Special bits for Incra jig?

[dlminehart]

I have one of the cheapie plastic Incra router jigs, which I'm just setting up to use. I have some dovetail bits, but they're not specifically for Incra. Does this particular jig need specially designed bits? What's different about them? Does Holbren carry them?

[LCHIEN]

this is whats in the MLCS set for Incra Jointech

• 1/4" 7-1/2° Dovetail Bit
• 5/16" 9° Dovetail Bit
• 3/8" 9° Dovetail Bit
• 1/2" 14° Dovetail Bit
• 5/8" 7° Dovetail Bit
• 3/4" 7° Dovetail Bit
• 1/4" Straight Bit
• 3/8" Straight Bit

The Freud Set:

Stright Bit 12-106 1/4"
3/4"
----
1/2"
2-3/8"
Stright Bit 12-108 3/8"
1"
----
1/2"
2-5/8"
Dovetail Bit 22-107 1/4"
5/16"
7-1/2°
1/2"
2-5/8"
Dovetail Bit 22-108 5/16"
3/8"
9°
1/2"
2-1/8"
Dovetail Bit 22-110 3/8"
3/8"
9°
1/2"
2-1/4"
Dovetail Bit 22-112 1/2"
1/2"
14°
1/2"
2-1/4"
Dovetail Bit 22-113 5/8"
7/8"
7°
1/2"
2-5/8"
Dovetail Bit 22-114 3/4"
7/8"
7°
1/2"
2-5/8"

CMT set:
1/4" Straight Bit
811.564.11
3/8" Straight Bit
811.595.11
7º Dovetail Bit
818.658.11
7º Dovetail Bit
818.690.11
7.5º Dovetail Bit
818.564.11
9º Dovetail Bit
818.580.11
9º Dovetail Bit
818.596.11
14º Dovetail Bit
818.628.11


Whiteside Set:

SET D101 INCLUDES:
1/4" and 3/8" STRAIGHT ROUTER BITS
9°x 3/8", 14°x1/2", 7 1/2°x 1/2", 14°x 17/32" DOVETAIL ROUTER BITS

I think they're just regular router bits straight and dovetail for the various projects one might do with the jigs.

[180x]

I have the LS super system w/ the Freud set. As lchien stated, there is nothing particular special about the "Incra" bits. They just suggest certain ones for the projects that they demonstrate and companies have put them together in a set.

[MBG]

I have an Incra jig and I bought an inexpensive set at Holbren.

[dlminehart]

MBG, do you have the plastic Incra jig or one of the more expensive metal one? Do these jigs all use the same bits? Is your set from Holbren an "Incra" set or just a generic set?

[John Hunter]

I have one of the cheapie plastic Incra router jigs, which I'm just setting up to use. I have some dovetail bits, but they're not specifically for Incra. Does this particular jig need specially designed bits? What's different about them? Does Holbren carry them?

I have the same one, picked it up back when Rockler had it on a special for $39. I love it! I already had some of the bit sizes recommended and bought a few individual bits as I needed them. I have also done some of my own layouts using other bits. Now I am thinking of moving up to the big Incra ultra setup http://www.woodpeck.com/ultra.html Have fun!

[djcannon]

What sizes are included in the Holbren set

I have an Incra jig and I bought an inexpensive set at Holbren.

I looked up the Holbren web site and found this set but it did not say what sizes the individual bits are. Could you post some additional information on the set and let us know what you think of them as far as quality.

Thanks

[sleddogg]

Is a jig such as this considered to be an equivalent to say a porter cable or akeda dedicated dovetail jig? Are the incra jigs limited to under a certain width board one can apply dovetail joints to? Sorry to hijack. If a person had an incra, would they also oneday need the others, Leigh, Akeda, etc.

[180x]

I would say that it is equivalent, if not somewhat better. I have the LS and it is not only a dovetail jig but a router table fence as well. The beauty of the system is it's repeatablity and incremental system. Once set up for a particular project, moving the fence four inches or 4/1000th of an is fairly easy and accurate. Pretty amazing!

As with any jig, the length of the boards that can be used is determined by the size of the machine. The Ultras can accomodate 16" and 24", and the LS 17" and 25". The Ultra is older technology (sawtooth) and the LS (lead screw) is the newer technology. It is fastly becoming one of my favorite tools!

[LCHIEN]

Is a jig such as this considered to be an equivalent to say a porter cable or akeda dedicated dovetail jig? Are the incra jigs limited to under a certain width board one can apply dovetail joints to? Sorry to hijack. If a person had an incra, would they also oneday need the others, Leigh, Akeda, etc.

All Dovetail or box joint jigs using fingers depend upon some positioning method to position the fingers repeatably in position so the respective mating parts align properly.

The Leigh and Poter Cable etc Jigs all use a fixed template to get repeatable positions for the fingers, either in fixed pairs or a single template with two sides with fixed relationships. Some Jigs like the Leigh offer repositionable fingers to get non-repeating finger spacing. The length of the template limits the max length of the joint.

The Incra is NOT equivealent from the standpoint that it uses a proprietary rack positioning system consisting of overlapping sawtooth racks to repeatedly return to the same position based upon multiples of the tooth spacing. So its a step and repeat jig with very accurate positioning. The length of the racks and their overlap limits the length of the joints.

They are equivalent in that they both provide a repeatable spacing mechanism, and high quality mating joints.