Dovetail Jig

[Dave876]

Hi all,

I'm after a dovetail jig for my rough and ready router table - any pointers? Not really after a jig that means I have to un-mount my router each time, so I wanted one that would work in situ.
I am very new to this - I didn't get much woodwork at school, and besides, that was years ago!!

From what I have looked at, I think I will just make through joints - it will not be for fine work (well, not until I have had LOTS of practice!).

One thing I do wonder - does a jig finish the pins completely, or do you need to clear the rounding out with a chisel? Or do I just not understand dovetails at all? I think a trip to the library might be on the cards...

Thanks,
David.

 

[jasonB]

The Gifkin is the only one that springs to mind that will work with an existing table.

Should not need any aditional work to the joint after routing.

Jason

 

[Dave876]

Hi Jason,

Yes, my trawl of websites did turn that one up, but it seems pretty expensive for what it is, when you can get other jigs (not for use on a table, admittedly) from about £60. £170 can buy something quite fancy - which is the same cost as the Gifkin one. I guess I just wasn't planning on spending that much money.

One jig I did see is (if the link works...) this : http://www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/DKD51

Any thoughts?

 

[DomValente]

I may be wrong Dave, but don't think that works on a router table


Dom

 

[Dave876]

Hi Dom,

Yes, that's an impression I get too, but I figure you could put the jig on the bottom, and clamp the wood on top? So just doing everything upside down?!?

Of course - the obvious flaw is that 1/2 the time you will mess it all up as you can't see what you are doing....

So - failing a jig to run on the router table, are there any recommendations for the alternative 'router on top' style? What do other people tend to use for dovetails - a jig or by hand or ... ?

Thanks
David.

 

[mailee]

The Dakota jig shown in the link could be used on a table IMHO. It is the same as the Stots jig in almost everything the difference being that you use the Stots template to make templates out of MDF which can then be mounted for use with the router overhead or below as in a table. I was actually thinking about one of these myself as Stots do not mail to the UK.

 

[andycktm]

I bought the rutlands jig last week,and yes you can use it on the table
as well as hand held.You just make your own fence for it, jig on top for hand held ,turn upside down for table use .

 

[beech1948]

Hi,
You could try buying a STOT template to make your own jig from.

Have a look at the following with a link to the makers web site.

http://www.woodworking.org/WC/GArchive9 ... tsrev.html

regards

alan

 

[colinc]

Hi,

I have a Gifkins jig which I have used mainly for making dovetailed boxes. It isn't cheap but is very simple and fast to use. Setup is absolutely simple and non-critical to the fit. The joint needs no further work and I get an excellent fit from it every time. I guess that you are too far away but if anyone nearer S. Derbys wants to try a Gifkin before buying one please get in touch.

For me the problem with it and most jigs (with the notable exception of the Leigh) is that the pin spacing is fixed and the pins similarly sized to the tails. I do think that is sometimes unattractive.


regards

Colin

 

[colinc]

Hi again,

I was reading again what you said about lack of woodwork training. Dare I suggest an alternative way of spending the cash? I did a weekend course on drawer making with Andy Dumolo a couple of years back and would heartily recommend it to anyone who wants to build their skills and confidence.

I just looked on his web site and he does a one day dovetailing course for £90 http://www.adfurniture.co.uk/Courses/course3.html

The drawer making course for £150 covers a lot of skills including dovetailing and drawer fitting: http://www.adfurniture.co.uk/Courses/course4.html

Andy has recently moved to Lincolnshire so his location may be difficult but I guess that there are others doing similar around the country.

regards

Colin

 

[Dave876]

Hi Colin


Well, I have just had delivered the Dakota dovetail jig. Excellent timing - I placed the order yesterday afternoon and it turned up first thing.

Yes, I have tried to look around for some courses - I think I can pick a lot up from reading post and reserching things, but it is just not the same as seeing things done and being able to ask questions as they come up. Also just to see all the things you didn't even realise that you didn't know in the first place!!

Thanks anyway,
David.

 

[mailee]

Hey 'snap' I just bought the Dakota dovetail jig too! Although it did arrive without any screws and washers! Still I have some I can use and it did have the cutters which is the main thing. Looking forward to using it now. :wink:

 

[Dave876]

Yeah - mine turned up without any screws and washers either. Also, the 'manual' seems just to be a photo-copy! Still, I think with this to start with it should be possible to work out other templates as required.

Now I've seen it, what do you think about just buying a template from one of the other dovetail jigs and using that without their clamping systems? Should be possible if you get the correctly angled cutter?

 

[gidon]

The Incra jigs are also a possibility. They do do through dovetails but they is an extra step involved with a chisel for completion (it's not too bad though).
Plus and it's a big plus it's much more than a dovetail jig.
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psPro ... TRALITESYS
(If you have a trip to US - I brought one of these home with me for a 1/3rd of that price!)
Cheers
Gidon

 

[andycktm]

I've used mine, i made the fence as suggested also made a sliding stop for repeats,
put 2 dowels with shoulders in the bottom and it fits in the workmate holes .The ease
and accuracy in use are spot on first time.
Dave i don't think you could buy the template for less than this even without the cutter's .
I found out the bearing collars moved so i got some stainless grub screws which are
much better.
I think you'll all be blown way by the results .

 

[tiler99]

Well lets see the review Andy and plenty of photos

 

[mailee]

Have you tried making a template from the original yet Andy? I have just made one but ran out of time to try it. Did you have much fiddling around with the jig to get them spot on? I am short on time at the moment so haven't had a lot of time to try mine out yet. :wink:

 

[andycktm]

The first time i tried it good tight fit! :shock:
I'm at work all day so i'm rushed,but it seems you cannot go wrong .
Review ,sorry but i'm not a member of a picture storage website
and don't really post enough to join one.But i've got some picture's if anyone (e-mail)
want's to post them there not much but you get the idea.

 

[tiler99]

PM sent

 

[mailee]

Well I finally tried out my Dovetail jig and it was just like yours Andy, perfect first time! I shall try to make a template from it when I have more time to see if it works in a longer combination. :wink: One thing I did notice though was the size of the cutters seem to be unique and I haven't been able to find any replacement ones in those sizes! I am just hoping I can get hold of some once they reach the end of their life? :?