Dovetail Jigs, what's the best one.

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  • twistsol
    Veteran Member
    • Dec 2002
    • 2893
    • Cottage Grove, MN, USA.
    • Ridgid R4512, 2x ShopSmith Mark V 520, 1951 Shopsmith 10ER

    Dovetail Jigs, what's the best one.

    After making a bunch of drawers for the kitchen, I came to realize something. My Sommerfeld dovetail jig has no dust collection whatsoever and makes a huge mess which my OCD cannot abide. Without intending to start a holy war, what is the best dovetail jig out there? I'm looking for variable spacing, dust collection, and flexibility to do through and half blind dovetails. I also have a porter cable 4112 that I use for half blind dovetails on rare occasions, which also has no dust collection.
    Last edited by twistsol; 07-10-2019, 09:04 PM. Reason: astonishing number of typos even for me.
    Chr's
    __________
    An ethical man knows the right thing to do.
    A moral man does it.
  • leehljp
    Just me
    • Dec 2002
    • 8429
    • Tunica, MS
    • BT3000/3100

    #2
    Interesting question. Looking forward to some answers.
    Hank Lee

    Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

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    • cwsmith
      Veteran Member
      • Dec 2005
      • 2737
      • NY Southern Tier, USA.
      • BT3100-1

      #3
      All I have is the HF jig, and that's pretty low on the scale as it only does blind dovetails and no adjustable spacing or dust collection (but I was desperate at the time, and that's the excuse I'm sticking too ) The HF is pretty common I think as I see that design under other brands like Grizzly

      That said, my personal opinion would be the Leigh jig. It's expensive, has lots of optional patterns, is almost infinitely adjustable and has a very well touted dust collection system. If I was into doing lots of dovetails, making furniture (IF I only had the time), that would be my absolute first choice!

      Beyond that, are what I think are solid offerings from Porter-Cable and Rockler. The Leigh D4R is the top of the line "pro" jig, but they have other models too, like the RTJ400, which I believe is less expensive. Check out their web site at https://www.leightools.com

      Porter-Cable dovetail jigs: https://www.portercable.com/products...-and-fastening

      Rockler dovetail jig: https://www.rockler.com/woodworking-.../dovetail-jigs


      There are also a few reviews/articles on "dovetail jigs" through a Google search: https://www.google.com/search?q=dove...hrome&ie=UTF-8



      CWS
      Think it Through Before You Do!

      Comment

      • jussi
        Veteran Member
        • Jan 2007
        • 2162

        #4
        Have the D4R jig. Works great but I have to re-read instructions every time. I actually made cheat sheet notes and taped them to jig. With the VRS attachment the dust collection is great.

        Leigh recently started making vac attachments for the PC jigs as well. But obviously you still wouldn’t have vs.
        Last edited by jussi; 07-10-2019, 06:01 PM.
        I reject your reality and substitute my own.

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        • durango dude
          Senior Member
          • Mar 2011
          • 934
          • a thousand or so feet above insanity
          • 50s vintage Craftsman Contractor Saw

          #5
          I have a Rockler. They go on sale a few times a year.

          my store offers occasional demo days.

          Woodcraft now has their own jig. It's worth a look.

          My local WC shop teaches dovetails on PC jigs.

          My advice is... take a class. I'm still cursing at my jig. It's not as easy as it looks.

          Additionally, don't start with pine. It's actually the hardest wood for joinery.
          Last edited by durango dude; 07-10-2019, 09:00 PM.

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          • Tom Slick
            Veteran Member
            • May 2005
            • 2913
            • Paso Robles, Calif, USA.
            • sears BT3 clone

            #6
            You need a hauncher
            Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. - Thomas Edison

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