Thread: Leigh super 12 jig

I would strongly recommend the Leigh Dovetail jig. It has a great instruction manual and an excellent instructional DVD. Also before you buy you can review their instructional videos on their website to get comfortable with the various dovetail methods.
It looks tricky to learn but is not too bad. If you buy another dovetail jig, you will quickly become frustrated with the lack of flexibility and will eventually buy a Leigh jig.
Go for it!

If you have a router table I can not recommend the incra highly enough. I am sure there are things a leigh can do an incra can't, and vise versa, but I find the incra method quite obvious. Provided the router and table are good it's virtually idiot proof.

There are demo videos at incra.com

2c.

thank you for your great advice that helps me alot as i have not yet till then had feedback from a leigh owner


i dont have a router table as i have no need for it other then to rabbet but i just do that hold the router so i dont think the incra is for me sorry.

No need it's just another option. As long as your having fun...

I've had the Leigh for a couple of years. It's the bees knees

The book is very clear and easy to understand. Lots of pics, and it is spiral bound to lay flat on the bench while you're following along. Each joint you want to make is explained in its own chapter. The last section discusses what to do if it doesn't fit exactly.

So even if the jig is used infrequently (as mine is), you don't have to remember everything, just follow along.

Undoubtedly the best owners manual I've ever had, and makes what looks complex into a fairly easy process.

You won't regret the purchase, and the flexibility is fantastic.

Tex

thank you very much i was hoping the manual will be easy to follow.

and the chapter on each style of joint sounds like what i need
i will definitely be buying this after you advice

toby.

You can download the manual from the leigh website and have a read. That may make you more comfortable with deciding on a purchase.

I have the D1600 and have written out a quick checklist of the relevant adjustments just in case I forget in between sessions on the jig.

The Superjig 12 is the most limiting of the current family (SJ 12,18,24,and D4R). While it can do the standard dovetail forms with variable spacing etc, it doesn't go to the decorative forms like Isolock etc because Leigh won't make the templates for the basic 12 model, only the dearer SJ18, 24 and D4R.

Provided that you can live with that constraint, the SJ 12 should be a great unit for you. Be aware that any 'jig' can only be as consistant at the material it is used with. By this I mean that variation in material thickness from peice to peice will affect the setup.

DT jigs are normally set up by trial and error to get everything spot on with offcuts, before going to the actual job materials. Variations muck things up considerably. This happens with virtually any DT jig system due to the 3D nature of the joint elements. The Leighs are one of the more stable jigs available and miles beyond the Asian cheapies. Video, manual etc are all good at explaining the setup and tuning it.

As an Australian Leigh jig user you'll be in a lot of trouble finding a router where the guide bush fits. I recommend find a router first then decide if you want Leigh or not.

Originally Posted by 6916243

As an Australian Leigh jig user you'll be in a lot of trouble finding a router where the guide bush fits. I recommend find a router first then decide if you want Leigh or not.

That's simply not true - both Triton router guidebush plates accept the Variable Guidebush System (VGS) from Leigh Industries, without need for an adaptor - see the final two images on this page on my site.

Ray.

I got a couple of adapters when I got my Leigh jig, so one fits my old Ryobi (and should fit my newer Triton) and the other fits the smaller Festool.

I did find it useful to have one router set up with the dovetail bit and one with the straight bit. Saves a bit of time and makes my stuffups easier to fix

But did not find it a problem to get plates to fit my router(s).

Tex

happily yesterday i went down to the local carbetec and purchased the leah super 12 and a base plate

but im not allowed to open it until my birthday in 11 days but thankfully my dad gave me the manual and dvd out of it.
such an easy to read manual as many had said and the dvd is also very good.
cant wait to sat it up and will be posting my first project with it on here sometime soon

cheers
toby.

The superjig comes with the eguide which is adjustable and an integral part of setting up for some dovetails. Effectively, the guide shank is slightly oval and can be rotated within its mount to micro adjust the cut width. The mount is equivalent to that for standard Porter cable (1 3/8in from memory). Provided the sub base that you bought will accept these template guides and fit your router, you should be home and hosed, but pay carefull attention when mounting the sub base to enure that it is exactly centered, or you will complicate setting up with the jig.

ahh :P to much information.
im pretty sure my router will fit the guide bush
im feeling its going to take me a long while to get the hang of it.
just one question is it critical to use the jig with a variable speed router?

toby.