Thread: Newbie woodworker - dovetail jig question

I've got a Leigh D4R and I don't think you'd be better off getting a cheaper no-brand one, if you think you'll use it over a lifetime then buy quality, so you don't just end up buying the better one in 5 year's time anyway.

Some say you can cut by hand with practice (even if you didn't start at 14), that's the other way to go -- why not see if you're a natural at that first? There was a particularly good FWW article about it (Dec 2008 "A Trip to the Dovetail Doctor") by Rogowski that went into more detail than the usual explanations about it. On the FWW archive DVD.

All the Leigh prices came down a fair bit since I got mine, so you'd be lucky. On the Leigh website there's a long list of routers and the collets they need to work with the jig. Can't comment on the power.

Have a look at the Gifkins dovetail jig. Australian made and owned and it's excellent! Plenty of guys on the forum own one including myself.

Andy

For the Gifkins and the Leigh, you need a 1/2" router. They need a longer/stronger bit than you can generally get from a 1/4" bit.

Spend the extra on the Super 12 Leigh, I have the use of one and they are great for though, blind and sliding dovetails. Get yourself a Triton JOF 1010w router, these are a good router for the Leigh as they have good bit changing through the base of the router, it's 1/2" and it's light enough for easy use. It also had adjustable dovetails to accomodate different width timbers which the Gifkins had difficulty with.

The Leigh Superjigs come in 3 lengths, 12, 18 and 24 inch. The 18 and 24 inch units can use different templates to achieve decorative dovetail style joints. The only template set for the 12 inch is the basic dovetail set. I wanted to get the D1600 unit at about the time that they were being cleared because it could use the fancy template sets, but due to stock issues ended up with the 12in SJ without being aware that the other templates would not be available.

The Leigh kits come with 8mm shank bits and a 1/2 in to 8mm reducer, so a 1/2in or 8mm router is the way to go. 8mm is rare in Oz, but some of the smaller Makita's, the Aldi Taurus, and some Festool routers are equiped for it. Alternative bits with 1/4 shanks are available, but the shanks are significantly less rigid and may be more likely to chatter.

Originally Posted by Just George

For the Gifkins and the Leigh, you need a 1/2" router. They need a longer/stronger bit than you can generally get from a 1/4" bit.

Spend the extra on the Super 12 Leigh, I have the use of one and they are great for though, blind and sliding dovetails. Get yourself a Triton JOF 1010w router, these are a good router for the Leigh as they have good bit changing through the base of the router, it's 1/2" and it's light enough for easy use. It also had adjustable dovetails to accomodate different width timbers which the Gifkins had difficulty with.

Carbatec stock the Triton JOF001 router but it's AUD279.00 which is the bet part of my spending money ! I'd have to get the router and then get a jig at a (much) later date ....

Any cheaper router options ?

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

Hey guys,

I have some cash from a birthday to buy some woodworking gear. I'm interested in getting a dovetail jig and making some boxes and the like with some nice looking dovetails.

My problem is perhaps my router. My wife bought me an ozito router last year and it's been good (see pic). I've used it for mainly rounding edges and dado's, never dovetails.


It's only 1200w and has a 1/4" collet. Will this be a problem working with a leigh jig ? Maybe a cheaper (taiwanese) jig is more my go given my experience ?
Please excuse my ignorance as I'm new to woodworking and am perhaps wanting to run before I can walk ....

Any advice from more experienced folk appreciated.

don't go the route of the cheaper (chinese) jigs.

I'm fairly certain that the Gifkins jig Gifkins Dovetail Jig (with a bit of ingenuity) can be used upside down like the Leigh R9 Plus jig Leigh Industries - Joining Tradition With Today .
Your router should work fine with the Gifkins (used upside down) or the Leigh R9

Originally Posted by ian

don't go the route of the cheaper (chinese) jigs.

I'm fairly certain that the Gifkins jig Gifkins Dovetail Jig (with a bit of ingenuity) can be used upside down like the Leigh R9 Plus jig Leigh Industries - Joining Tradition With Today .
Your router should work fine with the Gifkins (used upside down) or the Leigh R9

Hey Ian, thanks for the feedback. I've seen the Leigh R9 and it looks interesting if a bit fiddly with the beam set up. Although once set up I'm sure it would be good. Whilst I'm inexperienced now you don't think I'd be limited by the R9 pre-set spacings down the track ?

The R9 is Leigh's version of a number similar DT jigs -- google "keller jig" for one example.

Personally I think the Gifkins is a more versitile jig -- plus there's a variable spacing option available. http://www.gifkins.com.au/VARIABLE%2...%20UPGRADE.pdf

And you only need a 1/4" router. This will cover stock up to 13mm (which is ideal for box making). Also as Ian mentioned you can change the layout of the dovetails with the variable space upgrade.

Andy

By all means get a dovetail jig. But for relaxation and satisfaction there is much to be said for learning how to make these sorts of joints by hand. Yes the skill involved takes some time and practice and you will certainly have quite a few fails along the way. But the advantages well outweigh the difficulties.
Cutting the joints by hand gives you unlimited freedom to design the joint any way you like.
The cost of the equipment required is very small and any tools you get can be used in lots of other applications
There is a satisfaction of craftsmanship that comes with a developing skill.
Lastly, the old hand tool skills have mostly disappeared from commercial construction. But they survive partly because they are kept alive by amateur craftsmen. There are few things more relaxing on a Sunday afternoon than to go out into the shed, put the footy on the radio and quietly and peacefully cut some timber.
If time, speed and repeatability are important then a jig is the way to go of course.

Originally Posted by groeneaj

And you only need a 1/4" router. This will cover stock up to 13mm (which is ideal for box making). Also as Ian mentioned you can change the layout of the dovetails with the variable space upgrade.

To be fair, using a 1/4"er is less than ideal... but it will do the job. For now.

You just need to work more carefully, letting the router cut at it's own pace and not forcing the work into the bit. (Then again, this is true for any router whether it be a 1/2" or even a 1" shaft! The difference is that with a 1/4"er you're far more likely to have a serious brown pants moment from... "over-eagerness" than with the larger shafts. )

Originally Posted by Ozziespur

Carbatec stock the Triton JOF001 router but it's AUD279.00 which is the bet part of my spending money ! I'd have to get the router and then get a jig at a (much) later date ....

Any cheaper router options ?

Bunnies have started carrying the AEG Routers.

RT1350E


The MF14KE 1/2" one with both a plunge and a fixed base was $369.- and the RT1350E 1/2" plunge router was $199.-
Both have variable speeds.
I am quite happy with them although I only needed the motor part for my CNC machine.
Cheers
Wolffie

Hmmm I could possibly stretch the budget and buy a new 1/2" router ($200.00 for an AEG ... thanks the heads up Wolffie ) and still buy the Leigh R9 jig .....

Incidentally, assuming the above comes to fruition, is it feasable to set up the 2 routers and cut the pins with the more appropriate 1/2" dovetail bit and cut the tails with the 1/4" straight bit ?

I know the sensible thing to do is buy the 1/2" router and wait til I can afford a Gifkins jig or a Leigh superjig, but I have some projects that have been on the backburner for months ....

If you don't use the same router for both parts, you are going to run into trouble because the bits will be slightly different and the tails and pins will not mate.
The Leigh jig comes with Leigh bits anyway.
Cheers
Wolffie