Thread: Recommendations on the best dovetail jig??

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Well raised issues, Mr Duck (may I call you Donald?). It seems that all of the different options can be very tricky in the set up process, particularly if (like yourself) they don't get used often enough to lock the process into one's (limited?) memory data base. I'm sure this would apply to me as well. Repetition is always a time saver. Bit of a worry with the continual breaking of router bits. Is this a problem with all jigs, or just the older Leigh?

Donald it is. Don't know about the problem with broken bits. Maybe I am just too impatient with the router cuts... does anyone else have problems with bits breaking?

There I'm being provocative.

I've used the Leigh. Once set up it's very quick and easy.
Yes it takes up a bit of bench space, but when not in use it lives on a shelf on the wall in dad's garage. With the extra templates you can cut a range of joints. But if you don't use it often, it's a real pain to set-up.

I've also used a $69 Chinese cheapie. Great for a set of drawers (provided you don't mind the fixed size) but the construction, especially the clamp bar and comb was a bit flimsy. I got rid of mine after the one job. If I were buying another I'd skip the $69 price point and pay a bit more for something more substantial.

I've watched most of the other jigs being demonstrated. They all have their specialties or foibles.

• For smallish boxes it's hard to go past the Gifkins, if you have a router table. An alternative is the Keller jig.
• large case work, it's probably the Leigh D4, Festool, Omnijig, or Woodrat, if your making a lot
• medium case work, maybe the Leigh D1600
• one-off bank of drawers, it's hard to go past Carbatec's $119 jig
• for finger jointed boxes, it's very hard to go past the Hegner Comb jointer. Pricey, but what it does, it does very well.
• for precision hand cut DTs look at the Anglemag
• then there's the Incra fence system, versitile but lots of bit to buy

you asked ...

Bit of a worry with the continual breaking of router bits. Is this a problem with all jigs, or just the older Leigh?

I think it's a problem with all bits. It's easy to break a bit, just put too much pressure on it by taking too big a cut, which is pretty easy to do in Aussie hardwood. Quarter inch shank cutters allow you to cut smaller DTs or fingers, but are much easier to break than the half inch ones.


have I managed to confuse you?

ian

I have had a Gifkin jig for years and made many joints all accurate
It is only for cutting through dovetails and is not the cheepest , however if you do a search on comments on it in this forum you will see nothing but good reports
The home page is www.gifkins.com.au
and is worth a look if you are going to get a jig

Rgds

Yep I'm sold on rogers jig after seeing it in action at the wood show. Just gotta save my spatre change for it now.

The gifkins jig is very good but its two biggest downfalls are that you have to get the timber width to match the spacing otherwise you cannot get a half dovetail at each end. Jigs like the leigh can be adjusted to any width timber.
The second is that whilst it may be very good for boxes trying to rout long draw sides or fronts would be a bit of a challenge.

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Evening Gents.

The next item on the grand workshop compilation list is probably a dovetail jig. I've read quite a few of the threads here, but would be interested to hear from those that own them (or are knowledgable on the matter) as to various merits and otherwise of the different options.

Alternatives would also be highly considered (eg. wood rat - is that the name?)

Again, many thanks in anticipation.

A set of Berg chisels?

G'day Hardenfast,

There's currently a Leigh Dove tail jig model D - 1258R - 2 up for auction on eBay, don't know if it's what you're looking for, but thought it might help you out.

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/LEIGH-dovetai...QQcmdZViewItem

Originally Posted by mat

The gifkins jig is very good but one of its biggest downfalls is that you have to get the timber width to match the spacing otherwise you cannot get a half dovetail at each end. Jigs like the leigh can be adjusted to any width timber.

No longer so. from http://www.gifkins.com.au/

NEW VARIABLE SPACE UPGRADE

Relaese Date: <ST115<SUP>th</SUP> March 2002</ST1

A world first from GIFKINS DOVETAIL!

Cut variable sized dovetails with your fixed space templates!

The common argument against buying a fixed template dovetail jig like the GIFKINS DOVETAIL JIG is that it won’t suit some widths of stock. That is, you have to compromise your project, adjusting the width of stock to suit the template. This is no longer true. With the variable spaced upgrade, you can now adjust the template to fit the stock!

ian

Originally Posted by Hardenfast

Evening Gents.

The next item on the grand workshop compilation list is probably a dovetail jig. I've read quite a few of the threads here, but would be interested to hear from those that own them (or are knowledgable on the matter) as to various merits and otherwise of the different options.

Alternatives would also be highly considered (eg. wood rat - is that the name?)

Again, many thanks in anticipation.

I have had the Gifkins jig for ayear or so and can't fault it ... easy to set up and very easy to use with results that amaze SHMBO.

Regards,
Alan

Thanks again, all - Invaluable 1st hand feedback & comments throughout the thread. Looks like the Gifkins is getting the thumbs up, although the Woodrat still has appeal.

Given the update info & link (thanks!) from Ian re the newly variable Gifkins I'm thinking this is the way to go, especially with Zoot's note re SWMBO. I'm fully into pleasuring SHMBO.

I'm pleased to see that the issue stills raises healthy debate & differing opinions over the many experts (and others) here.

All feedback duly noted & appreciated.