dovetail jig that doesnt need router?

[mike s]

i am a complete novice when it comes to joint jigs and this is probably a really dumb question but are there any good dovetail jigs that dont need a router?
it would be cool to cut them with a hand saw if their is a jig that allows that
links and pics would be nice

 

[Alf]

The Veritas Dovetail Saw Guides spring to mind. There may be others, I don't know; never used one.

 

[Dodge]

The old Arcoy dovetailing jigs didnt use a router but used the power from a drill instead. They sometimes still come up on a certain auction site.

Rog

 

[mtr1]

In a similar vein to the one Alf linked to, you can make one from perspex with just saw kerfs in, so you just mark out once, if you have a lot to do.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I cut mine with a couple of jigs on the bandsaw, one for the pins and one for the tails.
S

 

[CroppyBoy1798]

The old Arcoy dovetailing jigs didnt use a router but used the power from a drill instead. They sometimes still come up on a certain auction site.

Rog

Wolfcraft made a 'drill' version too, seen a second hand one recently for sale, still in its package......after looking at it briefly I put it back swiftly, very 'gimmicky' :/

 

[Dodge]

The old Arcoy dovetailing jigs didnt use a router but used the power from a drill instead. They sometimes still come up on a certain auction site.

Rog

Wolfcraft made a 'drill' version too, seen a second hand one recently for sale, still in its package......after looking at it briefly I put it back swiftly, very 'gimmicky' :/

Yes I agree, the arcoy was the original, and somewhat over engineered original which wolfcraft copied with their tin foil version! :lol: :lol:

I still have an old arcoy jig on the wall in my workshop for sentimental value!

Rog

 

[Steve Maskery]

The problem with the drill-powered ones is that an electric drill has a max speed in the region of 2K whereas a router spins at 20-odd K. It makes a big difference to the quality of the cut.
S

 

[Jacob]

i am a complete novice when it comes to joint jigs and this is probably a really dumb question but are there any good dovetail jigs that dont need a router?
it would be cool to cut them with a hand saw if their is a jig that allows that
links and pics would be nice

If you don't want to use routers and jigs why not go traditional; mark-up, saw and chisel, or just freehand with no mark-up?
It's not that difficult but you would need to do a few samples before being sure of accuracy.

 

[OPJ]

The Veritas Dovetail Saw Guides spring to mind. There may be others, I don't know; never used one.

I'm sure that David Barron also produces something very similar to these (perhaps a little bit cheaper) but, I don't know what his website is, if he has one for his tools? I remember seeing them at Yandles, two-years ago.

 

[Wildman]

The problem with the drill-powered ones is that an electric drill has a max speed in the region of 2K whereas a router spins at 20-odd K. It makes a big difference to the quality of the cut.
S

no reason why a router cannot be used with the Arcoy, I have used a bosch on mine with excelent results, less tendancy to snatch like a drill due to the extra speed. I still use my arcoy and may even have a spare one someplace, must look it out and see. The advantage over cutting by hand is not only speed but the ease with which one can do blind joints on drawer fronts.

 

[lanemaux]

Don't wish to be too obtuse here , but is not the Veritas mentioned by our esteemed Alf really more of a guide than a jig? If a guide is what is needed after the initial layout is done , well , I just butt a piece of straight MDF to the layout line , fastened as may be expedient (pin nailed or double stick taped or clamped or whatever) and use the squared nature of the edge to guide a backsaw. To make a jig I would make something along the lines of a dovetail marker (2 pieces of MDF joined to form a right angle with my choice of DT angle on one edge ) and again clamp to piece and use as saw guide. when done just reposition. As long as layout is accurate it is pretty foolproof. For clearing out the bottoms , you guessed it , position MDF on layout lines and chisel out as usual . Final cleanup is the only time you get on the MDF with fine paring cuts. The straight and square edge supporting the flat of the chisel.

 

[RogerP]

The Veritas Dovetail Saw Guides spring to mind. There may be others, I don't know; never used one.

I'm sure that David Barron also produces something very similar to these (perhaps a little bit cheaper) but, I don't know what his website is, if he has one for his tools? I remember seeing them at Yandles, two-years ago.

Here.

 

[Jacob]

The Veritas Dovetail Saw Guides spring to mind. There may be others, I don't know; never used one.

I'm sure that David Barron also produces something very similar to these (perhaps a little bit cheaper) but, I don't know what his website is, if he has one for his tools? I remember seeing them at Yandles, two-years ago.

Here.

If you going to go that close to doing them by hand in the normal way, why not go the extra step and do them properly? IMHO just another very expensive mad gadget.

 

[bugbear]

i am a complete novice when it comes to joint jigs and this is probably a really dumb question but are there any good dovetail jigs that dont need a router?
it would be cool to cut them with a hand saw if their is a jig that allows that
links and pics would be nice

Not really - but there have been many aids and gadgets for the various stages of hand marking, cutting and fitting dovetails, both online and in magazines.

BugBear

 

[MickCheese]

I'm with Jacob on this one. I still consider myself a relative novice, I have tried several jigs, gauges and bits of wood cut to the right angle but once I put all those to one side and just got on with cutting them I was surprised that I could get passable results after a relatively short time.

So I would say, practice on some scrap and then do them by hand. I was avoiding doing them by hand as I was nervous of the poor results I thought I would get, in reality they were quite good and they get better every time I do a set.

I found this quite useful. Very American but got some really good tips from him and after a while I quite warmed to him.

http://www.thomasjmacdonald.com/media/category.php?cat=Tool-Box

Mick

 

[foxhunter]

Not a jig but I found it helpful in my early days. Trend were promoting it at one time.

http://www.templatesbynumbers.com/

 

[Benchwayze]

The old Arcoy dovetailing jigs didnt use a router but used the power from a drill instead. They sometimes still come up on a certain auction site.

Rog

I have one still in its original box. I don't think it's ever been used. Complete except for a drill. (You'd need a proper drill, rather than a cordless.) I also believe I have some TCT cutter for this jig.
It's gathering dust.

But the best way to cut dovetails without a router is, dare I say it? With hand tools.

 

[Dodge]

But the best way to cut dovetails without a router is, dare I say it? With hand tools.

=D> =D> =D> never a truer word said

 

[Benchwayze]

Justin.

Have a look at the post, 2 posts above yours! :lol: :lol: :wink: