dovetail jig

[Eddie]

Hi All, any body got any experience using the "Rockler Dovetail Jig "

is it any good? Eddie.

[Lew Hodgett]

Eddie wrote: > Hi All, any body got any experience using the "Rockler Dovetail Jig

Looks just like the Jet I just bought at a lower cost from Amazon.

The set up is a little complex, but straight forward.

Keep the directions handy.

Have fun.

Lew

[New Wave Dave]

The new FWW in my mailbox today tests 15 dovetail jigs including the Rockler. Best Overall: Leigh D4R & D1600 Best Value: PC 4200 Series

[dondone]

It will give you good dovetails if you are very careful in its use. The black template that the router rests on and the router insert guide follows (the black piece with the fingers) is bowed slightly in the plane of the face on mine. It can be adjusted for most normal drawer depths, but for very deep ones the half blinds are not all the same depth. Also, the clamping of the drawer fronts (and backs depending on which I am cutting) under the black template on top is not absolute. Unless I fill up the balance of the width for the drawer fronts with stock of the same thickness as the drawer stock (i.e., simulate a drawer of maximum depth that can be used), the drawer fronts (or backs) are always kicked slighly sideways, while the side being cut at the same time is not. This makes the tops and the bottoms of the fronts (or backs) and the sides not align well. But the price is good (especially when it is on sale, which it was when I bought mine) and as long as you take some extra precautions, it cuts fairly good dovetails.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

If you want to stop the finger plate bowing,put another piece of stock in the horizontal clamping position alongside the piece thats there if there's room.

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

Incidently this DJ and clones like it was made for an 1/2" router and not the bigger jobbies.

Like I said in another thread a piece of junk. :-)

[Pat Barber]

the current issue covers several more:

http://www.taunt> Hi All, any body got any experience using the "Rockler Dovetail Jig "

[Patriarch]

"Eddie" wrote in news:453118b9$0$714$5fc3050 @dreader2.news.tiscali.nl:

I bought one four or five years ago, made two drawers, and then gave it away. More trouble than it was worth.

The Akeda jig caught my eye next, and that was 8 or 10 projects, before I ran into something I thought I should be able to do, but couldn't.

They all have a limitation. Pick yours.

My current solution is a LN Dovetail saw & their chisels...

Patriarch

[The3rd Earl Of Derby]

I borrowed one which was identical to the *Rockler* as there are many clones of this jig and I agree it was more hassle to set it up than it was worth.

However there is room for improvement on this jig in the way the straight edges on the left and right of the base, for instance these straight edges can be made as 1 unit instead of 2 seperate units on each side. These can be made with 3mm Aluminium,the profile can be cut flat and then bent for the front slot,as its aluminium this will give a better straight edge and can be cut/filed so that it slides in the slot with precision.

Full straight joints can be aquired by raising the horizontal piece with a

1/4" ply underneath and the vertical stock leveled to the horizontal top piece the router can then be set for depth just below the horizontal bottom stock.

[Patriarch]

"The3rd Earl Of Derby" wrote in news:g9TYg.36577$ [e-mail]:

By the time one gets done fussing around with a $75 jig, you might as well buy the $150 one. Or hand cut the joints.

Fussing around with tools is part of the hobby, but there is a limit on how much time I'm willing to invest in fixing a low-end fixture.

But that's just me. Enjoy your shop time!

Patriarch