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| » Online Users: 56 | | 17 members and 39 guests | | Bigdog72 , Canuck , DaveO , dino drosas , Glennbear , Gotcha6 , jeff... , jtodd71 , KC7CN , NCPete , ptt49er , Ralrick , sshelton , SteveCogs , taandctran , TexasTimbers , TN Woodie | | Most users ever online was 180, 04-22-2008 at 12:18 AM. |  | | 
10-30-2006, 06:34 PM
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#1 |
Name: John Macmaster City: Eastover State: NC County: Cumberland Join Date: Oct 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.77 over 30 days |
I would like some feed back on dovetail jigs.
I see allot of nice work in here, and I am looking for preferences, ease of use, durability.
__________________
Long ago when men cursed and beat the ground with sticks, it was called witchcraft. Today it's called golf.
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10-30-2006, 06:51 PM
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#2 | | Webmaster
Director
Name: DaveO City: Clayton State: NC County: Johnston Join Date: Aug 2005 Age: 38 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 30 days |
Leigh...D4 if you're well off or the D1600 for us poorer folks. Easy to use, adjustable pin spacing, and with the D4, you can do cool inlayed DTs and other stuff. Plus there is the Isoloc templates...if you're really well off, that can make DT like joints like no other.
My $.02, Dave 
__________________   Nothing left to do but smile, smile, smile
Honestly Honey, that will cost around $100 $150 $200, and I need a few more tools. 
Heard from a client..."If I had your tools and experience...I could do it myself" 
"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
--Dr. Seuss
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10-30-2006, 06:55 PM
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#3 |
Name: rhett City: Frankfort State: KY County: Franklin Join Date: Oct 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.93 over 30 days |
the latest issue of fine woodworking has review of about 6 jigs. Leigh did get high honors. | |
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10-30-2006, 07:40 PM
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#4 | | Director
Moderator
Name: Tom City: Raleigh State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Jul 2005 Age: 46 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 30 days |
Good dovetail saw, marking guage, sharp chisels, marking knife, mallet, (really big mallet if they don't fit), stout work bench with vise and do them by hand. | |
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10-30-2006, 09:53 PM
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#5 | | Moderator
Name: Ray City: Raleigh State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Mar 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.00 over 30 days |
I think the last issue of Fine Woodworking listed the Porter Cable 4212 as the Best Value. Does a number of different types of joints and is easy to learn / use.
Ray
__________________
I cut that board twice and it's STILL too short.
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10-30-2006, 10:09 PM
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#6 |
Name: Travis City: Wake Forest State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.53 over 30 days |
I have the Leigh D4 24". It is one flexible beast, but it can be time consuming to set up. The pins and tails are cut seperately, not at the same time. Personally, I would classify it as the best of the best.
Additionally, I have the PC 4212, but haven't tried it yet. I plan to use it with the dresser I am building. It does do both the pins and tails simultaneously for half blind dovetails. | |
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10-30-2006, 10:47 PM
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#7 |
Name: Bruce City: Apex State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Nov 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.77 over 30 days |
Table saw, combo blade, band saw with 1/8" blade and some scraps. Only drawback is that dovetails will have to be symetrical around centerline. Once set up, you can cut them as fast as you can feed wood through either of the saws. | |
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10-30-2006, 11:06 PM
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#8 |
Name: Rick City: Dobson State: NC County: Surry Join Date: Dec 2005 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 3.73 over 30 days |
I like my Keller 1500 dovetail jig. A very basic and simple jig. Variable spacing is a bit of a pain but it can be done. | |
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10-31-2006, 10:10 AM
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#9 | | Moderator
Name: Wayne City: Cary State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Dec 2005 Age: 61 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 30 days |
I have the Porter Cable 4212. Have had my issues with setup, but once I have gotten through this, it has been a pretty good jig. I got it on Amazon.com for about $119. I particularly like the ability to cut half blind DT's, cutting both pns an tails at the same time. The biggest issue with the setup I had was getting the router bit depth set correctly. (The folks here on this forum were a tremendous help to me in "mastering" the setup.)
I agree that the Leigh jigs or Woodrat are really cool in their ability to vary spacing and size of the pins and tails. - A little too pricey for me right now though!
Wayne
__________________ ..............found out many years ago that Elbow Grease doesn't come in a bottle!!!! | |
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10-31-2006, 06:06 PM
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#10 |
Name: Joe City: Holly Springs State: NC County: Wake Join Date: Sep 2005 Age: 65 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 7.00 over 30 days |
Look into the WoodRat too. Go to The Craftsman Gallery, chipsfly.com . Sometimes you can find a used(abused?) one.
I also have a $29 HF special that cuts drawer fronts just fine. | |
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10-31-2006, 06:47 PM
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#11 |
Name: dennis hutchens City: Statesville State: NC County: Iredell Join Date: May 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.70 over 30 days |
got to be the leigh.......they have very good tech support....putting the thing together is a little time consuming, but after that its a breeze...i bought the 24" and their fmt mortise and tenon set at the same time.....excellent value | |
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11-08-2006, 04:20 PM
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#12 |
Name: Rich Zimmerman City: Stanley State: NC County: Lincoln Join Date: Oct 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.00 over 30 days |
Another vote for the Leigh, I have the D4. As everyone always says - the best manual I've ever seen, and setup is relatively straightforward if not quick. Perfect DT's every time. Pricey - yes....try to find one secondhand, they're out there. I'm glad I never settled, I've heard stories of people who were eventually disappointed in what they bought and they wound up footing addt'l. $$ for the Leigh in the end. JM2CW.... 
__________________
zman
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11-08-2006, 05:27 PM
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#13 |
Name: John Richards City: Hickory State: NC County: Burke Join Date: Oct 2005 Age: 33 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 6.07 over 30 days |
Originally Posted by toolferone  Good dovetail saw, marking guage, sharp chisels, marking knife, mallet, (really big mallet if they don't fit), stout work bench with vise and do them by hand. Amen brother!!
I've got three different jigs including the Leigh and haven't used any of them in months.
__________________ Keeping the Hokie Spirit Alive!! Remember 4/16/2007
First known case of the dreaded "Woodguy Disease" and is highly contagious. Stay away.... stay away! Warning! Not liable for excessive tool buying, drooling, or the sudden urge to spend large amounts of money.  www.jsrwoodworking.com | |
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11-08-2006, 05:37 PM
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#14 |
Name: mac City: Murphy State: NC County: Cherokee Join Date: Sep 2006 Age: 68 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.00 over 30 days |
I would probably First, answer the question - How often, how many, how wide, and how fast you are going to need those dovetails.
I have used two Sears brand, and the Leigh, and cut my own manually.
For production work, down and dirty, fast- go with the Leigh (longer initial setup time - high start cost)
For occasional cutting - the Sears ( I have both the old 20" and the newer 12") - fairly quick setup time - moderate start up cost.
BUT, for the best old triditional looking "craftsman" 'tails - I will hand cut mine- both self satisfying , and a good joint says something about the craftsman. It will also make you appreciate the labor our ancestors spent on a fine piece of furniture.
(Oh, I almost for got, hand ones can be adjusted "on-yhe-fly", something the templates have a harder time doing)
Hope there "ramblings" give you something to think about.
Mac  | |
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11-16-2006, 04:04 PM
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#15 |
Name: Alan City: Gainesville State: FL County: Alachua Join Date: Apr 2006 Avg Visit Freq/Week
= 0.23 over 30 days |
__________________
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