Thread: Joint making devices

Have a look at www.woodshopdemos.com (type the address into the address bar as my links never seem to work Hey, today it is!!). One of the best WW sites out there for mine, very detailed, with lots of pictures and a huge veriety of topics and tools covered with some great ideas and tips. The main menu is catagorised by tool/process and under routing you should find an incra jig project which takes you in great detail through the process of making a jewellry box.
As far as a router table, with the incra system it seems that you would be better off with a sturdy home made job consisting of a stable, flat surface with a little 'ole in it for the bit to stick through. Because the incra is a complte fence system, this is all you need. The pressed metal of the triton may not take kindly to securely clamping the incra setup to it and the plastic mouth area may be a bit of a nuisance as the incra has integral sliding components.
Compared with the portercable omni jig the incra has more flexibilty but perhaps on a smaller and more delicate/detailed scope. It also beats the leigh jig for the range of work that it can do. However, the leigh jig would seem to beat the omni jig hands down with the work it can do. According to my Carba-tec catalogue, the omni costs $599 and you only get an expanded (compared to the much cheaper models) 24" of 1/2" blind dovetails. Add an extra $269 for the adjustable through dovetails and $137 for the sliding dovetails and you are well above what you'd pay for the leigh with all these facilities included, plus the ability to add very unique isoloc templates and M&T templates. The way i see it, the omni jig is extremely overpriced for what is a pretty basic (although well made) jig. While on the topic of overpriced American dovetail jigs. Whats with this Katie jig, $700 bucks for a 12" number and you dont even get the bloody clamps to hold your stock in place!! Looks like they just stole the idea from Mr Gifkins too!!

If you go to the leigh jig website and request a catalogue you get a detailed catalogue/info booklet and a really nice video to boot (from MIK Int. here in Adelaide) which is very persuasive and informative to watch.

Hope this helps.


Cheers, Tim

[This message has been edited by Vonrek (edited 13 August 2002).]

[This message has been edited by Vonrek (edited 13 August 2002).]

Timbecon are flogging the Incra Jig cheap at the moment 16" $549 24" $649
I`d have one in a flash except for the $600 worth of bills on the fridge that need paying first,
BUGGER !!!
cooky

Hello Nugget,

I have the incra jig setup on a home made table. It would not fit too well on a Triton table at all. It does require a nice smooth flat surface for the jig to operate smoothly. On the router table you need a farly large area behind the cutter to clamp the jig onto the table.

I haven't had a chance to use it a lot at the moment - SWMO has given me a list on renovations to do BUT I have made a few boxes and it has worked very well.

I would like to point out too that it can also be used as a micro adjustable fence for fine work. It's a pleasure to use when fine adjustments are required.

Have a look at the woodshop demos site, It swayed me into buying the Incra. I also made the add on fence he uses. He also has modified a CMT table to extend the back of the table to accomodate the jig. It's a very informative site

Hope this helps - Peter

Modern Technology is a wonderful thing especially when you need information such as this!!!
Thanks to all it's really appreciated

Brad

If its just Dovetails and Finger joints you are after check out http://www.stots.com for an interesting idea. These are american made and the exchange rate does not work in our favour. Once you check out the site ask yourself if the template from a Gifkins jig ($80) might work in the same way.....I wonder

I have used neither but have looked at both... there's the Incra and there is the Jointeck - both seem to do a similar job but the latter is advertised as being stronger due to the positioning parts being metal instead of plastic. Although the incra ones have a lifetime gaurantee...
I like the centering "rabbit" on the jointeck but the incra lookslike there are more features/ad ons...I

Regards
Sandy accoss the ditch

Surprised no one has mentioned the Rizla yet

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: http://community.webshots.com/user/iain49

Hi Nuggett,comin' in late on this thread but I have just been to the Fine WW show in Perth and vouch for the Incra Jig if'n you're into doing small projects.
The 24" Ultra $699,the 16" $599, the ultra-lite 12.5" $399.according to the latest Carba-Tec catalogue ...even cheaper at the show.
They can do most joints as previously stated but your limitations are generally restricted to small and intentionally decorative items.
In fact I have bought the Ultra-Lite to have that facility for small projects as an addition to my shop set-up ...after all getting a great price at the show was something not hard to consider.
I see by your profile that your are into cabinetmaking ...then perhaps the leigh jig may also be an option..primarily for it's ability to also do decorative joints if that is your bag, as well as handling the larger timber tasks without undue stress.
This if you have the room on your w/shop can be a dedicated set-up and with all it's options, down the track, additional templates could enhance the jig for box-joints/mortise & tenon etc.
The downside of the Leigh is the range of router bits required but CMT put out a great set ..costly, as they do for the Incra,...but fully equiped with your options
open to you.
I have both these jigs and tho the Incra hasn't had a work out yet I reckon on dedicating both jigs to their comfort zones in the tasks at hand.
Cheers good luck in your WW

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Johnno

I purchased a Gifkins jig set up from the Adelaide WWW show & it's a little pearler!
Can't wait to get back to the shed to do some more. Will dovetail drawers to approx 300mm deep. See their web site.

One small lotto win
One 16" Incra Jig for me today
All i need now is the time to PLAY!!
cooky