Thread: Dovetail router jigs

Welcome Gord !

Seach the forums for info & discussion on the various jigs that are available.

Carbatec, should be one in Sydney.

The Woodworks - maybe.

Timbecon-mail order.

Oh, and for the darksiders, cut 'em by hand


Cheers.............Sean

Welcome to the forum Gord.

Have a look here:

http://www.gifkins.com.au

This is a brilliant invention that works well straight out of the box. You can either buy a bit at a time or have a blood rush (as I did 2 years ago at the Brisbane WWW show) and get the whole kit and kaboodle. Roger Gifkins also has some really informative DVDs & boxmaking plan books which will keep you occupied for years. Also, its Australian made by Australians in NSW. I'm absolutely stoked with mine.

Good luck,
Keith

Originally Posted by Gord

First of all im new here ,so Hi all,
Can anyone tell me how or where to find a dovetailing jig?
Thanks

Keith53 is right, the Gifkins Jig is great, check out the Working With Wood Show, it's coming your way very soon. There'll be alot on show, look at the Leigh1600, it may be expensive but if you planned on getting a few templates, otherwise you'll only be able to one size dovetail. The Leigh Jigs are adjustable...

Originally Posted by Just George

Keith53 is right, the Gifkins Jig is great, check out the Working With Wood Show, it's coming your way very soon. There'll be alot on show, look at the Leigh1600, it may be expensive but if you planned on getting a few templates, otherwise you'll only be able to one size dovetail. The Leigh Jigs are adjustable...

Gord,
As advised above, get to the Working With Wood Show and these guys demonstrate the jigs in front of you. Most people are governed by price, but don't be tempted to buy the cheapest.
The Gifkins only does through dovetails while some of the ones around $100 only stopped dovetails.

Carry pine

Log onto the carbatec website and buy the Woodrat DVD, best $5 you will ever spend.

the woodrat is a dovetail jig, a mortiser a tennoner, cuts mouldings, planes, and about any woodworking joint you can name, a bit expensive, but not when you add up the cost of all the gear you dont have to buy when you have one.

with almost all dedicated dovetail jigs if you want to change the size of the dovetails you buy another set of combs and bits for about $300. with the woodrat, you rub out the old pencil lines and draw another set and spend the $300 on a new jointer or planer. i could goonfor hours...................

Doug the Slug,

can you give me the link to the site that has the DVD for $5? I went to the carbatec.com website and they list a video for $12 but no DVD. I'd like to move fast on this if I you can help me to source one. I'm meeting my brother-in-law from Adelaide in Italy and I'd like to see if he could get the DVD for me before he leaves.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by CrawleyTosser

Doug the Slug,

can you give me the link to the site that has the DVD for $5? I went to the carbatec.com website and they list a video for $12 but no DVD.

sorry, tosser i cant, it used to be on the carbatec WA website. Now Carbatec have combined their website into one national one it seems they have gone to $12 same as everyone else. if you go to www.woodrat.com.au it will give you a link to carbatec WA's site, where you can order the DVD even if its $12 (carbatec WA isthe only place to get woodrat router bits etc inaust, but sometimes its better to order overseas and pay freight)

G'day,

I've used the Carbatec blind dovetail jig with success for making drawers, but it was easy to chew up the comb. If you are going to use this, don't use a bit with a bearing. Try the Carbitool bit on a 1/4 inch collet router. Gives tight joints and learning curve is short. I now have a Leigh D4R and love it. Use a more powerful router though. Through, blind and sliding dovetails all available quickly and again, learning curve is fairly short. Also, there is a box joint comb available.
If you want, I can try and copy the teaching DVD and send it to you (possibly in the format of your choice. (You'll get a kick out of the American sales pitch at the beginning and end. ( I know they're Canadian, but Canada is part of North America)

Regards,

Rob

I love my Trend CDJ600. One of the great things about it is the fact it cuts both of the workpieces (those to be fitted together) in one go. This is the same system as the Festool, but much cheaper.

I'd love a DC 400 because of its flexibility but can't justify it at the moment: http://www.trendmachinery.co.uk/dc400/

Damien
PS. Beware of darksiders recommending a hammer and a chisel. It's a trick! Once you turn down the dark path, there's no turning back...

On this topic did you all buy the jigs for one job and it snowballed from there, or did you buy it with the intention to make many things.

I ask this 'cause I would probably only want to make the odd thing, but once I bought one I would no doubt get addicted, like all the other tools (toys) I've bought.

Originally Posted by bpj1968

On this topic did you all buy the jigs for one job and it snowballed from there, or did you buy it with the intention to make many things.

I saw the Festool in action at a trade show and knew I had to have one. Unfortunately, the bloke caught me trying to swallow it (I would have got away clean but I was greedy and tried to swallow the router as well). He was very understanding - saying it happens all the time - so no charges were pressed. That sexy little DT jig haunted my dreams for ages - then I discovered the Trend which is similar but much cheaper. Good thing too - SWMBO was starting to question who I was always dreaming about and was getting sick of changing the bed sheets.

I've got a dedicated Elu MOF 96E set up with a DT bit at 17 mm ready to go at the drop of a dime. I use it every chance I get!

Damien

Originally Posted by Flowboy

G'day...If you want, I can try and copy the teaching DVD and send it to you (possibly in the format of your choice...

Rob, if that's for my benefit buddy, I appreciate that but no need. I can source a range of DVDs here in the UK so I'll contact the local suppliers. We pay more here than elsewhere. I think I may get a Rat or something before we move to Adelaide so I'll stock up on the 'essentials' before we pack.

Hi all,

Brian,

I initially bought the Carbatec jig for dovetailing drawers, but became quickly aware of the other uses for DT's (so to speak).

Crawley,

It was a general offer. Incidentally, we do have Rats here as well. (Whole island of 'em off Perth), they take some time to deliver, but you could try Carbatec in Perth to see.
If you think you can join the Barmy Army for the Ashes tour, we'll know you by the sawdust and shavings in your hair.

Rob

Originally Posted by Flowboy

Crawley,
If you think you can join the Barmy Army for the Ashes tour, we'll know you by the sawdust and shavings in your hair.

Rob

Rob I can lay claim to some valid credentials that even you Australians would welcome. I'm 50% S'Effrican and I support two teams, South Africa, and anyone who plays England. That should entitle me to a complimentary crate of James Boags beer, eh?