Thread: Leigh or Gifkins

For ease of use, Gifkins.

If you want to get a bit more fancy, then get the Leigh.

It all depends on what you want to make.

Then of course, there's the Incra too.

Have a read of this thread
https://www.woodworkforums.com/f87/advise-gifkin-jig-43596

Originally Posted by Packrat Pete

Here I was, just about to order the Gifkins jig with a couple of templates and then someone says to check out the Leigh 1600 jig which does through, blind and sliding dovetails for around the same price. Now I can't make up my mind.

As my learned friend says(Hi Gumby)

Originally Posted by Gumby

It all depends on what you want to make.

.

If you get two or more templates/jigs you'll be spending "up there dollars" so decide what you want.

The Leigh as it comes out of the box does Through Dovetails, Blind Dovetails and Sliding Dovetails. With additional templates it can do Box/Finger Joints and Isoloc Dovatils as well - the Gifkins does Through Dovetails.

The Leigh has varialbe spacings of it fingers. The Gifkins doesn't.

The Leigh can do boards up to 400mm, the Gifkins does 300mm only.

The Gifkins uses a router table so you don't have to control a router, and if you have a large heavy one like a Triton/Makita/Hitachi/etc this can be difficult especially if you have a few to do.

If "Australian Made" is important to you - go the Gifkins. Support our local businesses.

If you are after ease of set up, a set up that stays set up - time after time. Go for the Gifkins, the only time you need to change the setting is if you change the backing boards or when you get the bits sharpened.

Originally Posted by Packrat Pete

Can't afford both, which one???????

I know this because I have both the Leigh D1600 and the Gifkins with multiple templates. They both have a use in my workshop, they are both good at what they do.

Look at it this way, I drive a Holden and wouldn't be caught dead driving a Ford.

Different horses for different courses.

If doing half blind dovetails, once the Leigh jig is dialed in to a particular stock thickness, you can do halfblind dovetails for weeks and never change anything except the custom finger spacing if desired. Just don't take the bit out of the router or it will have to be set up again.
Through dovetails are another matter since these require you to change router bits for pins and sockets.
I am so pleased with the performance and ease of use with half blind dovetails that I now have a dedicated router (Porter Cable 690) just for them. All I have to do is plane my stock to 19 mm each time and I know the joints will fit accurately.
I haven't tried any of the Isoloc templates yet, but I have a birthday coming up this spring and I plan on asking for one.

Pete

I went through this process and chose the Leigh. Mainly because my projects were mainly larger than small boxes where the Gifkins excels.

Although others deny a problem with large draw or box parts on a gifkins the weight can easily exceed the gifkin jig causing problems with stability on the router table. With the leigh the part is firmly clamped in place.

The leigh easily allows half pins at any distance allowing for perfect spacing on any width board. The gifkins no so.

Don't forget the D1600 is only $449 at MIK at the present time.

I hummed and hahed between the two and ended up with the Leigh 1600 for the ability to do through and half, and the variable spacing. I would have preferred to support Roger though.

Rob

Originally Posted by mat

Although others deny a problem with large draw or box parts on a gifkins the weight can easily exceed the gifkin jig causing problems with stability on the router table. With the leigh the part is firmly clamped in place.

Are you talking about long pieces? I agree with you even though I have done sides of boxes that were a little over 1000mm long. I was careful that I held onto them at all times through the process.

I do agree with you though...

I have got a Leigh and am just starting out, the biggest issue for me is getting the router set up properly. I have been mucking around with through dovetails so far and will go to half ASAP after reading this thread.
I have attached a link for a review of the Leigh http://www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/leighd1600.htm.
It is exceptional well made, hard to fault.

I am thinking of getting a Leigh 1600, but the expense of the bit kit (CMT)pushes up the price to nearly $800 (jig, bit set and delivery).

How many different kinds of joins can you do with the kit supplied bits?

I particularly want it for blind dovetails (drawers) and inlaid through dovetails (Boxes), in stock ranging from 10mm up to 19mm.

Plus, my hand held router is a GMC 1250 watt (I think), do the supplied template guides work with this router ? (a better router is on wish list)

BTW, can borrow the Gifkins from the Club and although very simple to use, found it very limiting.

If you have two routers, with the Leigh you can set one with the dovetail and one with the straight bit for doing through dovetails. Makes it a bit easier.

Tex

Cruzi

You don't need to buy the CMT kit. There are some router bits included in the kit and others are available individually. LeeVally also has some.

At $424 from MIK at the present time it is a bargain buy.

Originally Posted by Cruzi

How many different kinds of joins can you do with the kit supplied bits?

Through dovetails, blind dovetails and sliding dovetails. Finger joints are also done I think, I haven't gone that far yet though.

All in the kit with no more to spend...

I have the Gifkins and I am very happy with it. It works very well, is extremely quick and the results are excellent. The Leigh is more versatile but at the price of being more fiddly to set-up.

Someone has mentioned that they plan to use a GMC router with their dovetail jig. Personally I think if you will fork out that sort of money on a jig you should look at a better router. My experience with GMC has been not so uncommon collet slip and this can easily damage either of the jigs.

Also with regards to sliding dovetail joints which is one of the "features" of the Leigh, provided you have a flat router table and a fence the only thing you need to do these is a dovetail cutter. A jig in my opinion is a waste of time.

A simple shop made jig will also suffice for finger joints.

regards

Marios

I ended up with the Leigh because of its versatility.

I can use any width boards and adjust the fingers to suit.

Two routers make the job much quicker and easier.