gG

21/07/2004 7:19 AM

Dovetail jig

What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able
to make multiple width tails and pins and I am no rocket scientist so
easier is better. I own the Sears version and it works ok but creative
options are limited.

George


This topic has 15 replies

Bb

"Brian"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 7:25 AM

If I was willing to spend that on a jig, I'd get the Leigh.

Brian.


"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able
> to make multiple width tails and pins and I am no rocket scientist so
> easier is better. I own the Sears version and it works ok but creative
> options are limited.
>
> George

Gn

"George"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 4:23 PM


"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Logan" wrote in message
>
> > but this is a Cadilac or maybe
> > now a Lexus?, in comparison.
>
> A Toyota by any other name ...
>
> --
> www.e-woodshop.net
> Last update: 7/10/04
>
>

Or Jaguar/Taurus...

Bb

"Brian"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 8:50 PM

Seems like 16" would be a severe limitation. I don't doubt the jig itself
is nice, though.

Brian.


"Logan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Not so fast. I have a 16" Omni Jig and it is great. I would buy another
> one in a minute. I had a cheapo import once but this is a Cadilac or
maybe
> now a Lexus?, in comparison. Even I can make drawers one after another
and
> everything fits.
>
>

Bb

"Brian"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

22/07/2004 6:55 PM

Severe in that your $400 isn't going as far as it could. And besides, if
you only make drawers, why is a $400 jig needed in the first place?

I don't know, maybe its just me.

Brian.


"Robert Galloway" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Limitation? Severe? Depends on what you routinely make. If you make a
> number of drawers and one blanket chest per lifetime, the 16 makes
sense.
>
> rhg
>
> Brian wrote:
>
> > Seems like 16" would be a severe limitation. I don't doubt the jig
itself
> > is nice, though.
> >
> > Brian.
> >
> >
> > "Logan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >
> >>Not so fast. I have a 16" Omni Jig and it is great. I would buy
another
> >>one in a minute. I had a cheapo import once but this is a Cadilac or
> >
> > maybe
> >
> >>now a Lexus?, in comparison. Even I can make drawers one after another
> >
> > and
> >
> >>everything fits.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
>

pc

"patrick conroy"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 4:20 PM


"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...

> What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able

I'd say the top two vote getters are Leigh and the Akeda.

pp

patriarch <[email protected]>

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 3:28 PM

Wes Stewart <n7ws_@_yahoo.com> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> On 21 Jul 2004 07:19:01 -0700, [email protected] (George)
> wrote:
>
>|What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able
>|to make multiple width tails and pins and I am no rocket scientist so
>|easier is better. I own the Sears version and it works ok but creative
>|options are limited.
>
> Leigh D4
>
>

Another option would be the Akeda, which I own. Slightly better
repeatability in setup function. Decent dust collection. Good manual. Not
nearly as widely used. Available in the US only through Woodcraft, and
maybe not at every location. I made through dovetails with variable
spacing, rubber mallet tight, within 45 minutes of mounting the jig to the
bench. Half-blinds can be screwed up, but you have to be creative to do
so.

Another interesting product is the Katie jig. http://www.katiejig.com/ I
find the operation of this tool to be very intuitive, and the use of a
router table, allowing a much more powerful router, somewhat comforting.
One of the kitchen cabinet books I've got loves this set up. He uses a
shop-made table, with two routers set up, to move quickly through a
kitchen's worth of drawer joints.

Just my US$400 worth....

Patriarch

pp

patriarch <[email protected]>

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 7:55 PM

Pat Barber <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> You did leave out a very nice machine made by Porter Cable.
>
Only 'cause I didn't (don't) know anything about it... ;-)

I apologize if it seemed as though I intended my reviews to be exhaustive.
Far from the case, what I meant to imply was that those were the thoughts
and experiences of an enthusiastic hobbyist.

Here's hoping others can contribute their experiences, too.

Patriarch

pp

patriarch <[email protected]>

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

22/07/2004 5:25 PM

"Brian" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:

> Seems like 16" would be a severe limitation. I don't doubt the jig
> itself is nice, though.
>
> Brian.

