SOS any Twin Cities BT3ers want to help a fellow out with PC DT jig??

[BigguyZ]

OK, I just spent over an hour trying to set up my PC DT jig for half blind DTs in preparation of making a bunch of drawers out of 1/2" BB ply. I know I'm not an idiot, but I couldn't for the life of me get the stupid thing correct.

I have other and arguably faster ways to get these drawers build with enough strength to last, but since this is going to be a nice project that's a built-in to my home, I'd like something nicer like the DTs.

SO.... Are there any local forum members willing to take a visit to a fellow member's shop and assist me in getting this thing set so repeatedly and reliably make a bunch of HB DTs? I'll have a beer waiting if you are... (for after of course).

I'm really want to get this project knocked out, so I'm kinda desperate at this point.

Thanks!

[charliex]

I might be in your neighborhood on Saturday. We are coming up to visit our daughter so her and LOML can go wedding dress shopping. (Oh joy I might just stay home) She lives in St Paul over by Lake Phalen. I need to go to the Rockler in Maplewood and pick up a few items.
Do you have the instruction sheet for the PC jig? I have the Rockler version and it is poorly documented. It looks like a 10 year old ran them off on a copy machine. But I do have a nice set of instructions for the PC that I got in a copy of WWJ some monthe back. I also recall seeing a good wright up in a WW mag. lately but I don't recall which one right now, I'll see if I can locate it tomorrow.
Chas

[jonmulzer]

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

That video might help you some?

[BigguyZ]

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

That video might help you some?

I've seen that, but I haven't watched it recently. Let me try again.

I think the problem I'm getting is I'm not sure if the adjustment I need is the bit height or the template depth... I tried playing around with both, and I go from a loose joint where the front overhangs the side to a tight joint where the tails can't even fit in the hole, so to speak.

Let me watcht he video tonight and retry today after work...

[jhart]

Not sure if this will work with the PC but sure is slick for the Rockler DT. Might want to call Rockler. Sets the bit perfect every time. Then it's only a mater of adjustment to the wood.


http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=16904&filter=dovetail%20jig

[jonmulzer]

You really need to be only adjusting one of them at a time until you get it the best you can and then move on to the next adjustment. Otherwise you don't know what did what.

[BigguyZ]

You really need to be only adjusting one of them at a time until you get it the best you can and then move on to the next adjustment. Otherwise you don't know what did what.

I did only adjust one at a time, but I'd adjust one, see no difference, then try the other...

[BigguyZ]

OK, thanks everyone for your help. After another hour in the shop with the jig and some cursing, I've decided to forget the DTs and go with pocket screws.

I'll keep the PC 4212 for through DTs, but I think I'm going to be giving up on half blinds.

[Timmah80]

Sorry I missed this thread earlier. On the 4212, the alignment line on the top of the template is made for 3/4 stock. If you are using 1/2 inch stock, the line has to be towards you at least 1/4 inch from where the boards meet, probably more like 5/16. This stops the router bit from going too deep into the front stopping it from going in too deep. You want it to stick out some so you can drive the tails into the pins and hide the cuts inside the drawer.

For adjusting the bit height, the deeper the bit is set the tighter the tails will be. For half inch stock on both pieces my bit is set at 19/32. Try starting with that and see how close you get.

I'll be down in the cities tomorrow (sunday) in the early afternoon if you need help. PM me if you do. Hope this helps.

[BigguyZ]

Sorry I missed this thread earlier. On the 4212, the alignment line on the top of the template is made for 3/4 stock. If you are using 1/2 inch stock, the line has to be towards you at least 1/4 inch from where the boards meet, probably more like 5/16. This stops the router bit from going too deep into the front stopping it from going in too deep. You want it to stick out some so you can drive the tails into the pins and hide the cuts inside the drawer.

For adjusting the bit height, the deeper the bit is set the tighter the tails will be. For half inch stock on both pieces my bit is set at 19/32. Try starting with that and see how close you get.

I'll be down in the cities tomorrow (sunday) in the early afternoon if you need help. PM me if you do. Hope this helps.

wow- that's a pretty big deal. Is that in the manual about the alignment line??? I didn't see anything about that. I think that's probably the issue. But I'm confused, as watching the video on the link provided earlier in the thread the presenter said that the adjustments fo the PC 4212 are irrespective of the thickness of the stock. Meaning that once it's set, nothing changes whether it's 3/4 or 1/2" stock. So I take it that it's not true??

I had tried using 3/4" MDF to get it aligned, and got pretty close, but when I switched back to the 1/2" BB ply, it went to pieces.

Sorry I missed this earlier, so obviously I can't take you up on your offer. I'm not going to have enough time over the next few weeks to complete the whole project, so I guess I have more time to figure things out, however.

[Timmah80]

I watched a little bit of the video and saw the part where he was talking about the settings. I believe he was talking about the stop for aligning the boards against, as long as you use the inch plus 1/4 rule for the width of the stock. I didn't see him say anything about the thickness of the pieces.

I've done a lot of trial and error, lots of errors, with thickness of pieces. If you use 3/4 stock and follow the instruction manual, no problem. If you set up for 1/2 inch stock the same way you get problems. The bit height shouldn't vary too much in my experience, but the template has to be adjusted towards you for stock thinner than 3/4.

I'm not an expert and don't use the jig daily so I may be wrong about most of this, but this is what I've found to work for me.

[BigguyZ]

I watched a little bit of the video and saw the part where he was talking about the settings. I believe he was talking about the stop for aligning the boards against, as long as you use the inch plus 1/4 rule for the width of the stock. I didn't see him say anything about the thickness of the pieces.

I've done a lot of trial and error, lots of errors, with thickness of pieces. If you use 3/4 stock and follow the instruction manual, no problem. If you set up for 1/2 inch stock the same way you get problems. The bit height shouldn't vary too much in my experience, but the template has to be adjusted towards you for stock thinner than 3/4.

I'm not an expert and don't use the jig daily so I may be wrong about most of this, but this is what I've found to work for me.

Timmah,
I'll give it another shot and try to adjust teh jig so that the template is closer to me.

Thanks