Hey D4R users,
I wanted to know what your opinions are about routing sliding
dovetails on your jig. I'm getting ready to do that for a three shelf
unit. The shelves are 44 inches long and I will space them on 12 inch
centers in 48 inch tall sides (all 7/8 inch oak). My concern is with
my ability to cut the dovetail slots for the sides. I think I would
have better success if I used a separate guide rail and just routed
these slots while leaning on a table or the floor. I have no
apprehension at all with regard to routing the tails on the shelves -
this is where I think the jig will be perfect, but the slots concern
me.
I know I can support the ends of the side boards with stands so
alignment won't be that much of an issue. I'm just looking for other
user's feedback- both good and bad - before I begin this process.
Thanks in advance for your responses.
Marc
"marc rosen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:3927a2c0-80be-4778-b193-90584e8fa90f@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hey D4R users,
> I wanted to know what your opinions are about routing sliding
> dovetails on your jig. I'm getting ready to do that for a three shelf
> unit. The shelves are 44 inches long and I will space them on 12 inch
> centers in 48 inch tall sides (all 7/8 inch oak). My concern is with
> my ability to cut the dovetail slots for the sides. I think I would
> have better success if I used a separate guide rail and just routed
> these slots while leaning on a table or the floor. I have no
> apprehension at all with regard to routing the tails on the shelves -
> this is where I think the jig will be perfect, but the slots concern
> me.
> I know I can support the ends of the side boards with stands so
> alignment won't be that much of an issue. I'm just looking for other
> user's feedback- both good and bad - before I begin this process.
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
> Marc
>
If you have two routers, set one up with a straight bit to pre-cut the
dovetail slots. Then make a second pass using the other router with the
dovetail bit. This reduces the chances of having the router pull away from
the guide while making the cut and reduces the work that the dovetail bit
will have to do. I have only done it this way once, but it worked very well.
Charley
"marc rosen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:3927a2c0-80be-4778-b193-90584e8fa90f@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hey D4R users,
> I wanted to know what your opinions are about routing sliding
> dovetails on your jig. I'm getting ready to do that for a three shelf
> unit. The shelves are 44 inches long and I will space them on 12 inch
> centers in 48 inch tall sides (all 7/8 inch oak). My concern is with
> my ability to cut the dovetail slots for the sides. I think I would
> have better success if I used a separate guide rail and just routed
> these slots while leaning on a table or the floor. I have no
> apprehension at all with regard to routing the tails on the shelves -
> this is where I think the jig will be perfect, but the slots concern
> me.
> I know I can support the ends of the side boards with stands so
> alignment won't be that much of an issue. I'm just looking for other
> user's feedback- both good and bad - before I begin this process.
> Thanks in advance for your responses.
> Marc
I have done it successfully on a D4 several years ago but my project
differed. I built an end table with a magazine rack on both sides. The end
pieces that tilted out from the table had a sliding DT top to bottom outer
side on both ends. Those ends support 4 or 5 horizontal and evenly spaced
slats. The slats engaged the ends via sliding DT's.
My salts started out as a wider board with a DT grove on both ends and then
I cut the piece into the smaller slats.
The end pieces had the tail portion of the DT and that was done on the Leigh
D4.
The pin/female groves were done on the router table.
So, so far I have not helped you any. ;~) The tail piece is not tough to
do on the Leigh but I advise you to cut the slots first so that you can
sneak up/tweak the tail piece and or cutting dept on the jig for proper fit.
I would also suggest cutting the slot with a narrower straight bit to remove
a majority of the material before making the DT groove.
Lastly and for certain set this all up on same thickness scraps to insure a
good fit before going near the actual project. '~)
On Mar 21, 10:10=A0pm, "Charley" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "marc rosen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> news:3927a2c0-80be-4778-b193-90584e8fa90f@f63g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hey D4R users,
> > I wanted to know what your opinions are about routing sliding
> > dovetails on your jig. =A0I'm getting ready to do that for a three shelf=
> > unit. =A0The shelves are 44 inches long and I will space them on 12 inch=
> > centers in =A048 inch tall sides (all 7/8 inch oak). =A0My concern is wi=
th
> > my ability to cut the dovetail slots for the sides. =A0I think I would
> > have better success if I used a separate guide rail and just routed
> > these slots while leaning on a table or the floor. =A0I have no
> > apprehension at all with regard to routing the tails on the shelves -
> > this is where I think the jig will be perfect, but the slots concern
> > me.
> > I know I can support the ends of the side boards with stands so
> > alignment won't be that much of an issue. =A0I'm just looking for other
> > user's feedback- both good and bad - before I begin this process.
> > Thanks in advance for your responses.
> > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =
=A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 Marc
>
> If you have two routers, set one up with a straight bit to pre-cut the
> dovetail slots. Then make a second pass using the other router with the
> dovetail bit. This reduces the chances of having the router pull away from=
> the guide while making the cut and reduces the work that the dovetail bit
> will have to do. I have only done it this way once, but it worked very wel=
l.
>
> Charley- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Hey Charlie, Larry,
Thanks too for your replies. Since I don't need to make a stopped
dovetail groove I thought I would score a 1/4 inch deep groove with
the table saw and then run a straght bit follwed by the dovetail bit
(obviously off the jig). Then I would involve the jig to cut the
tails on the ends of the board. I think I'll feel more comfortable
cutting those grooves in a position that I could get th leverage with
the router.
Marc
On Thu, 20 Mar 2008 21:17:24 -0500, Leon wrote:
> So, so far I have not helped you any. ;~) The tail piece is not tough to
> do on the Leigh but I advise you to cut the slots first so that you can
> sneak up/tweak the tail piece and or cutting dept on the jig for proper fit.
> I would also suggest cutting the slot with a narrower straight bit to remove
> a majority of the material before making the DT groove.
>
> Lastly and for certain set this all up on same thickness scraps to insure a
> good fit before going near the actual project. '~)
Good advice, but if the slots are very long I'd suggest making a tapered
sliding dovetail instead of using the jig. Much easier to insert without
excessive force.