have used that a few times
now, too. Not inexpensive, but it has the same type of flexibility that
I've come to appreciate from the D4 and so I felt good about the purchase.
If you've seen it in person, then you have the best perspective on how
satisfied you will be with it. I highly recommend it.
Mike
"ToolMiser" wrote in message
> deal. Let me know if you are aware of one. I thought about the PC omni
jig,
> but I think I will enjoy the versatility of the Leigh better. Let me hear
your
> thoughts!
The Leigh D4 is a top notch tool for production dovetail cutting in a small
shop. Its versatility makes it a bit difficult to fully master without
frequent reference to the excellent manual. However, if you can read, and
particularly if you finished your basic education prior to 1972, you should
have little trouble using it for the most complicated tasks.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 10/04/04
My advise is to buy the bits as you need them. I think I have 4 bits
dedicated for the Leigh.
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I
> watched
> a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen
> cabinet
> drawers in the future, and after the fact, have decided that maybe the
> Leigh
> jig would have been a good purchase. I wouldn't mind putting in a little
> extra
> time to make some fancy joints in drawers to show off some of my talents.
> (OK
> I know there isn't a lot of skill, but most people wouldn't make there own
> cabinets anyways. It is just a personal pride in doing something that
> others
> won't spend money to do. Understand what I mean? My theory is that my
> time is
> cheap, and if I get personal satisfaction that is good for me. I like to
> do
> things that aren't practical for others, my neighbor has a lot more money
> than
> me, but he isn't into woodworking so I can do things like this). Anyways,
> this
> person at the show had a combination deal for about $525.00 and change,
> where
> you got the D4 jig, a bunch of router bits (8mm and adapter for router),
> vaccuum attachment, and some other perks. I didn't want to buy it then
> because
> I hadn't done much reading about it, but I can't find anyone who has a
> similar
> deal. Let me know if you are aware of one. I thought about the PC omni
> jig,
> but I think I will enjoy the versatility of the Leigh better. Let me hear
> your
> thoughts!
You may want to look at Lee Valley site first and see what the optional
"Bear Ears" templates and others cost and then decide on how fancy you want
to get. I have the D4 and there is a learning curve but it sure is nice
once you learn.
Bob S
"ToolMiser" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I was at The Woodworking Show last weekend in the Twin Cities, and I
watched
> a gentleman use a Leigh D4 dovetail jig. I need to make some kitchen
cabinet
> drawers in the future, and after the fact, have decided that maybe the
Leigh
> jig would have been a good purchase. I wouldn't mind putting in a little
extra
> time to make some fancy joints in drawers to show off some of my talents.
(OK
> I know there isn't a lot of skill, but most people wouldn't make there own
> cabinets anyways. It is just a personal pride in doing something that
others
> won't spend money to do. Understand what I mean? My theory is that my
time is
> cheap, and if I get personal satisfaction that is good for me. I like to
do
> things that aren't practical for others, my neighbor has a lot more money
than
> me, but he isn't into woodworking so I can do things like this). Anyways,
this
> person at the show had a combination deal for about $525.00 and change,
where
> you got the D4 jig, a bunch of router bits (8mm and adapter for router),
> vaccuum attachment, and some other perks. I didn't want to buy it then
because
> I hadn't done much reading about it, but I can't find anyone who has a
similar
> deal. Let me know if you are aware of one. I thought about the PC omni
jig,
> but I think I will enjoy the versatility of the Leigh better. Let me hear
your
> thoughts!
On Sun, 24 Oct 2004 00:32:21 +1000, "Greg Millen"
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:
>"Larry Jaques" <novalidaddress@di\/ersify.com> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> One Atta Boy comin' your way, Down Unda, Grogs.
>>
>> LJ--Another soldier attempting to get and keep the the troops
>> spreaking Engrish.
>
>
>To be fair Larry, Leon had already corrected himself. I was just funnin'
>with him ;-)
OK, but it's ALL the other troops we're still after...
--
"If the promise of the Declaration of Independence is ever to be fulfilled,
it will be the Libertarian Party which fulfills it. If the Constitution is
ever again treated as what it calls itself "The Supreme Law of the Land"
then it will be the Libertarian Party which forces it to be treated that
way. The Republicans and Democrats wont do it. So the future of the
Libertarian Party is tied to the future of America. If we go down, it
goes down with us. If America gets itself back onto the right course,
it will be our hands on the tiller." --Michael Badnarik
On Sat, 23 Oct 2004 20:48:05 +1000, "Greg Millen"
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:
>"Leon" wrote in message
>> Umm my adviCe.
>>
>
>But, didn't you adviSe him, not adviCe him?
>
>Sorry, please don't get tense (past or present) with me ;-)
One Atta Boy comin' your way, Down Unda, Grogs.
LJ--Another soldier attempting to get and keep the the troops
spreaking Engrish.
--
"If the promise of the Declaration of Independence is ever to be fulfilled,
it will be the Libertarian Party which fulfills it. If the Constitution is
ever again treated as what it calls itself "The Supreme Law of the Land"
then it will be the Libertarian Party which forces it to be treated that
way. The Republicans and Democrats wont do it. So the future of the
Libertarian Party is tied to the future of America. If we go down, it
goes down with us. If America gets itself back onto the right course,
it will be our hands on the tiller." --Michael Badnarik