Hey all,
I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks
like the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look
good. Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times
and now scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be
worth the wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look
almost foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version?
Is it worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
Thanks,
Mark
Bigpole wrote:
>
> Have you considered the Akeda? I've heard good things about that jig.
> Only thing is it won't cut half blind dovetails in both pieces at one time.
> Woodcraft has there older model on sale.
What is it with dovetail jigs all of a sudden?
Went through all the photos.
Sure are a lot of things sticking out all over the place.
Sure has a lot of screws to tighten and loosen.
Sure has quite a few nobs to turn.
Sure has some nice fine lines on the scale to align.
Sure seems to have plenty of adjustments to play with.
Sure has lots of moving parts.
Sure is BIG.
Sure is heavy.
I prefer the AKEDA idea - nothing sticking out anywhere,
(ok so there's the use and take off clamping nob thing)
- nothing to tighten and loosen since the guides "snap
in" and "snap out" WITHOUT any scales or fine lines to
see - and line up (get within just under 1/8th inch and
the jig design takes care of repeatability with just
a pencil line, and the pencil line only needs to be
thinner than 1/8"), no nobs to turn to get the clamps
close before cam levering tight, other than the
"get close and snap in" guides, only one external
part - and that's the removable clamping nob,
. . . AND - the router is supported - above the
guides - both front and back. Few parts, few moving
parts - no Flipping required at all.
Regardless of the jig, and the "feature" of the depth
of cut "setting accessory" - you MUST set the depth
of cut for the ACTUAL (as opposed to "nominal")
thickness of your stock - and that's a trial and
error / test cuts thing .
And for that reason, it's wise to get TWO of the
guide bushings for your jig and use TWO routers.
Switching back and forth between dovetial bit
and straight bit means losing your depth of cut
setting - even with the special depth of cut
setting things.
Have fun watching the DVD with Norm and going
through the manual (in all three languages?). As
you use the Omni make notes to yourself as you
go so you can refresh your memory later without
having to go through the manual again.
Oh, pay particular attention to parts marking
and the procedure for for how parts must be
oriented for each step of the procedure. It's
very easy to cut nice tails and pins - not quite
as easy and obvious to get all the parts to fit
together properly AFTER they've all been cut
- DAMHIKT.
Oh - and don't bottom out the bit in the
router collet - it WILL jack hammer itself
loose and screw up your joint if you do.
Even though you probably are going to be
using a 2 or 3 hp router or two, the bits
are 1/4" or 8mm - and they stick out
quite a ways - so don't push the bit very
hard at all. Let it do the cutting and you
develop patience - again DAMHIKT.
Dovetails are nice - no matter how you
make them.
Enjoy!
charlie b
"Mark Witczak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey all,
>
> I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks like
> the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look good.
> Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times and now
> scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be worth the
> wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look almost
> foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version? Is it
> worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
Yes, there is better. Take a serious look at the Leigh D4R. It is the one
I own and use. It also was the "Best Overall" award by FWW in 11/06.
Only a little more expensive than the omni jig and MUCH more verstile. "Buy
once and cry once."
http://www.garagewoodworks.com/tools.htm
--
www.garagewoodworks.com
Have you considered the Akeda? I've heard good things about that jig.
Only thing is it won't cut half blind dovetails in both pieces at one time.
Woodcraft has there older model on sale.
Ted
"Mark Witczak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey all,
>
> I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks like
> the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look good.
> Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times and now
> scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be worth the
> wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look almost
> foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version? Is it
> worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
"Mark Witczak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> Is it worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
Only you can determine that. It is not worth it for me, but I don't build a
lot of things that need dovetails. Maybe you do.
On Feb 4, 11:44 am, Joe <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> Lots of good advice here, but have you asked over at rec.woodworking?
>
He got it here, Joe. He just crossposted to two other groups in
addition to the one I picked it up on, rec.woodworking.
Robert
On Feb 3, 6:17=A0pm, "Garage_Woodworks" <.@.> wrote:
> "Mark Witczak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:[email protected]...
>
> > Hey all,
>
> > I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks lik=
e
> > the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look good.=
> > Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times and no=
w
> > scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be worth the
> > wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look almost
> > foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version? Is it
> > worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
>
> > Thanks,
> > Mark
>
> Yes, there is better. =A0Take a serious look at the Leigh D4R. =A0 It is t=
he one
> I own and use. =A0 It also was the "Best Overall" award by FWW in 11/06.
> Only a little more expensive than the omni jig and MUCH more verstile. =A0=
"Buy
> once and cry once."