I think, that when I need to do a dovetail wider than 16", I will end up
with another joinery solution. Or hand cut them.

Patriarch

WS

Wes Stewart

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 7:33 AM

On 21 Jul 2004 07:19:01 -0700, [email protected] (George)
wrote:

|What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able
|to make multiple width tails and pins and I am no rocket scientist so
|easier is better. I own the Sears version and it works ok but creative
|options are limited.

Leigh D4

Ll

"Logan"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 3:41 PM

Not so fast. I have a 16" Omni Jig and it is great. I would buy another
one in a minute. I had a cheapo import once but this is a Cadilac or maybe
now a Lexus?, in comparison. Even I can make drawers one after another and
everything fits.

WS

Wes Stewart

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 11:28 PM

On Wed, 21 Jul 2004 16:20:34 GMT, "patrick conroy"
<[email protected]> wrote:

|
|"George" <[email protected]> wrote in message
|news:[email protected]...
|
|> What is the best dovetail jig for under $400. I would like to be able
|
|I'd say the top two vote getters are Leigh and the Akeda.

I should have offered this link earlier:

http://benchmark.20m.com/articles/LeighVersusAkeda/LeighVersusAkeda.html

PB

Pat Barber

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 6:04 PM

You did leave out a very nice machine made by Porter Cable.

The 24" Omnijig is a monster of a jig and is currently
being sold with the adjustable through template and the
1/2" blind template for $379... It makes most other jigs
appear to be toys compared to weight and mass..

It comes in at around 60 lbs and will last
a lifetime or two...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0001X21YE/qid=1090432766/sr=8-1/ref=pd_ka_1/002-3417831-9286449?v=glance&s=home-garden&n=507846



patriarch < wrote:


> Another option would be the Akeda, which I own. Slightly better
> repeatability in setup function. Decent dust collection. Good manual. Not
> nearly as widely used. Available in the US only through Woodcraft, and
> maybe not at every location. I made through dovetails with variable
> spacing, rubber mallet tight, within 45 minutes of mounting the jig to the
> bench. Half-blinds can be screwed up, but you have to be creative to do
> so.
>
> Another interesting product is the Katie jig. http://www.katiejig.com/ I
> find the operation of this tool to be very intuitive, and the use of a
> router table, allowing a much more powerful router, somewhat comforting.
> One of the kitchen cabinet books I've got loves this set up. He uses a
> shop-made table, with two routers set up, to move quickly through a
> kitchen's worth of drawer joints.
>
> Just my US$400 worth....
>
> Patriarch

Sk

"Swingman"

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

21/07/2004 3:09 PM


"Logan" wrote in message

> but this is a Cadilac or maybe
> now a Lexus?, in comparison.

A Toyota by any other name ...

--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 7/10/04

RG

Robert Galloway

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

22/07/2004 7:26 PM

Brian wrote:

> If I was willing to spend that on a jig, I'd get the Leigh.
>
> Brian.

I picked up a used Leigh for a good price a number of years ago from a
contact made on the listserver. Anybody here have one to sell. (Mines
not for sale :-)

Try Ebay. The Leigh's not the quickest to set up but offers the most
options.

rhg

RG

Robert Galloway

in reply to [email protected] (George) on 21/07/2004 7:19 AM

22/07/2004 7:29 PM

Limitation? Severe? Depends on what you routinely make. If you make a
number of drawers and one blanket chest per lifetime, the 16 makes sense.

rhg

Brian wrote:

> Seems like 16" would be a severe limitation. I don't doubt the jig itself
> is nice, though.
>
> Brian.
>
>
> "Logan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Not so fast. I have a 16" Omni Jig and it is great. I would buy another
>>one in a minute. I had a cheapo import once but this is a Cadilac or
>
> maybe
>
>>now a Lexus?, in comparison. Even I can make drawers one after another
>
> and
>
>>everything fits.
>>
>>
>
>
>


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