Thread: Gifkins Dovetail Jig

you won't get any arguments in here about that

I have about a $1000 worth of their toys and they are wonderful to use. I also sat in on Roger's display at the Brissy show. One tip well worth noting on the cutting is firstly don't rush the cut (approx 5 secs per cut) and secondly if you want a cut that has no tear-out then do a full length of cuts only shallow then return to complete the cut. Roger said first pass cut in about 5mm, then return to finish - works well. Enjoy. Also strongly recommend his tips on using a large heavy push block on smaller timber to stop it shifting or vibrating during the cut. A lot safer too. If you want to know more visit his website it is very useful. I have made a few of the boxes from his plans and they are very impressive with nice timbers. Cheers.

They work well on any router table - even Triton Router Tables. Good purchase, what size did you go for?

I bought the A10 and B10. I have started on a practice item. "a box for the Jig".
The only problem is remembering to keep the dovetail side of the jig with the dovetail bit. Simple but in the heat of the moment one can forget. Small errors aside I am very pleased with my progress.

On this subject, I'm curious to know of anyone trying to effect a similar joint to one that the Liegh jig creats, by cutting a dovetail inside a dovetail, giving a line of differing timber colour like this:

http://www.leighjigs.com/data/1054938129.jpg

I'm thinking you would use the B10 to do the first, then an A10 for the acctual joint?

What do ya's think :confused:

Gazaly,

In theory you may be able to achieve this with the Gifkins jig using the two different sizes, but it will be a fairly complicated process as the different jigs give different dovetail spacing so to centre each one you could try using the packers or spacers sold by Gifkins, but you must not only get it centred but remember to repeat the process in the same sequence when cutting the dovetails and the pins. Also you need the packers to get you exactly centred to the dovetail from one jig to the other. Of course the effect works on not just only the sides but also the top and I am not sure if the simple change in cutter size gives equal size timber trim on all three edges - cutter height can be tweaked though. I have seen the effect you mention and wondered if possible before now but have not attempted it - maybe someone out there has?? I would love to know how they went too. Just thinking on it some more you should be able to achieve the outcome you want not by changing the jig but rather using different size cutters in the same jig for the dovetails only and the smaller square cutter for the pins. But the Gifkins jig will still need to make oversized pins to fit the oversized dovetails - I remember thinking it all too hard before :confused: - does anyone see a simple solution??

The way it is done on the leigh jig is as follows:
pick the different colour timber you want to use to create the inlay with
with the leigh you can create end to end dovetail joints, so you first do this and ten join the 2 peices together.
Once dry you cut at the line of the joint.
Then you put your original peice back into the jig and using a smaller dovetail bit, you cut out the smaller dovetails leaving you with the inlay finish.

Don't know how you would do it on the gifkins though.

I loved my gifkins as it was very easy to use (straight out of the box) but i love my leigh even more as you can do so much more with it

You can do those joints, and even a double double, on an Incra Jig.

oh yea!!!!
well can you do this on you incra jig?

Originally Posted by johna

oh yea!!!!
well can you do this on you incra jig?

Will the Leigh jig do anything other than joints?
Can you use the Leigh jig for accurate incremental positioning?

Originally Posted by Sprog

Will the Leigh jig do anything other than joints?
Can you use the Leigh jig for accurate incremental positioning?

Thank you Sprog

Originally Posted by Sprog

Will the Leigh jig do anything other than joints?
Can you use the Leigh jig for accurate incremental positioning?

no it can't but i bought it to make wonderfull joints and many more joints that the Incra can't

As for incremental positioning, i would have to talk to the wife about that, she's not as flexible as she use to be

Wish I could afford one.

I bought my Giffkins a year ago. At this years WW show I bought the box making router bits. I made my first box the other day, only used pine as it was a test finished it with Danish oil came up a treat. I showed this box to a potential client and they ordered 10 straight up. My jig has paid for it's self in the fist job with money to spare.
Am I happy with my Giffkins......you betch ya!!

Kind regards
Vasco