Easy-to-use Dovetail Jig

Dovetails have long been a sign of of quality and fine craftsmanship. However, cutting beautiful dovetails by hand requires long hours of practice, a commitment many woodworkers are unable to make. Hence, the popularity of jigs and fixtures that guide a router to cut dovetails.

 

Most jigs are designed around templates that guide a handheld router in a specific pattern. Leigh’s new RTJ400 is different. Used with a router table, the jig makes it easier to adjust the joint’s fit. The key to its simplicity is an eccentric bushing that’s mounted in the table’s throat plate. Instead of fiddling with the bit or template, as you must do with other jigs, simply rotate the bushing to either tighten or loosen

the fit of the dovetails. I made one small adjustment to the bushing and got perfect through- and half-blind dovetails.

 

On the downside, like other jigs, the RTJ400 provides only a single dovetail pattern, and workpiece dimensions sometimes must be modified to use the jig. Nonetheless, the Leigh RTJ400 is very effective jig for cutting dovetails with a router.