Thread: GIFKIN Dovetail Jig Prob

if you have never used it before then it might just be that it has never been calibrated which you do by the plastic collar (red in your picture) .... try the next size down and see if you get closer (each size down takes a bit more off the wood and your pictures suggest that it needs to take more)

regards david

Thanks David,
I kind of thought it will be something like that - I will give it a go tomorrow
Regards
Greg

I have tried all the bushes and it's still no good -

Hi,
When all else fails read the instructions. If you have misplaced them they can be down loaded. I only have the 5mm jig and do not know if the same procedures apply, so can not be more useful.
Good luck

Originally Posted by Strungout

I have tried all the bushes and it's still no good -

sorry ... no other suggestions ... i reckon though, you could phone them for advice too or email with pictures .... have as much info as you can, for instance ... which of the bushes went closest and how far off were they

regards david

actually just looking at those photos again ... in particular photo 6 where the two stops are hard against the workpiece ... isn't there a red bracket that has to go next to the stop and then get taken out ... i am sorry to be vague about that but i don't have that particular jig .... maybe col would be able to respond to that by email on his site .....


regards david

Thanks David,
I did send them an email - and Col got back to me pretty quick.I have a F15 Jig - and I have some 5mm stock - which apparently wont work.
BUT I then tried some 18mm pine and I have a feeling that I may have the wrong cutter for the F15 Jig - Only by looking at various photos on the web

I think the cutter I have is for a F5 jig - I have really no idea


www.gifkins.com_.au-shop-box-makers-accessories-jig-router-bits-TGF151-350x350.jpgwww.gifkins.com_.au-shop-box-makers-accessories-jig-router-bits-TGF51-250x250.jpg

The one on the right is what I have -

For the finger joints to work correctly you need to have the spacer installed on one side of the workpiece mounted in the jig then once the pins are cut on both ends and you move onto the other side of the box you move the spacer to the other side to get the layout setup correctly. Also keep in mind that with the cutters both for the F5 and F15 (and even the dovetail cutters) they all have a range of ideal timbers to be used for that cutter. Its all listed in the manual which timer thickness should be used for what cutter you are using.

The shims installed on the finger joint cutters themselves (the different colouring plastic spacers) are just there for the tightness or loose fit of the fingers when assembling.

Sorry if im not much help, if your not sure of something that i said just ask

Hi,
You could be right about having the wrong cutter But the jig you show is not the 5mm one. With the 5mm one there is very little side ways space for the cutter it just goes in and out to cut every second slot then moved to the other side of the jig to cut the slots in between.
Regards

Originally Posted by A Duke

Hi,
You could be right about having the wrong cutter But the jig you show is not the 5mm one. With the 5mm one there is very little side ways space for the cutter it just goes in and out to cut every second slot then moved to the other side of the jig to cut the slots in between.
Regards

Thanks Hugh,
The jig I have is a F15

Hang on. Are you rotating the jib around 180 to the otherside after you finish cutting one side ready to cut the other side? So out of 4 sides in a box and you cut the pins on both ends of side 1 are you then spinning it around to begin side 2?

I have found out that I have the wrong cutter - I Should have checked it when it was first purchased -Years ago

No problems -

By the way - Just for the record - The customer service provided by Col - Gifkins dovetail jig - is excellent.

By the way - Just for the record - The customer service provided by Col - Gifkins dovetail jig - is excellent.[/QUOTE]


I 2nd that, Great people that have taken over the business. aside from the product itself thats why i keep going back to them to purchase various things, great customer service. Big fan!