Thread: Advice on buying a dovetail jig.

Although not Victorian the Gifkins Dovetail jig is a great addition to you kit.

Have a look here

Lots of information for you to look over

Yes, I second Jim, gestalt.

Me Three!!! A great Jig.

I have the Gifkins with three templates which I've had for a few years now and I love it... However, if I were to be buying again now I'd seriously be considering the Leigh Superjig. The 12" is a similar capacity to the Gifkins and can do adjustable width and blind dovetails. For only $40 more than the solo package with the Gifkins I'd at least be considering it.

I've got the leigh d4 and a gifkins. For a recent project making drawers I used the gifkins - I've had some problems getting the d4 set up and working well. When it is working properly I think the d4 would be the best, but it is hard to beat the simplicity of the gifkins.

It is worth keeping in mind how each is used - the leigh clamps the wood and moves the router. The gifkins is the opposite. The router is fixed and the timber moves. This is important if your drawers are for, say, a 900mm wide dresser, as you will have to clamp a 900mm board on its end, them moving it around. Not impossible, but a bit awkward.

Trav

Another vote for the Gifkins.
Have a Leigh D4 and too much hassle setting it up. Stays on the shelf.
Gifkins is quick and easy.
Phil

Trav, I very much liked your post but, I have been meaning to tell you, your "fly" mention has me smiling each time you come on!

Phil, liked your post too.

Bill.

Hi Gestalt, welcome aboard and may your journey with us be a pleasant one.
Buying a jig for one project (4 drawers) really does not make economical sense to me. If they are the only dovetails that you are going to cut them my advise is cut them by hand. Dovetail jigs aint cheap especially if you are only going to use them once.

Thanks guys. Great advice. I really appreciate it.
You are correct tdrumnut, but I figure that this first project could just be the start. I would love to do some custom furniture for our house in the future.
Thanks again.

Originally Posted by Gestalt

Thanks guys. Great advice. I really appreciate it.
You are correct tdrumnut, but I figure that this first project could just be the start. I would love to do some custom furniture for our house in the future.
Thanks again.

See thats how quickly the bug bites, you haven't even started the first project and you are hooked. If thats how you are thinking then it may well be worth the investment, so I would now suggest you do as much research and buy the best you can afford that fits in with tools that you already have, then at least if it doesn't work out you have something that will sell easily and without losing to much dough.

The key difference not yet mentioned here is that the leigh has infinitely variable spacing. The gifkins is fixed, although you can (somehow) use the spacers. So if you want variable spacing, I suggest the leigh.

If you are not totally fixed on dovetails, you could look at different joints - keyed mitres, lock mitre, rebates, pegs, etc. to whet your appetite, here is a drawer I'm working on at the moment - dovetails (gifkins) on the front and pegged rebate joints on the back. The pegged joints are great because they don't need a lot of specialised gear. The trickiest part for me was making the jarrah pegs.

Trav

I have the Leigh D4R and love it. Initial setting up and usage can be a pain but on the flip side, the Leigh manual and supporting website are by far the best I've ever seen for ANY woodworking equipment (I've used a lot of high-end woodworking equipment in my time)

I have never used a Gifkins but seeing at the Working with Wood show, it's a fantastic design and an absolute breeze to use. However, it seems you are stuck with fixed pin and tail spacing and the need for a router table. The Leigh jigs give you a bit more flexibility.

There's a big difference in price between the Leigh D4 & the Leigh Superjig. I put the Superjig down due to the similarity in price and capabilities. If price isn't a factor then the Leigh D4 is really the only jig I'd even consider.

Originally Posted by corbs

There's a big difference in price between the Leigh D4 & the Leigh Superjig. I put the Superjig down due to the similarity in price and capabilities. If price isn't a factor then the Leigh D4 is really the only jig I'd even consider.

I might have to impose on you to give me a lesson or two on the d4. As much as I like it, I can't seem to get good consistent results.

Trav