>
> http://www.garagewoodworks.com/tools.htm
>
> --www.garagewoodworks.com
I second the suggestion of the Leigh. I have a 16" Omnijig, and if I
was going to do it all over again, I would probably get the Leigh.
Much more flexible in what it can do.
Ken
On Feb 3, 5:12=A0pm, Mark Witczak <[email protected]> wrote:
> Hey all,
>
> I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks
> like the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look
> good. Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times
> and now scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be
> worth the wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look
> almost foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version?
> Is it worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
Lots of good advice here, but have you asked over at rec.woodworking?
Joe
Jeez, talk about timing. I was writing my own poston this topic as you sent
this one in. Look at the 4212 if you need a basic, but well constructed
unit.
"Mark Witczak" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hey all,
>
> I'm thinking of taking the plunge on a decent dovetail jig. It looks like
> the PC Omnijig has all the bells and whistles to make even me look good.
> Now the 24 inch version has been slated for release several times and now
> scheduled for sale in late February. Anyone think it would be worth the
> wait? The instruction video, starring Norm, makes it look almost
> foolproof. Anyone have any experience with the 16 inch version? Is it
> worth the $450? Is there anything better out there?
>
> Thanks,
> Mark
I'd like to see a demo of the Akeda at the WW Show. Be easier to
compare, side by side, so to speak, since the Omni Jig and Leigh are
always at these things. However, Akeda ain't to be found at t'all, at
t'all.
Renata
On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:32:37 -0800, charlieb <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Bigpole wrote:
>>
>> Have you considered the Akeda? I've heard good things about that jig.
>> Only thing is it won't cut half blind dovetails in both pieces at one time.
>> Woodcraft has there older model on sale.
>
>What is it with dovetail jigs all of a sudden?
>
>Went through all the photos.
>
>Sure are a lot of things sticking out all over the place.
>
>Sure has a lot of screws to tighten and loosen.
>
>Sure has quite a few nobs to turn.
>
>Sure has some nice fine lines on the scale to align.
>
>Sure seems to have plenty of adjustments to play with.
>
>Sure has lots of moving parts.
>
>Sure is BIG.
>
>Sure is heavy.
>
>I prefer the AKEDA idea - nothing sticking out anywhere,
>(ok so there's the use and take off clamping nob thing)
>- nothing to tighten and loosen since the guides "snap
>in" and "snap out" WITHOUT any scales or fine lines to
>see - and line up (get within just under 1/8th inch and
>the jig design takes care of repeatability with just
>a pencil line, and the pencil line only needs to be
>thinner than 1/8"), no nobs to turn to get the clamps
>close before cam levering tight, other than the
>"get close and snap in" guides, only one external
>part - and that's the removable clamping nob,
>. . . AND - the router is supported - above the
>guides - both front and back. Few parts, few moving
>parts - no Flipping required at all.
>
>Regardless of the jig, and the "feature" of the depth
>of cut "setting accessory" - you MUST set the depth
>of cut for the ACTUAL (as opposed to "nominal")
>thickness of your stock - and that's a trial and
>error / test cuts thing .
>
>And for that reason, it's wise to get TWO of the
>guide bushings for your jig and use TWO routers.
>Switching back and forth between dovetial bit
>and straight bit means losing your depth of cut
>setting - even with the special depth of cut
>setting things.
>
>Have fun watching the DVD with Norm and going
>through the manual (in all three languages?). As
>you use the Omni make notes to yourself as you
>go so you can refresh your memory later without
>having to go through the manual again.
>
>Oh, pay particular attention to parts marking
>and the procedure for for how parts must be
>oriented for each step of the procedure. It's
>very easy to cut nice tails and pins - not quite
>as easy and obvious to get all the parts to fit
>together properly AFTER they've all been cut
>- DAMHIKT.
>
>Oh - and don't bottom out the bit in the
>router collet - it WILL jack hammer itself
>loose and screw up your joint if you do.
>
>Even though you probably are going to be
>using a 2 or 3 hp router or two, the bits
>are 1/4" or 8mm - and they stick out
>quite a ways - so don't push the bit very
>hard at all. Let it do the cutting and you
>develop patience - again DAMHIKT.
>
>Dovetails are nice - no matter how you
>make them.
>
>Enjoy!
>
>charlie b
The discussion was about the brand new Omnijig
which bears no hint of the older moldel. The
new Omnijig is almost identical to the Leigh
in all "features" as best I can tell.
http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/CategoryOverview.aspx?catPath=4272.4278.4558.4560
Ken wrote:
>
>
> I second the suggestion of the Leigh. I have a 16" Omnijig, and if I
> was going to do it all over again, I would probably get the Leigh.
> Much more flexible in what it can do.
>
> Ken