Leigh Industries, Inc. - Leigh- Super FMT Mortise-and-Tenon
Leigh’s Super FMT costs about half as much as the original FMT, but matches the quality of its cuts.
Leigh Industries recently debuted a new version of its FMT (frame, mortise, and tenon) jig. The Super FMT works much like the original, but at $449 costs half as much. In a recent article (FWW #206) comparing mortisers, I gave the original FMT high marks for accuracy, speed, and ease of use, so I was interested to see if the new model cut clean, matching mortises and tenons as well as the original. It did.
One reason the Super FMT costs less than the original is because it’s made from formed steel instead of machined aluminum. This did not affect its accuracy. It also uses less-expensive F-clamps to hold the workpiece rather than the smooth-acting, cam-action clamps on the original. Another significant difference is the removable joint-alignment sight, which snaps into place on the new model instead of retracting into the jig housing.
To use the Super FMT, you first align a router to the jig table. Fortunately, this is a one-time setup and after that, the router can be removed and reattached easily. Next, you mark the joint centerline on the stock and clamp the stock to the front of the jig. Then you line up the table that supports the router using the snap-in sight. If you’re cutting multiple pieces, this step is only done once. Plastic guides define the joint size and steer the router as it cuts. The jig comes with guides for 5/16-in.-thick mortises and tenons. Guides for other joint sizes from 1/4 in. to 1/2 in. thick are available.
The Super FMT (leighjigs.com) gives you perfectly fitted mortises and tenons, of almost any size, at almost any angle, in minutes. Given its price and versatility, I’d take this jig over any benchtop mortiser.
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